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Brito LFC. Nutrition and Sexual Development in Bulls. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2024; 40:1-10. [PMID: 37684108 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2023.08.002] [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] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This manuscript provides an overview of the effects of nutrition during different stages of bull sexual development. Nutrition during the prepubertal period can modulate the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. Increased nutrition results in greater LH secretion, earlier puberty, and greater testicular mass in yearling bulls, whereas low nutrition has opposite effects. Targeting average daily gain from birth to 24 weeks of age to > 1.2 kg/d and limiting gain after 24 weeks of age to < 1.6 kg/d is recommended to optimize bull sexual development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo F C Brito
- Department of Clinical Studies - New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
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2
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Byrne CJ, Keogh K, Kenny DA. Review: Role of early life nutrition in regulating sexual development in bulls. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100802. [PMID: 37567659 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100802] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The availability of high-quality semen from genetically elite bulls is essential to support continued genetic gain and the sustainability of cattle production worldwide. While reducing the age at which usable semen is available also reduces the generation interval, it is dependent on timely onset of puberty in young bulls. There is now good evidence that hastened sexual development in bulls is achieved through enhancing nutrition in early life. This review will cover the physiological and molecular-based response to prevailing diet in key organs that orchestrate the ontogeny of sexual development in the bull calf. Given the central importance of the interaction between metabolic status and neuronal function to the progression of sexual development, we will discuss how communication between metabolic organs, reproductive organs and the brain are mediated via molecular and physiological processes. The availability of high-throughput nucleic acid and protein sequencing technologies and innovative data analytics have allowed us to improve our understanding of molecular regulation of puberty and sexual development. Analysing data from a number of organs, simultaneously, allows for a better understanding of the underlying biology and biochemical interactions that are influencing sexual development. Specifically, we can determine how early life nutritional interventions augment changes in potential key molecules regulating sexual development. Ultimately, a greater understanding of the inherent regulation of postnatal sexual development in the bull calf and how strategically targeted nutritional management can advance the ontogeny of this process, will facilitate the timely availability of high-quality semen from genetically elite animals, thus supporting more economically and environmentally sustainable beef and dairy production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Byrne
- Animal and Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath C15 PW93, Ireland
| | - K Keogh
- Animal and Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath C15 PW93, Ireland
| | - D A Kenny
- Animal and Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Dunsany, Co. Meath C15 PW93, Ireland; School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin D04 F6X4, Ireland.
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Li W, Liu J, Wu W, Yao T, Weng X, Yue X, Li F. Effect of corn straw or corncobs in total mixed ration during peri-puberty on testis development in Hu lambs. Theriogenology 2023; 201:106-115. [PMID: 36868048 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.02.027] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Corn straw and corncobs contain large amounts of crude fibers and are widely used in mutton sheep husbandry in northwest China. The aim of this study was to determine whether feeding with corn straw or corncobs affects lamb testis development. A total of 50 healthy Hu lamb at two-month-old (average body weight of 22.3 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly and equally divided into two groups, and the lambs were equally allocated to five pens in each group. The corn straw group (CS) received a diet containing 20% corn straw, whereas the corncobs group (CC) received a diet containing 20% corncobs. After a 77-day feeding trial, the lambs, except the heaviest and lightest in each pen, were humanely slaughtered and investigated. Results revealed no differences in body weight (40.38 ± 0.45 kg vs. 39.08 ± 0.52 kg) between the CS and CC groups. Feeding diet containing corn straw significantly (P < 0.05) increased testis weight (243.24 ± 18.78 g vs. 167.00 ± 15.20 g), testis index (0.60 ± 0.05 vs. 0.43 ± 0.04), testis volume (247.08 ± 19.99 mL vs. 162.31 ± 14.15 mL), diameter of seminiferous tubule (213.90 ± 4.91 μm vs. 173.11 ± 5.93 μm), and the number of sperm in the epididymis (49.91 ± 13.53 × 108/g vs. 19.34 ± 6.79 × 108/g) compared with those in the CC group. The RNA sequencing results showed 286 differentially expressed genes, and 116 upregulated and 170 downregulated genes were found in the CS group compared with the CC group. The genes affecting immune functions and fertility were screened out. Corn straw decreased the mtDNA relative copy number in the testis (P < 0.05). These results suggest that compared with corncobs, feeding corn straw in the early reproductive development stage of lambs increased the testis weight, diameter of seminiferous tubule and the number of cauda sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanhong Li
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China.
| | - Jiamei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Weiwei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Xinjiang Wool Sheep & Cashmere Goat, Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - Ting Yao
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Xiuxiu Weng
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Xiangpeng Yue
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Fadi Li
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China; Gansu Runmu Biological Engineering Co., Ltd., Yongchang, 737200, China
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4
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Johnson C, Kiefer H, Chaulot-Talmon A, Dance A, Sellem E, Jouneau L, Jammes H, Kastelic J, Thundathil J. Prepubertal nutritional modulation in the bull and its impact on sperm DNA methylation. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 389:587-601. [PMID: 35779136 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03659-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced pre-pubertal nutrition in Holstein bulls increased reproductive hormone production and sperm production potential with no negative effects on sperm quality. However, recent trends in human epigenetic research have identified pre-pubertal period to be critical for epigenetic reprogramming in males. Our objective was to evaluate the methylation changes in sperm of bulls exposed to different pre-pubertal diets. One-week-old Holstein bull calves (n = 9), randomly allocated to 3 groups, were fed either a high, medium or low diet (20%, 17% or 12.2% crude protein and 67.9%, 66% or 62.9% total digestible nutrients, respectively) from 2 to 32 weeks of age, followed by medium nutrition. Semen collected from bulls at two specific time points, i.e. 55-59 and 69-71 weeks, was diluted, cryopreserved and used for reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. Differential methylation was detected for dietary treatment, but minimal differences were detected with age. The gene ontology term, "regulation of Rho protein signal transduction", implicated in sperm motility and acrosome reaction, was enriched in both low-vs-high and low-vs-medium datasets. Furthermore, several genes implicated in early embryo and foetal development showed differential methylation for diet. Our results therefore suggest that sperm epigenome keeps the memory of diet during pre-pubertal period in genes important for spermatogenesis, sperm function and early embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinju Johnson
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Hélène Kiefer
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, ENVA, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Alysha Dance
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Eli Sellem
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Luc Jouneau
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, ENVA, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hélène Jammes
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, ENVA, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - John Kastelic
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jacob Thundathil
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
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Han L, Wang J, Zhao T, Wu Y, Wei Y, Chen J, Kang L, Shen L, Long C, Yang Z, Wu S, Wei G. Stereological analysis and transcriptome profiling of testicular injury induced by di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in prepubertal rats. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 220:112326. [PMID: 34015638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most common phthalate that can affect the male reproductive system. DEHP exposure at the prepubertal stage could lead to the injury of immature testes, but the mechanism has not been fully clarified. In the present study, we elucidated the possible underlying mechanism of DEHP-induced prepubertal testicular injury through stereological analysis and transcriptome profiling. Compared with the control group, the DEHP-treated rats had lower body weight gain and decreased testicular weight and organ coefficient. Moreover, lower serum levels of testosterone and LH were observed in the DEHP group, in contrast to the increased FSH level. Additionally, the serum level of estradiol had no significant difference after DEHP exposure. Stereological analysis showed significant reduction in volumes of most testicular structures, especially in the seminiferous tubule and seminiferous epithelium, along with a vast decrease of spermatogenic cells and obvious structural damages with substantial pathological signs (germ cracks, cytoplasmic vacuolization, sloughing, multinucleated giant cell formation, chromatolysis desquamation and dissolution, pyknosis of nuclei) in the seminiferous tubule upon DEHP exposure at the prepubertal stage. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling identified 5548 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upon DEHP exposure. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed several crucial signaling pathways related to retinol metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). In addition, seven DEGs selected from RNA-seq data were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the results showed the same trends as the RNA-seq results. In conclusion, the above findings provide basic morphological data and lay a foundation for systematic research on transcriptome profiling in prepubertal testicular injury induced by DEHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindong Han
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Junke Wang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Tianxin Zhao
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yuhao Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yuexin Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Jiadong Chen
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Lian Kang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Lianju Shen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Chunlan Long
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Zhengwei Yang
- Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, PR China
| | - Shengde Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
| | - Guanghui Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
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Paul N, Kumaresan A, Das Gupta M, Nag P, Guvvala PR, Kuntareddi C, Sharma A, Selvaraju S, Datta TK. Transcriptomic Profiling of Buffalo Spermatozoa Reveals Dysregulation of Functionally Relevant mRNAs in Low-Fertile Bulls. Front Vet Sci 2021; 7:609518. [PMID: 33506000 PMCID: PMC7829312 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.609518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although, it is known that spermatozoa harbor a variety of RNAs that may influence embryonic development, little is understood about sperm transcriptomic differences in relation to fertility, especially in buffaloes. In the present study, we compared the differences in sperm functional attributes and transcriptomic profile between high- and low-fertile buffalo bulls. Sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity were lower (P < 0.05), while protamine deficiency and lipid peroxidation were higher (P < 0.05) in low- compared to high-fertile bulls. Transcriptomic analysis using mRNA microarray technology detected a total of 51,282 transcripts in buffalo spermatozoa, of which 4,050 transcripts were differentially expressed, and 709 transcripts were found to be significantly dysregulated (P < 0.05 and fold change >1) between high- and low-fertile bulls. Majority of the dysregulated transcripts were related to binding activity, transcription, translation, and metabolic processes with primary localization in the cell nucleus, nucleoplasm, and in cytosol. Pathways related to MAPK signaling, ribosome pathway, and oxidative phosphorylation were dysregulated in low-fertile bull spermatozoa. Using bioinformatics analysis, we observed that several genes related to sperm functional attributes were significantly downregulated in low-fertile bull spermatozoa. Validation of the results of microarray analysis was carried out using real-time qPCR expression analysis of selected genes (YBX1, ORAI3, and TFAP2C). The relative expression of these genes followed the same trend in both the techniques. Collectively, this is the first study to report the transcriptomic profile of buffalo spermatozoa and to demonstrate the dysregulation of functionally relevant transcripts in low-fertile bull spermatozoa. The results of the present study open up new avenues for understanding the etiology for poor fertility in buffalo bulls and to identify fertility biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilendu Paul
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arumugam Kumaresan
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Mohua Das Gupta
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Pradeep Nag
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Pushpa Rani Guvvala
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, ICAR - National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru, India
| | - Channareddi Kuntareddi
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Ankur Sharma
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Sellappan Selvaraju
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, ICAR - National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru, India
| | - Tirtha Kumar Datta
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, ICAR - National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
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Wu C, Sirard MA. Parental Effects on Epigenetic Programming in Gametes and Embryos of Dairy Cows. Front Genet 2020; 11:557846. [PMID: 33173533 PMCID: PMC7591718 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.557846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The bovine represents an important agriculture species and dairy breeds have experienced intense genetic selection over the last decades. The selection of breeders focused initially on milk production, but now includes feed efficiency, health, and fertility, although these traits show lower heritability. The non-genetic paternal and maternal effects on the next generation represent a new research topic that is part of epigenetics. The evidence for embryo programming from both parents is increasing. Both oocytes and spermatozoa carry methylation marks, histones modifications, small RNAs, and chromatin state variations. These epigenetic modifications may remain active in the early zygote and influence the embryonic period and beyond. In this paper, we review parental non-genetic effects retained in gametes on early embryo development of dairy cows, with emphasis on parental age (around puberty), the metabolism of the mother at the time of conception and in vitro culture (IVC) conditions. In our recent findings, transcriptomic signatures and DNA methylation patterns of blastocysts and gametes originating from various parental and IVC conditions revealed surprisingly similar results. Embryos from all these experiments displayed a metabolic signature that could be described as an "economy" mode where protein synthesis is reduced, mitochondria are considered less functional. In the absence of any significant phenotype, these results indicated a possible similar adaptation of the embryo to younger parental age, post-partum metabolic status and IVC conditions mediated by epigenetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc-André Sirard
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle (CRDSI), Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l’Agriculture et de l’Alimentation, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
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