bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/088609; this version posted November 18, 2016. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Pulse of α-2-macroglobulin and lipocalin-1 in the pregnant uterus of European polecats (Mustela putorius) at the time of implantation Heli Lindeberga, Richard J.S. Burchmoreb, and Malcolm W. Kennedyc a Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Green Technology, Halolantie 31 A, FIN-71750 Maaninka, Finland. b Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, and Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Campus, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, UK. c Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, and the Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, Graham Kerr Building, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK Author for correspondence: Malcolm Kennedy (
[email protected]) Keywords European polecat, ferret, Mustela putorius, uterine secretions, pregnancy, implantation, proteomics. Short title: Proteomics of polecat uterine fluids in early pregnancy Proteomics of polecat uterine fluids in early pregnancy Page 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/088609; this version posted November 18, 2016. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Abstract Uterine secretory proteins protect the uterus and conceptuses against infection, facilitate implantation, control cellular damage resulting from implantation, and supply embryos with nutrients. The early conceptus of the European polecat (Mustela putorius) grows and develops free in the uterus until implanting at about 12 days after mating.