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Cuadro F, García Pintos C, Núñez-Olivera R, Brochado C, Bó GA, Menchaca A. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) treatment in heifers: Double ovulation, twinning rate, and pregnancy losses in twin pregnancies. Theriogenology 2024; 226:213-218. [PMID: 38914033 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; 200 and 300 IU) administered at the end of a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) treatment protocol on ovulation, pregnancy, and twin rates in Bos taurus beef heifers. In addition, pregnancy losses in heifers with singleton and twin pregnancies were determined. A total of 2382 Angus heifers treated with a 6-day estradiol/progesterone-based protocol for FTAI (J-Synch protocol) were randomly allocated to two experimental groups to receive 200 or 300 IU of eCG administered intramuscularly at the time of intravaginal progesterone device removal; FTAI was performed from 60 to 72 h after device removal. The pregnancy rate did not differ (P = 0.89) between the 200 and 300 IU eCG groups. The number of corpus luteum induced by both eCG doses was determined by ultrasonographic examination 14 days after insemination and those treated with 300 IU of eCG had a greater double ovulation rate (P < 0.05). In addition, 300 IU eCG treated heifers had a higher twinning rate on day 30 of gestation (P < 0.05) and parturition (P < 0.05). Pregnancy losses from 30 days of gestation to calving did not differ between heifers treated with 200 and 300 IU of eCG (P = 0.70). However, regardless of the experimental group, heifers bearing twins had greater pregnancy losses than heifers with singletons (P < 0.05). In conclusion, reducing the dose of eCG from 300 to 200 IU under FTAI treatment protocol decreases double ovulation and twinning rates, maintaining a similar pregnancy rate in heifers. Nulliparous cows carrying two fetuses suffer greater pregnancy losses than cows with singletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cuadro
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay; Plataforma de Investigación en Salud Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - C García Pintos
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay; Plataforma de Investigación en Salud Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - R Núñez-Olivera
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - C Brochado
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - G A Bó
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC), Córdoba, Argentina; Instituto A.P. de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Villa del Rosario, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - A Menchaca
- Instituto de Reproducción Animal Uruguay, Fundación IRAUy, Montevideo, Uruguay; Plataforma de Investigación en Salud Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Gimeno I, Salvetti P, Carrocera S, Gatien J, Le Bourhis D, Gómez E. The recipient metabolome explains the asymmetric ovarian impact on fetal sex development after embryo transfer in cattle. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae081. [PMID: 38567815 PMCID: PMC11005770 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
In cattle, lateral asymmetry affects ovarian function and embryonic sex, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The plasma metabolome of recipients serves to predict pregnancy after embryo transfer (ET). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the plasma metabolome exhibits distinct lateral patterns according to the sex of the fetus carried by the recipient and the active ovary side (AOS), i.e., the right ovary (RO) or the left ovary (LO). We analyzed the plasma of synchronized recipients by 1H+NMR on day 0 (estrus, n = 366) and day 7 (hours prior to ET; n = 367). Thereafter, a subset of samples from recipients that calved female (n = 50) or male (n = 69) was used to test the effects of embryonic sex and laterality on pregnancy establishment. Within the RO, the sex ratio of pregnancies carried was biased toward males. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in metabolite levels were evaluated based on the day of blood sample collection (days 0, 7 and day 7/day 0 ratio) using mixed generalized models for metabolite concentration. The most striking differences in metabolite concentrations were associated with the RO, both obtained by multivariate (OPLS-DA) and univariate (mixed generalized) analyses, mainly with metabolites measured on day 0. The metabolites consistently identified through the OPLS-DA with a higher variable importance in projection score, which allowed for discrimination between male fetus- and female fetus-carrying recipients, were hippuric acid, l-phenylalanine, and propionic acid. The concentrations of hydroxyisobutyric acid, propionic acid, l-lysine, methylhistidine, and hippuric acid were lowest when male fetuses were carried, in particular when the RO acted as AOS. No pathways were significantly regulated according to the AOS. In contrast, six pathways were found enriched for calf sex in the day 0 dataset, three for day 7, and nine for day 7/day 0 ratio. However, when the AOS was the right, 20 pathways were regulated on day 0, 8 on day 7, and 13 within the day 7/day 0 ratio, most of which were related to amino acid metabolism, with phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism pathways being identified throughout. Our study shows that certain metabolites in the recipient plasma are influenced by the AOS and can predict the likelihood of carrying male or female embryos to term, suggesting that maternal metabolism prior to or at the time of ET could favor the implantation and/or development of either male or female embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gimeno
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain
| | - Pascal Salvetti
- ELIANCE, Experimental facilities, Le Perroi, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Susana Carrocera
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain
| | - Julie Gatien
- ELIANCE, Experimental facilities, Le Perroi, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Enrique Gómez
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Camino de Rioseco 1225, 33394 Gijón, Spain
