Identification of Interferon-Tau at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Shiba Goats.

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Interferon-tau (IFNτ) is a primary factor secreted by the conceptus responsible for maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminant animal species. Although IFNτ is well characterized in ovine and bovine species, only minute data are available for caprine IFNτ species (cIFNτ) and there is not much information available on Shiba goat IFNτ. The aim of the present investigation was to establish a new animal model system for the study of maternal-fetal communication in Shiba goats. In order to detect Shiba goat IFNτ expression, recombinant ovine IFNτ (oIFNτ) proteins were initially prepared and were used to prepare an antibody against oIFNτ in rabbits. This antiserum was used to execute immunohistochemical analysis with tissue sections prepared from Shiba goat whole uteri fixed and embedded in paraffin. Conceptus tissues exhibited distinctive staining for the presence of a protein(s) related to oIFNτ. Using the primers designed from oIFNτ cDNA, DNA sequences for potential Shiba goat IFNτ were then amplified. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the Shiba goat equivalent were analyzed and compared to IFNτ of other species. Three kinds of nucleotide sequences close to oIFNτ and cIFNτ were identified: Two of which were almost equivalent to oIFNτ and cIFNτ, and one of which had lower homology in nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Deduced amino acid sequences of three types of clones were conserved in each position distinctive for IFNτ family. These data indicate that three types of genes identified are IFNτ homologues of Shiba goats. These data suggest that nucleotide probes derived from these genes could be used to further study biological significance and transcriptional regulation of IFNτ during periods of peri-implantation.