Impact of oestrus synchronization devices on ewes vaginal microbiota and artificial insemination outcome.

Introduction: The low pregnancy rate by artificial insemination in sheep represents a fundamental challenge for breeding programs. In this species, oestrus synchronization is carried out by manipulating hormonal regimens through the insertion of progestogen intravaginal devices. This reproductive strategy may alter the vaginal microbiota affecting the artificial insemination outcome.

Blood transcriptome of Rasa Aragonesa rams with different sexual behavior phenotype reveals CRYL1 and SORCS2 as genes associated with this trait.

Reproductive fitness of rams is seasonal, showing the highest libido during short days coinciding with the ovarian cyclicity resumption in the ewe. However, the remarkable variation in sexual behavior between rams impair farm efficiency and profitability. Intending to identify in vivo sexual behavior biomarkers that may aid farmers to select active rams, transcriptome profiling of blood was carried out by analyzing samples from 6 sexually active (A) and 6 nonactive (NA) Rasa Aragonesa rams using RNA-Seq technique.

Characterization of the and hypothalamus transcriptome in female sheep under different reproductive stages.

For understanding the molecular events underlying the follicular (F) and luteal (L) phases of estrous cycle, and anestrous (A) phase, the (PT), and hypothalamus (HT) transcriptomes of 21 ewes were studied. In HT, 72 and 3 differential expression genes (DEGs) were found when comparing F A and L . A, respectively.

Exploring differentially expressed genes in hypothalamic, pars tuberalis and pineal gland transcriptomes in different sexual behavior phenotypes in rams using RNA-Seq.

Reproductive seasonality is a limiting factor in sheep production. Sexual behavior is a key element in reproductive efficiency, and this function is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. To understand the mechanisms of sexual behavior, transcriptomic sequencing technology was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus (HT), pars tuberalis (PT) and pineal gland (PG) in Rasa Aragonesa rams with different sexual behavior.

Genome-Wide Association Studies of Somatic Cell Count in the Assaf Breed.

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes associated with mastitis resistance in Assaf sheep by using the Illumina Ovine Infinium HD SNP BeadChip (680K). In total, 6173 records from 1894 multiparous Assaf ewes with at least three test day records and aged between 2 and 7 years old were used to estimate a corrected phenotype for somatic cell score (SCS). Then, 192 ewes were selected from the top ( = 96) and bottom ( = 96) tails of the corrected SCS phenotype distribution to be used in a GWAS.

Genome-Wide Association Study Demonstrates the Role Played by the Gene in Rasa Aragonesa Sheep Reproductive Seasonality.

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was used to identify genomic regions influencing seasonality reproduction traits in Rasa Aragonesa sheep. Three traits associated with either ovarian function based on blood progesterone levels (total days of anoestrus and progesterone cycling months) or behavioral signs of oestrous (oestrous cycling months) were studied. The GWAS included 205 ewes genotyped using the 50k and 680k Illumina Ovine Beadchips.

The Gene Is Associated with Reproductive Seasonality Traits in Rasa Aragonesa Sheep.

The aim of this study was to characterize and identify causative polymorphisms in the () gene responsible for the seasonal variation of reproductive traits in sheep. Three reproductive seasonality traits were studied: the total days of anoestrous (TDA), the progesterone cycling months (P4CM) and the oestrous cycling months (OCM). In total, 18 SNPs were detected in 33 ewes with extreme values for TDA and OCM.

Influence of the Ovine Genital Tract Microbiota on the Species Artificial Insemination Outcome. A Pilot Study in Commercial Sheep Farms.

To date, there is a lack of research into the vaginal and sperm microbiome and its bearing on artificial insemination (AI) success in the ovine species. Using hypervariable regions V3-V4 of the 16S rRNA, we describe, for the first time, the combined effect of the ovine microbiome of both females (50 ewes belonging to five herds) and males (five AI rams from an AI center) on AI outcome. Differences in microbiota abundance between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes and between ewes carrying progesterone-releasing intravaginal devices (PRID) with or without antibiotic were tested at different taxonomic levels.

A new allele in the BMP15 gene (FecX) that affects prolificacy co-segregates with FecX and FecX in Rasa aragonesa sheep.

A FecX-mutated allele called FecX in the BMP15 gene has been described in Rasa aragonesa sheep. FecX causes increased prolificacy when heterozygous and sterility when homozygous in ewes. However, highly prolific ewes without the FecX allele have been found in this breed.

Impact of polymorphism in DNA repair genes OGG1 and XRCC1 on seminal parameters and human male infertility.

The DNA repair capacity in the mature spermatozoa is highly compromised due to the base-excision repair (BER) route being truncated. In the mature spermatozoa, only the first enzyme of the route (OGG1) is present. Consequently, reduced activity of the enzymes of the BER route both during spermatogenesis and in the mature spermatozoa may be detrimental for fertility.

Effect of the feeding system on the fatty acid composition, expression of the Delta9-desaturase, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha, Gamma, and Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 genes in the semitendinous muscle of light lambs of the Rasa Aragonesa breed.

Background: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) are receiving increasing attention because of their beneficial effects on human health, with milk and meat products derived from ruminants as important sources of CLA in the human diet. SCD gene is responsible for some of the variation in CLA concentration in adipose tissues, and PPARgamma, PPARalpha and SREBP1 genes are regulator of SCD gene. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the feeding system on fatty acid composition, CLA content and relative gene expression of Delta9-desaturase (SCD), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARgamma), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha, (PPARalpha) and Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein (SREBP1) in Rasa Aragonesa light lambs in semitendinous muscle.