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Chirichella R, Apollonio M, Luccarini S, Berlinguer F. Laterality in roe deer embryos implantation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:994-1002. [PMID: 37602642 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Female reproductive success is one of the most important life-history traits to be monitored when determining population dynamics in free-ranging ungulates. Several studies have described how phenotypic characteristics of the mother, climatic conditions, population status, and habitat can impact on potential reproductive output in wild ungulates. However, little is known regarding the internal, physiological factors, that may account for differences in implantation rates. The present study investigated the differences in implantation rates and site on the basis of site and number of ovulations through the examination of about 3000 intact uteri collected from pregnant roe deer does (Capreolus capreolus). Although ovulation occurs with the same frequency in the left and right ovary, we revealed a higher frequency of embryos implantation in the left uterine horn in odd litter size, demonstrating that embryos can migrate between the uterine horns. In our study, a greater proportion of reproductive wastage was associated to females with three and four corpora lutea and interestingly, in relation to the site of ovulation, the percentage of corpora lutea that did not correspond to a fetus was higher in the right ovary than in the left one (73.2% vs. 26.8%). Our research described for the first time the absence of laterality in ovulation and the presence of laterality in implantation in roe deer, thus laying the foundations for in-depth studies about the functionality of this uterine side and for comparisons with populations located in other geographical areas to understand whether it is a widespread phenomenon or a local adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Chirichella
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Apollonio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Siriano Luccarini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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Szelényi Z, Szenci O, Bodó S, Kovács L. Noninfectious Causes of Pregnancy Loss at the Late Embryonic/Early Fetal Stage in Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3390. [PMID: 37958145 PMCID: PMC10650878 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In cattle, initial pregnancy diagnosis takes place during the late embryonic/early fetal stage of gestation. From this point onward, pregnancy loss may occur in up to one fifth of pregnancies before the initial pregnancy diagnosis is confirmed. This means the early identification of risk factors is a key part of pregnancy diagnosis and herd management. The various factors responsible for pregnancy losses are classified into infectious and noninfectious. Among the noninfectious causes, several dam-related (circumstances of the individual pregnancy or milk production) and herd-related factors causing stress have been well established. In this review, we summarize the impacts of these noninfectious factors and predict associated risks of pregnancy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Szelényi
- Department of Obstetrics and Farm Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Ottó Szenci
- Department of Obstetrics and Farm Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Szilárd Bodó
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary; (S.B.); (L.K.)
| | - Levente Kovács
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary; (S.B.); (L.K.)
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Madureira G, Gomez-León V, Grillo GF, Nascimento Andrade JP, Lett B, Moghbeli SM, Wiltbank MC, Kirkpatrick BW. Practical application of an impractical bovine genotype: creating bilateral twin pregnancies in Trio allele carriers. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5903076. [PMID: 32901281 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine twin birth is associated with detriments, including increased embryo/fetal losses, malpresentation, and dystocia. Incidence of these is lessened in bilateral compared with unilateral twin pregnancy. This study was undertaken to assess the use of follicular ablation by aspiration to create bilateral twin pregnancies in females with genetic potential for ~3.5 ovulations per cycle (Trio allele carriers). In experiment 1, carriers (n = 30) and noncarriers (n = 10) were synchronized for ovulation and timed artificial insemination (TAI). Follicles (>5 mm) in excess of one per ovary were aspirated ~16 h preceding TAI. Follicle count for females with follicles on only one ovary was reduced to two. Blood was sampled 2 wk post-TAI to assess progesterone (P4) concentrations; embryo count was determined by ultrasound 6 wk post-TAI. Circulating P4 concentration post-TAI was significantly (P < 0.001) associated with both genotype and subsequent pregnancy status (pregnant noncarriers: 7.06 ± 0.68 ng/mL; pregnant carriers: 5.54 ± 0.55 ng/mL; nonpregnant noncarriers: 5.22 ± 1.05 ng/mL; nonpregnant carriers: 3.13 ± 0.42 ng/mL). Experiment 2 was undertaken to offset the negative effects of follicular aspiration on subsequent P4 concentration observed in experiment 1. Carriers (n = 38) and noncarriers (n = 32) were submitted to TAI and follicle ablation as described for experiment 1. Additionally, accessory corpora lutea (CL) were induced in carriers by the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (carriers) at day 6 post-TAI. Consequently, P4 concentration post-TAI was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with subsequent pregnancy status (pregnant: 8.48 ± 0.61 ng/mL; nonpregnant: 6.70 ± 0.63 ng/mL) but not with genotype (carrier: 8.01 ± 0.59 ng/mL; noncarrier: 7.17 ± 0.64 ng/mL). Embryo number was greater in carriers (exp. 1: 1.64 ± 0.81; exp 2: 1.45 ± 0.09) vs. noncarriers (1.00 ± 0.00, both experiments). Single, twin, and triplet pregnancies occurred in carriers in experiment 1, whereas multiples in experiment 2 were limited to twin pregnancies. Genotype effects on pregnancy rate were not significant (P > 0.10) in either experiment. Results suggest that follicular ablation to create bilateral twin pregnancies in Trio carriers is feasible but requires the induction of accessory CL to offset the negative effects of follicular aspiration on subsequent P4 concentration and associated fertility outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Madureira
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Victor Gomez-León
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | | | | | - Beth Lett
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | | | - Milo C Wiltbank
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Brian W Kirkpatrick
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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Early pregnancy diagnoses based on physiological indexes of dairy cattle: a review. Trop Anim Health Prod 2020; 52:2205-2212. [PMID: 32020411 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02230-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
With the development of standardization and scaling in the dairy farming industry, timely and accurate pregnancy diagnosis is required to improve the benefits of breeding by shortening the calving interval. However, the current pregnancy diagnostic methods cannot meet the requirements of the industry. Here, we review changes in the physiological indexes and in the function and morphological status of the reproductive organs of dairy cows at the early stages of pregnancy. In addition, the corresponding pregnancy diagnostic methods based on certain indexes are well development, and the pregnancy diagnostic approaches based on remote sensing and automation technology have become inevitable trends in the industry. These applications will reveal physiological regularities in pregnancy and benefit the detailed management of dairy cows during early pregnancy.
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