Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, cilt.40, sa.1, ss.46-50, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of this study was to investigate, whether the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in the serum of pregnant and non-pregnant bitches differs significantly. For this purpose, 81 blood samples were taken from pregnant bitches at days 5-13, 15-21, 24-31, 34-40 and 41-50 after mating, and 51 samples from non-pregnant animals at corresponding times. Relative enzyme activity, calculated as the percentage of serum enzyme activity on enzyme activity in a control sample, was determined with a commercially available assay after activation of serum MMPs with p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA). In addition, serum oestradiol (E-2) and progesterone (P-4) concentrations were measured with an enzymeimmunoassay (EIA). In the pregnant bitches, at days 5-13 and 15-21 after mating, the mean activity of both MMPs was significantly higher than in non-pregnant animals (28.5% vs 24.5% and 27.7% vs 22.6%; p < 0.01). Moreover, in the pregnant bitches, significant correlations were detected between the serum enzyme activity and the serum concentrations of E-2 (-0.900; p < 0.05) and P-4 (+0.667; p < 0.05).