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Early Pregnancy Factor: Its Significance as an Indicator of Fertilization and Embryonic Viability

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Embryonic Mortality in Farm Animals

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science ((CTVM,volume 34))

Abstract

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a pregnancy-associated protein complex and has been detected in sera of mice, humans, sheep, cattle and pigs. EPF is demonstrated by the rosette inhibition test, in which it possesses a synergistic effect with anti-lymphocyte serum in preventing rosette formation between T-lymphocytes and heterologous erythrocytes. Its biological function is thought to be one of immunoregulation during pregnancy. The initial stimulation and sustained production of EPF is claimed to be specific for fertilization and the continuing presence of a viable conceptus, thus raising the possibility of continuous monitoring during the course of early pregnancy. This review briefly summarizes a substantial part of the available literature on EPF as well as my own unpublished work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Tierzucht und Tierverhalten, FAL, Mariensee, Neustadt 1, 3057, F.R. Germany

    E. Koch

  2. AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge, CB2 4AT, UK

    E. Koch

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  1. E. Koch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Research Centre, The Agricultural Institute, Belclare, Tuan, Eire

    J. M. Sreenan  & M. G. Diskin  & 

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© 1986 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg

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Koch, E. (1986). Early Pregnancy Factor: Its Significance as an Indicator of Fertilization and Embryonic Viability. In: Sreenan, J.M., Diskin, M.G. (eds) Embryonic Mortality in Farm Animals. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, vol 34. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5038-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5038-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8732-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5038-2

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