Spatial and Pregnancy-Related Changes in the Protein, Amino Acid, and Carbohydrate Composition of Bovine Oviduct Fluid.

Knowledge of how the biochemical composition of the bovine oviduct is altered due to the oviduct anatomy or the presence of an embryo is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of (І) oviduct anatomy and (ІІ) embryo presence on oviductal fluid (OF) protein, amino acid, and carbohydrate composition. Cross-bred beef heifers ( = 19) were synchronized and those in standing estrus were randomly allocated to a cyclic (non-bred) or pregnant (artificially inseminated) group.

An approach to study the local embryo effect on gene expression in the bovine oviduct epithelium in vivo.

This study aimed to examine the local embryo effect on the transcriptomic response of the epithelial cells of the oviduct in vivo. Fifteen heifers were synchronized and artificially inseminated to a standing heat. All heifers were slaughtered on Day 2.

Ascorbic acid-cyclodextrin complex alters the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in bovine in vitro produced embryos.

Ascorbic acid (AC) used as antioxidant in embryo culture is very sensitive and degrades unavoidably in aqueous solution. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) improved the stability of AC in solution to elevated temperature, light, humidity and oxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the complex AC-CD during in vitro maturation (IVM) or in vitro culture (IVC) on oocyte developmental competence and subsequent embryo development and quality.

Effects of recombinant OVGP1 protein on in vitro bovine embryo development.

Previously, our group demonstrated that recombinant porcine oviductin (pOVGP1) binds to the zona pellucida (ZP) of in vitro-matured (IVM) porcine oocytes with a positive effect on in vitro fertilization (IVF). The fact that pOVGP1 was detected inside IVM oocytes suggested that this protein had a biological role during embryo development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pOVGP1 on bovine in vitro embryo development.

Fertilizing capacity of vitrified epididymal sperm from Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica).

In this study, we successfully described for the first time a vitrification of epididymal Iberian ibex spermatozoa. Spermatozoa from epididymis were obtained from 15 Iberian ibex. The right epididymis' semen sample was vitrified and the left one was frozen.

Bovine oviductal and uterine fluid support in vitro embryo development.

In order to mimic the maternal oviductal environment, we evaluated the effect of oviductal fluid (OF) and/or uterine fluid (UF) supplementation on in vitro embryo development and quality. In vitro-produced zygotes were cultured with 1.25% OF from Day 1 to Day 4 after insemination (OF group), 1.

The Consequences of Maternal-Embryonic Cross Talk During the Periconception Period on Subsequent Embryonic Development.

The periconception period comprises the final maturation of sperm and the processes of fertilization and early embryonic development, which take place in the oviduct. The final goal of these important events is to lead to establishment of pregnancy leading to the birth of healthy offspring. Studies in rodents and domestic animals have demonstrated that environmental conditions experienced during early development affect critical aspects of future growth, metabolism, gene expression, and physiology.

Cryopreservation of canine sperm using egg yolk and soy bean based extenders.

Animal protein-based extenders are widely used despite being a potential source of bacterial or mycoplasma contamination. Its replacement with vegetal protein-based extenders could represent an interesting alternative for dog sperm cryopreservation. This technique could be further improved by the addition of Tris-Glucose-Citric acid (TGC) that could physically protect the spermatozoa and improve its homeostasis.

Differential effects of high and low glucose concentrations during lipolysis-like conditions on bovine in vitro oocyte quality, metabolism and subsequent embryo development.

Lipolytic metabolic conditions are traditionally associated with elevated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, but may also be accompanied by hyperglycaemia in obesity or by hypoglycaemia during a negative energy balance status. Elevated NEFA concentrations disrupt oocyte and embryo development and quality, but little is known about whether the effects of lipolytic conditions on oocyte developmental competence are modulated by glucose availability. To answer this, bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured under different conditions: physiological NEFA (72µM) and normal glucose (5.

Maternal metabolic stress may affect oviduct gatekeeper function.

We hypothesized that elevated non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) modify bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) metabolism and barrier function. Hereto, BOECs were studied in a polarized system with 24-h treatments at Day 9: (1) control (0 µM NEFA + 0% EtOH), (2) solvent control (0 µM NEFA + 0.45% EtOH), (3) basal NEFA (720 µM NEFA + 0.

Effect of bovine oviductal extracellular vesicles on embryo development and quality .

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracellular vesicles (EV) from oviductal fluid (OF), either from the ampulla or isthmus, on the development and quality of -cultured bovine embryos. Zygotes were cultured in synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF + 3 mg/mL BSA) without calf serum (C- group), in the presence of 3 × 10 EV/mL from ampullary or isthmic OF at either 1 × 10 (10 K) or 1 × 10 (100 K), and compared with SOF + 5% FCS (C+ group). OF-EV size and concentration were assessed by electron microscopy and nanotracking analysis system.

Sexually Dimorphic Gene Expression in Bovine Conceptuses at the Initiation of Implantation.

In cattle, maternal recognition of pregnancy occurs on Day 16 via secretion of interferon tau (IFNT) by the conceptus. The endometrium can distinguish between embryos with different developmental competencies. In eutherian mammals, X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is required to ensure an equal transcriptional level of most X-linked genes for both male and female embryos in adult tissues, but this process is markedly different in cattle than mice.

Oviductal response to gametes and early embryos in mammals.

