Comparison of Total Protein, DNA, and RNA Contents by Corpus Luteum in Various Stages of Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy

This study was conducted to measure the total protein, DNA, and RNA contents of corpus luteum(CL) in various stages of estrous cycle and pregnancy. CLs were collected from a local slaughterhouse and stages of the estrous cycle of CL were classified as CL1~2, days 1 to 10; CL3(with/without central cavity), days 11 to 17; CL4, days 18 to 20 by method of Ireland et. al(1980) and stages of the pregnancy of CL were classified as P1~3, months 11~3: P4~6, months 4~6; P7~9, months 7~9 of pregnancy. CL3 with/without central cavity(CC) was identified as described by Kastelic et. al.(1990)-CL with CC, more than 2mm in diameter; CL without CC, less than 2mm in diameter. In total protein content, CL3 with CC was significantly lower than P7~9(p<.05). The total DNA content was lower in CL3 with CC than CL3 without CC and CL4(p<.05). In protein : DNA ratio, CL3 with CC was significantly lower than CL4(p<.05), CL3 without CC was significantly lower than P7~9(p<.05), CL4 was significantly lower than CL3 with CC, P1~3 and P7~9(p<.05). No differences were observed in RNA content, protein:RNA ratio, RNA/DNA of CLs in stages of estrous cycle and pregnancy.