Abstract. Endothelial cells derived from the corpus luteum (CLENDOs) exhibit diverse characteristics presumably serving their wide-ranging roles in luteal function and fate. Here, several attributes of CLENDOs derived from cows at midcycle (days 9-12 of the estrous cycle) were compared with CLENDOs from early pregnancy (day 60 of pregnancy). Flow cytometric analysis of cells fluorescently-tagged with the lectins Bandeiraea simplicifolia (BS-1) and Concanavalin A (ConA) indicated that CLENDOs of midcycle CL do not differ from those of pregnancy. Mean fluorescence intensity for BS-1 was 15 ± 1 and 23 ± 7 fluorescent units for midcycle CLENDOs and CLENDOs of pregnancy, respectively (P>0.05). For ConA, mean fluorescence was 25 ± 2 and 26 ± 1 fluorescent units, respectively (P>0.05). The CLENDOs were also exposed to cytokines to assess differences in activation of nuclear factor kappa B signaling (NF-κB), induction of the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), cytokine production, and cytokine-induced cell death. In response to TNF, for instance, both types of CLENDOs exhibited a rapid, 5-fold decrease in NF-κB inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA) protein expression (P<0.05), and a 4-fold increase in IRF1 expression (P<0.05), that did not differ with phenotype (P>0.05). Similarly, both types of CLENDOs produced tumor necrosis factor alpha and chemokine ligand 2 in response to IFNG stimulation (P<0.05) that did not differ with phenotype (P>0.05). Lastly, extended exposure of CLENDOs of midcycle CL to cytokines induced cell death (~50% cell death vs. control) similar to the incidence of cell death seen previously in CLENDOs of early pregnancy. The results indicate that several physical and functional characteristics of CLENDOs of midcycle CL are retained through early pregnancy, including lectin-binding properties, sensitivity to cytokines, and the activation of cytokine-initiated intracellular signals. Key words: Bovine, Corpus luteum, Cytokine, Endothelial cell, Lectin (J. Reprod. Dev. 54: [183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191] 2008) he corpus luteum (CL) is a temporary endocrine gland that forms within the ovary following ovulation and contributes to estrous/menstrual cycle regularity and the establishment of early pregnancy [1]. Aside from its transient nature, an intriguing aspect of the CL is its adaptable lifespan. In domestic livestock, the CL remains functional for as few as 15-18 days to as many as 200-300 days depending upon species and reproductive status of the animal [2]. In the cow, the CL develops, functions, and begins to regress within 17-18 days of ovulation during the estrous cycle, but retains a functional lifespan of more than 200 days during pregnancy [3] . Similarly, luteal lifespan in the ewe ranges from 15-16 days during the estrous cycle to more than 50 days during pregnancy [4]. In fact in most placental mammals the continuation of luteal function associated with pregnancy extends well beyond the period of a single estrous or menstrual cycle and is required for the establi...