Transcriptomic effects of alginate hydrogel applied to the production of bovine embryos.

-produced blastocysts are exposed to different stimuli when compared with ones. This includes the culture of embryos in a sturdy petri-dish, while embryos develop in a soft and dynamic structure. Here we hypothesized that a softer environment could differently modulate the produced embryos To that aim, presumptive zygotes were produced by fertilization and divided into three groups: 1) Cultured in a regular Petri dish - Control (CON); 2) Cultured on top of an alginate hydrogel surface (TOP); 3) Encapsulated inside an alginate hydrogel sphere (ENC) and cultured.

Beta-hydroxybutyrate alters bovine preimplantation embryo development through transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms†.

Developing embryos are susceptible to fluctuations in the nutrients and metabolites concentrations within the reproductive tract, which can lead to alterations in their developmental trajectory. Ketotic dairy cows have diminished fertility, and elevated levels of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) have been associated with poor embryonic development. We used an in vitro model based on either in vitro fertilization (IVF) or parthenogenesis to investigate the effects of BHB on the preimplantation bovine embryo development, epigenome, and transcriptome.

Small extracellular vesicles derived from the crosstalk between early embryos and the endometrium potentially mediate corpus luteum function†.

The first interactions among the embryo, endometrium, and corpus luteum are essential for pregnancy success. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are part of these interactions. We previously demonstrated that small extracellular vesicles from in vivo- or in vitro-produced bovine embryos contain different miRNA cargos.

Labeled extracellular vesicles can be found in the blood plasma shortly after intrauterine infusion in bovine.

This study explored the migration of follicular fluid (FF)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) of the uterine environment to the bloodstream and their interaction with neutrophils and . For the experiment, six Nellore heifers () received an intrauterine infusion seven days after ovulation with 1X PBS only (sham group; n=1), 1X PBS stained with lipophilic dye PKH26 (control group; n=2), or FF-derived EVs stained with PKH26 (treated group; n=3). Plasma was collected at 0, 10, 30, 60-, 180-, 360-, 720-, and 1440-min post-infusion to obtained EVs for analysis by nano flow cytometry.

Corpus luteum proximity alters molecular signature of the small extracellular vesicles and cumulus cells in the bovine ovarian follicle environment.

Progesterone (P4) is predicted to act as a negative regulatory hormone for oocyte maturation events; however, its local effects during follicular development remain poorly understood in bovine. The complex process of oocyte meiosis progression is dependent on cellular communication among follicular cells. Besides, the breakdown of this communication, mainly between cumulus cells (CC) and oocyte, through the retraction of cumulus projections connecting these cells can impact oocyte maturation.