Inflammatory competence of fetal rat: acute-phase plasma protein response of the fetus treated by turpentine in utero.
Λέξεις-κλειδιά
Αφηρημένη
Using crossed immunoelectrophoresis, immunoelectrodiffusion, autoradiography, and equilibrium binding techniques, we demonstrate that the rat fetus, directly challenged in utero at 18 days by a single subcutaneous turpentine injection, presents a complex acute-phase plasma inflammatory response. A number of fetal serum proteins, 48 h after the injection, increase in concentration by factors of about 2-5. These positive acute-phase reactants (APR) are alpha 1-acute-phase globulin (alpha 1-AP), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG), haptoglobin (Hp), and hemopexin (Hpx). A number of proteins decrease, behaving like negative APRs. These are albumin, alpha 1-fetoprotein (AFP), transferrin, GHR-P63, thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA), and transcortin (CBG). The marked fall in concentration of two of the high-affinity hormone-binding proteins of the fetal rat, i.e., the estrophilic AFP and TBPA, induce significant decreases (by 25-40%) of the estrogen- and thyroxine-binding abilities of the fetal serum. While the plasma inflammatory response of the fetus is qualitatively similar to that of the adult, the fetal reactions are, as a rule, quantitatively weaker. The characteristics of the plasma inflammatory response of the fetus are discussed in relation to the highly dynamic state of its development.