| Abstract: | A murine pregnancy-associated protein (alpha 1-PAP) with alpha 1-electrophoretic mobility and an estimated molecular weight of 150 000 was present in serum from pregnant C57BL/10 mice but could not be detected in serum of mature non-pregnant females and males. During pregnancy alpha 1-PAP was first detected on Day 7, rose to maximum levels between Days 12 and 14, and thereafter declined during the remainder of pregnancy and was undetectable by Day 8 post partum. The protein was also detected in the serum of females, but not males, subjected to an inflammatory stimulus. Examination of the alpha 1-PAP levels during an acute-phase response in females demonstrated that the protein behaved as a typical classical acute-phase reactant, although the levels were only 10% of those observed during Days 12 to 14 of pregnancy. alpha 1-PAP therefore appears to represent a hitherto undescribed female-specific acute phase reactant in the mouse. |
