Characterization of the endometrial transcriptome in early diestrus influencing pregnancy status in dairy cattle after transfer of in-vitro produced embryos

TY - JOUR

T1 - Characterization of the endometrial transcriptome in early diestrus influencing pregnancy status in dairy cattle after transfer of in-vitro produced embryos

AU - Mazzoni, Gianluca

AU - Pedersen, Hanne Skovsgaard

AU - Rabaglino, Maria B

AU - Hyttel, Poul

AU - Callesen, Henrik

AU - Kadarmideen, Haja N

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Modifications of the endometrial transcriptome at day 7 of the estrus cycle are crucial to maintain gestation after transfer of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos, although these changes are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify genes, and their related biological mechanisms, important for pregnancy establishment based on the endometrial transcriptome of recipient lactating dairy cows that become pregnant in the subsequent estrus cycle, upon transfer of IVP embryos. Endometrial biopsies were taken from Holstein Friesian cows on day 6-8 of the estrus cycle followed by embryo transfer in the following cycle. Animals were classified retrospectively as pregnant (PR, n = 8) or nonpregnant (non-PR, n = 11) cows, according to pregnancy status at 26-47 days. Extracted mRNAs from endometrial samples were sequenced with an Illumina platform to determine differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the endometrial transcriptome from PR and non-PR cows. There were 111 DEG (false discovery rate < 0.05), which were mainly related to extracellular matrix interaction, histotroph metabolic composition, prostaglandin synthesis, transforming growth factor-β signaling as well as inflammation and leukocyte activation. Comparison of these DEG with DEG identified in two public external data sets confirmed the more fertile endometrial molecular profile of PR cows. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the key early endometrial mechanisms for pregnancy establishment, after IVP embryo transfer in dairy cows.

AB - Modifications of the endometrial transcriptome at day 7 of the estrus cycle are crucial to maintain gestation after transfer of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos, although these changes are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify genes, and their related biological mechanisms, important for pregnancy establishment based on the endometrial transcriptome of recipient lactating dairy cows that become pregnant in the subsequent estrus cycle, upon transfer of IVP embryos. Endometrial biopsies were taken from Holstein Friesian cows on day 6-8 of the estrus cycle followed by embryo transfer in the following cycle. Animals were classified retrospectively as pregnant (PR, n = 8) or nonpregnant (non-PR, n = 11) cows, according to pregnancy status at 26-47 days. Extracted mRNAs from endometrial samples were sequenced with an Illumina platform to determine differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the endometrial transcriptome from PR and non-PR cows. There were 111 DEG (false discovery rate < 0.05), which were mainly related to extracellular matrix interaction, histotroph metabolic composition, prostaglandin synthesis, transforming growth factor-β signaling as well as inflammation and leukocyte activation. Comparison of these DEG with DEG identified in two public external data sets confirmed the more fertile endometrial molecular profile of PR cows. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the key early endometrial mechanisms for pregnancy establishment, after IVP embryo transfer in dairy cows.

KW - Biomarkers

KW - Candidate genes

KW - Fertility

KW - Molecular pathways

KW - RNA-Seq

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087320941&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00027.2020

DO - 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00027.2020

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32508252

SN - 1094-8341

VL - 52

SP - 269

EP - 279

JO - Physiological Genomics

JF - Physiological Genomics

IS - 7

ER -