The early diagnosis of bovine pregnancy is an essential component of successful reproductive planning on farms, because lack of bovine pregnancy over the long term results in reproductive failure and low milk yield‐the latter of which is a special concern on dairy farms. This study was designed to identify early pregnancy‐specific whey proteins in bovine, by comparing milk samples collected from cattle during pregnancy (Days 30 and 50) and from non‐pregnant cattle. In this study, differentially expressed proteins in five pregnant and five non‐pregnant Holstein dairy cattle were investigated and compared, using proteomics analysis. The first dimension was applied to a pH 3.0～10.0 strip, by loading a 2‐mg milk protein sample. After the second‐dimension separation was performed, the gels were stained with colloidal Coomassie brilliant blue. The stained gels were scanned and the images were analyzed, to detect variations in protein spots between non‐pregnant and pregnant cattle milk protein spots, using ImageMaster; this was followed by analysis with MALDI TOF‐MS. Analysis of the 2‐DE gel image resulted in a total of approximately 500～600 protein spots, of which 12 spots were differentially expressed, six spots were up‐regulated, and four spots were downregulated; two spots were identified as pregnancy‐specific proteins. These proteins were identified as lactoferrin, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, albumin, serum albumin precursor and transferrin. Our results via 2‐D PAGE analysis revealed composite profiles of several milk proteins related to early bovine pregnancy, implying the possible use of these milk proteins in the early detection of bovine pregnancy.

To examine the differential protein expression pattern in the 11.5 day post-coitus (dpc) and 18.5 dpc placenta of mouse, we have used the global proteomics approach by 2-D gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF-MS. The differential protein patterns of 3 placentae at the 11.5 dpc and 18.5 dpc from nature mating mice were analyzed. Proteins within isoelectric point range of 3.0~10.0, separately were analyzed in 2DE with 3 replications of each sample. A total of approximately 1,600 spots were detected in placental 2-D gel stained with Coomassie-blue. In the comparison of 11.5 dpc and 18.5 dpc placentae, a total of 108 spots were identified as differentially expressed proteins, of which 51 spots were up-regulated proteins such as alpha-fetoprotein, mKIAA0635 protein and transferrin, annexin A5, while 48 spots were down-regulated proteins such as Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor 1(PBEF), aldolase 1, A isoform, while 4 spots were 11.5 dpc specific proteins such as chaperonin and Acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0, while 3 spots were 18.5 dpc specific proteins such as aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B7 and CAST1/ERC2 splicing variant-1. Most identified proteins in this analysis appeared to be related with catabolism, cell growth, metabolism and regulation. Our results revealed composite profiles of key proteins involved in mouse placenta during pregnancy.