The oviduct is a complex and organized thin tubular structure connecting the ovary with the uterus. It is the site of final sperm capacitation, oocyte fertilization and, in most species, the first 3-4days of early embryo development. The oviductal epithelium is made up of ciliary and secretory cells responsible for the secretion of proteins and other factors which contribute to the formation of the oviductal fluid.

Maternal-embryo interaction in the bovine oviduct: Evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies.

Assisted reproductive technologies have provided a very useful tool for studying early embryonic development. The exchange of signals between the embryo and maternal environment during this period is critical to successful development, but most mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. Understanding how the mother communicates with gametes and embryos is a major scientific challenge but in vivo studies are difficult to perform, especially in cattle, since they are expensive, the amount of material is limited, and it is not possible to differentiate between the outcome of fertilization and early embryonic death.

Spatial differences in gene expression in the bovine oviduct.

The aim of this study was to compare the transcriptome of the oviductal isthmus of pregnant heifers with that of cyclic heifers as well as to investigate spatial differences between the transcriptome of the isthmus and ampulla of the oviduct in pregnant heifers. After synchronizing crossbred beef heifers, those in standing oestrus (=Day 0) were randomly assigned to cyclic (non-bred, n=6) or pregnant (artificially inseminated, n=11) groups. They were slaughtered on Day 3 and both oviducts from each animal were isolated and cut in half to separate ampulla and isthmus.

Short- and long-term outcomes of the absence of protein during bovine blastocyst formation in vitro.

In cattle, individual in vitro embryo culture after Day 6 benefits development, allowing non-invasive analysis of culture medium. However, undefined supplements in culture reduce analytical reliability. In this study we assayed the short- and long-term performance of embryos after bovine serum albumin removal over a 24-h period in individual culture.

Extracellular Vesicles from BOEC in In Vitro Embryo Development and Quality.

To evaluate the effect of conditioned media (CM) and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) derived from bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) lines on the developmental capacity of bovine zygotes and the quality of embryos produced in vitro, presumptive zygotes were cultured under specific conditions. In experiment 1, zygotes were cultured either on monolayers from BOEC extended culture (E), together with fresh BOEC suspension cells, or with BOEC-CM from fresh or E-monolayers. In experiment 2, EVs were isolated from BOEC-CM and characterized (150-200 nm) by Nanosight® and electron microscopy.

Effect of bovine oviductal fluid on development and quality of bovine embryos produced in vitro.

To evaluate the effect of bovine oviductal fluid (OF) supplementation during in vitro culture of bovine embryos on their development and quality, in vitro-produced zygotes were cultured in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF; negative control; C) supplemented with OF or 5% fetal calf serum (positive control; C). Embryo development was recorded on Days 7-9 after insemination and blastocyst quality was assessed through cryotolerance, differential cell counting of the inner cell mass and trophectoderm, and gene expression. OF was added to the culture medium at concentrations ranging from 0.

Oviduct-Embryo Interactions in Cattle: Two-Way Traffic or a One-Way Street?

This study examined the effect of the presence of single or multiple embryos on the transcriptome of the bovine oviduct. In experiment 1, cyclic (nonbred, n = 6) and pregnant (artificially inseminated, n = 11) heifers were slaughtered on Day 3 after estrus, and the ampulla and isthmic regions of the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum were separately flushed. Oviductal epithelial cells from the isthmus region, in which all oocytes/embryos were located, were snap-frozen for microarray analysis.

Elevated non-esterified fatty acid concentrations during in vitro murine follicle growth alter follicular physiology and reduce oocyte developmental competence.

Objective: To study how long-term elevated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, typical in metabolic disorders such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, affect murine follicular development, follicle quality, and subsequent oocyte developmental competence in vitro.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: In vitro culture setting.

An efficient system to establish biopsy-derived trophoblastic cell lines from bovine embryos.

Trophoblastic cells play a crucial role in implantation and placentogenesis and can be used as a model to provide substantial information on the peri-implantation period. Unfortunately, there are few cell lines for this purpose in cattle because of the difficulty of raising successive cell stocks in the long-term. Our results show that the combination of a monolayer culture system in microdrops on a surface treated with gelatin and the employment of conditioned media from mouse embryonic fibroblasts support the growth of bovine trophoblastic cells lines from an embryo biopsy.

The effect of lactation on post-partum uterine involution in Holstein dairy cows.

The objective was to examine the effect of lactation on uterine involution in post-partum dairy cows. Holstein primiparous cows were used (n = 19, mean age: 3.9 ± 0.

Effect of hCG administration during corpus luteum establishment on subsequent corpus luteum development and circulating progesterone concentrations in beef heifers.

This study examined the effect of a single administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on Day 1 to 4 after oestrus on corpus luteum (CL) development and circulating progesterone (P4). Oestrus-synchronized heifers (n=43) were administered a single intramuscular injection of saline on Day 1 (control) or 3000IU hCG on Day 1, 2, 3 or 4 after oestrus. Administration of hCG on Day 1 had no effect on CL area, on Day 2 increased CL area from Day 6 to 12 (P<0.

Paradoxical effect of supplementary progesterone between Day 3 and Day 7 on corpus luteum function and conceptus development in cattle.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of short-term progesterone (P4) supplementation during the early metoestrous period on circulating P4 concentrations and conceptus development in cattle. The oestrous cycles of cross-bred beef heifers were synchronised using a 7-day P4-releasing intravaginal device (PRID® Delta; 1.55 g P4) treatment with administration of a prostaglandin F(2α) analogue (Enzaprost; CEVA Sante Animale) the day before PRID® Delta removal.