Bioscientifica Proceedings

The porcine conceptus undergoes rapid differentiation and expansion of its trophoblastic membranes between days 11 and 12 of gestation. The production of estrogen, the porcine embryonic pregnancy recognition signal, by the conceptus increases with trophoblast elongation. A complex interplay of estrogen signaling and prostaglandin (PG) metabolism in the endometrium finally results in prevention of luteolysis. Conceptus attachment to the uterine surface epithelium starts a...