Expression of platelet activating factors and its receptor in cat uterus during early pregnancy

Summary: Platelet activating factors (PAF1β, PAF1γ, PAF:ah, PAF-R) have a significant role during mammalian pregnancy process. This study aimed to investigate expression profiles of PAF gene family in cat uterus during pregnancy. Tissue samples were collected via ovariohysterectomy at days 7 (Gr1; n=3), 18-20 (Gr2; n=7), 24-25 (Gr3; n=5) after mating from the different regions of the uterus. Relative expression levels of genes were quantified using real-time qRT-PCR. A mixed model was fitted on the normalized data and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was employed to determine significant differences between groups. Expressions of PAF genes were assessed in the cat uterus during pregnancy around implantation period; however, no significant differences were detected between the preimplantation and the implantation stage. Similarly, no significant difference concerning mRNA expression was assessed between different parts of the uterus during pregnancy. In conclusion, PAF genes are expressed in the cat uterus during early pregnancy. However, this expression is not associated with changes in the uterus during early pregnancy.