Possible impact of neutrophils on immune responses during early pregnancy in ruminants.

The interaction between early embryo and maternal immune system for the establishment of pregnancy is the focus of several studies; however, it remains unclear. The maternal immune response needs to keep a balance between avoiding any damage to the conceptus and maintaining its function in combating microbes as well. When conceptus-maternal crosstalk cannot achieve this balance, pregnancy losses might occur.

Heat stress on oocyte or zygote compromises embryo development, impairs interferon tau production and increases reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in bovine embryos produced in vitro.

Interferon tau (IFNT) is the cytokine responsible for the maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants and plays a role modulating embryo-maternal communication in the oviduct inducing a local response from immune cells. We aimed to investigate IFNT production, reactive oxygen species, and oxidative stress under the influence of heat stress (HS) during different stages of bovine in vitro embryo production. HS was established when the temperature was gradually raised from 38.

Oncostatin M and its receptors mRNA regulation in bovine granulosa and luteal cells.

Oncostatin M (OSM) and its receptor (OSMR) are members of the interleukin-6 family cytokines. Although OSM and OSMR expression was detected in human ovaries, their function and regulation during follicle development, ovulation and luteolysis have not been studied in any species. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of OSM and OSMR mRNA in bovine ovaries and the effect of OSM treatment on cultured granulosa cells.