Immunoglobulin J chain as a non-invasive indicator of pregnancy in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

ABSTRACT: The North American cheetah population serves as a reservoir for the species, and acts as a research population to help understand the unique biology of the species. Little is known about the intrauterine physiology of the cheetah, including embryo differentiation, implantation, and the development of the placenta. After mating, cheetah females frequently experience (30-65% of matings) a non-pregnant luteal phase where progestogen metabolite levels match those found in pregnant females for the first ~55 days of gestation, but parturition does not occur. Immunoglobulin J chain (IgJ) is a molecule that is involved in the activation of the secretory immune response and has been found to be indicative of pregnancy in the cheetah using fecal monitoring. In this study, western blotting was employ

SUBMITTER: Byron MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7010269 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature