1
|
Teles Filho ACDA, Sanchez DJD, Viana AGA, Sheheryar S, Guerreiro DD, Bustamante-Filho IC, Martins AMA, Sousa MV, Ricart CAO, Fontes W, Moura AA. A prospective study of the proteome of equine pre-implantation embryo. Reprod Domest Anim 2024; 59:e14663. [PMID: 38990011 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14663] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the global proteome of 8-day-old equine blastocysts. Follicular dynamics of eight adult mares were monitored by ultrasonography and inseminated 24 h after the detection of a preovulatory follicle. Four expanded blastocysts were recovered, pooled, and subjected to protein extraction and mass spectrometry. Protein identification was conducted based on four database searches (PEAKS, Proteome Discoverer software, SearchGUI software, and PepExplorer). Enrichment analysis was performed using g:Profiler, Panther, and String platforms. After the elimination of identification redundancies among search tools (at three levels, based on identifiers, peptides, and cross-database mapping), 1977 proteins were reliably identified in the samples of equine embryos. Proteomic analysis unveiled robust metabolic activity in the 8-day equine embryo, highlighted by an abundance of proteins engaged in key metabolic pathways like the TCA cycle, ATP biosynthesis, and glycolysis. The prevalence of chaperones among highly abundant proteins suggests that regulation of protein folding, and degradation is a key process during embryo development. These findings pave the way for developing new strategies to improve equine embryo media and optimize in vitro fertilization techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Deisy J D Sanchez
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | | | - Sheheryar Sheheryar
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Denise D Guerreiro
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Aline M A Martins
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo V Sousa
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Carlos A O Ricart
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Arlindo A Moura
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
de Castro T, van Heule M, Domingues RR, Jacob JCF, Daels PF, Meyers SA, Conley AJ, Dini P. Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3151. [PMID: 38326534 PMCID: PMC10850102 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryo-maternal crosstalk is essential to establish pregnancy, with the equine embryo moving throughout the uterus on days 9-15 (ovulation = day 0) as part of this interaction. We hypothesized that the presence of a mobile embryo induces local changes in the gene expression of the endometrium. On Day 12, the endometrial transcripts were compared among three groups: uterine horn with an embryo (P+, n = 7), without an embryo (P-, n = 7) in pregnant mares, and both uterine horns of nonbred mares (NB, n = 6). We identified 1,101 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between P+ vs. NB and 1,229 DEGs between P- vs. NB. The genes upregulated in both P+ and P- relative to NB were involved in growth factor pathway and fatty acid activation, while downregulated genes were associated with oxytocin signaling pathway and estrogen receptor signaling. Comparing the transcriptome of P+ to that of P-, we found 59 DEGs, of which 30 genes had a higher expression in P+. These genes are associated with regulating vascular growth factors and the immune system, all known to be essential in early pregnancy. Overall, this study suggests that the mobile embryo influences the endometrial gene expression locally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thadeu de Castro
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Machteld van Heule
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Rafael R Domingues
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Julio C F Jacob
- Departmento de Reprodução E Avalição Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janiro, 23897-000, Brazil
| | - Peter F Daels
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Stuart A Meyers
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Alan J Conley
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Pouya Dini
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|