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Expression profile of genes related to pregnancy maintenance in Dromedary Camel during the first trimester. Anim Reprod Sci 2023; 251:107211. [PMID: 36990016 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
So far, few signals involved in embryo-maternal dialogue have been identified in pregnant she-camel. Our objective was to investigate expression profiles of genes relevant to uterine extracellular matrix remodeling (ITGB4, SLCO2A1, FOS, and JUN), uterine tissue vascularization, and placental formation (VEGFA, PGF, and PDGFA), embryonic growth and development (IGF1 and PTEN), plus cell death of uterine tissue (BCL2) in early pregnant versus non-pregnant she-camels. Forty genital tracts (20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant) and blood samples were collected from abattoirs. Total RNA was extracted from uterine tissues and qRT-PCR was conducted for candidate genes. Serum concentrations of progesterone (P4) and estradiol17-β (E2) were measured. Expression of ITGB4, FOS, and PGF genes increased (P < 0.001) in the right uterine horn of pregnant versus non-pregnant she-camels. Moreover, JUN, SLCO2A1, VEGFA, and PTEN mRNAs were up-regulated (P < 0.001) in various segments of uterine tissues in pregnant groups. The PDGFA transcript was over-expressed (P < 0.001) in both uterine horns of pregnant groups. Additionally, IGF1 was higher (P < 0.001) in the right horn and the uterine body of pregnant groups, and expression of BCL2 was increased (P < 0.001) in the pregnant uterine body. Moreover, serum concentrations of P4 were higher (P < 0.001) and E2 lower (P < 0.05) in pregnant she-camels. Taken together, the fine-tuning of genes related to implantation, matrix formation, vascularization, and placental formation is highly required for successful pregnancy in she-camels.
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Bianchi CP, Gallelli MF, Herrera JM, Benavente MA, Rossetto L, Aba MA. Current knowledge about the processes of luteolysis and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58:3-9. [PMID: 36149369 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Camelids have many unique reproductive features that considerably differ from those of other domestic species. Females are induced ovulators with subsequent development of a corpus luteum (CL) with a short lifespan. Plasma progesterone concentration starts to increase on day 4, peaks on day 8-9 and, in non-pregnant animals, basal concentration is reached around day 10-11 post-induction of ovulation. Luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α ) are firstly detected on day 7 or 8 (approximately on day 5-6 after ovulation), with maximal luteolytic peaks observed between days 9 and 11 post-mating, in coincidence with a high endometrial expression of cyclooxygenase 2, a limiting enzyme in prostaglandins synthesis. Unlike other species, oxytocin seems not to be involved in the luteolytic process in these species. The CL is the main source of progesterone secretion, and its function is required to support pregnancy. Despite constant research efforts, aspects of reproduction and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids remain not fully understood. A transient decrease and subsequent recovery in plasma progesterone concentration are observed after day 9 post-mating in pregnant animals in association with a pulsatile release of PGF2α and a transitory decrease in CL vascularization. Thus, embryo recognition should occur between days 8 and 12 post-mating. In camels, conceptus tissues exhibit aromatizing activity with the capacity to synthesize large amounts of oestradiol. Similarly, llama blastocysts secrete oestradiol-17β during the preimplantation stage, with a higher production during the elongation period. An increase in the endometrial expression of oestrogen receptor α is also observed on day 12 post-mating. All these evidences suggest that oestrogen could be the signal released by the embryo at the time of its recognition in camelids. Besides, nearly 98% of pregnancies are carried out in the left horn. A decrease in the endometrial expression of mucin 1 and 16 genes has been reported, suggesting that these changes are crucial for successful embryo implantation; however, no differences have been observed between horns. Thus, maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids is a particularly complex process that must occur in a concise time to allow the rescue of the CL and embryo survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Paula Bianchi
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina.,Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET - CICPBA - Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina.,CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria F Gallelli
- CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Cátedra de Teriogenología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Herrera
- Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Micaela A Benavente
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina.,Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET - CICPBA - Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina.,CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liliana Rossetto
- Cátedra de Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, General Pico, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Alfredo Aba
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina.,Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET - CICPBA - Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina
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Gallelli MF, Bianchi C, Zampini E, Bertuzzi M, Aba M, Neild D, Miragaya M. Effect of hCG administration on Day 7 post-mating on accessory corpus luteum development and progesterone concentration in llamas. Theriogenology 2021; 180:154-160. [PMID: 34973647 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.12.026] [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: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A high embryo loss rate has been reported in llamas. As strategies that lead to an increase in plasma progesterone (P4) concentration might improve fertility, the aim of the present study was to evaluate if the administration of hCG on Day 7 post-mating is useful to develop an accessory corpus luteum (CL), increasing plasma P4 concentration. Twenty (n = 20) female llamas, ranging between 5 and 10 years of age and four (n = 4) males of proven fertility, ranging between 8 and 10 years of age were included in the study. Accessory CL developed in all treated llamas after hCG administration and plasma P4 concentration was significantly greater in treated than in control females (P˂0.0001). The diameter and vascularization of the original CL were not affected by treatment in pregnant llamas. However, in treated non-pregnant llamas, corpus luteum diameter was greater than in the control group from Day 14 post-mating until the end of the study (P˂0.001). In treated llamas, the accessory CL was detected throughout the study in pregnant and non-pregnant females, but its vascularization started to decrease around Day 16 post-mating in non-pregnant animals (P˂0.05). In conclusion, hCG treatment on Day 7 post mating was useful to induce an accessory CL and increase plasma P4 concentration in llamas. Thus, this treatment could be considered as a useful strategy to improve pregnancy rates in llama herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Gallelli
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carolina Bianchi
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Endocrinología, CIVETAN, Fac. de Cs. Veterinarias, UNCPBA, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Enzo Zampini
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Bertuzzi
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Aba
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología, CIVETAN, Fac. de Cs. Veterinarias, UNCPBA, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Deborah Neild
- Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Miragaya
- Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Perez Guerra UH. Reproductive ultrasonography: an important tool for the study of reproductive physiology in camelids. JOURNAL OF THE SELVA ANDINA ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.36610/j.jsaas.2021.080100001x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Perez Guerra UH, Bustamante Quispe CW, Luque Mamani N, Huayta Arizaca RF, Condori Chuchi EA, Catacora Flores NL, Pérez Durand MG. Caracterization ultrasonographic B-mode and Doppler of the corpus luteum in llamas. JOURNAL OF THE SELVA ANDINA ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.36610/j.jsaas.2021.080100003x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Perez Guerra UH. Ultrasonografía reproductiva: una herramienta importante para el estudio de fisiología reproductiva en camélidos. JOURNAL OF THE SELVA ANDINA ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.36610/j.jsaas.2021.080100001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Perez Guerra UH, Bustamante Quispe CW, Luque Mamani N, Huayta Arizaca RF, Condori Chuchi EA, Catacora Flores NL, Pérez Durand MG. Caracterización ultrasonográfica modo-B y Doppler del cuerpo lúteo en llamas. JOURNAL OF THE SELVA ANDINA ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.36610/j.jsaas.2021.080100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Zampini EG, Gallelli MF, Chaves MG, Neild DM, Gambarotta M, Miragaya MH, Trasorras VL. Uterine and Corpus Luteum Blood Flow Evaluation Prior to Uterine Flushing in Llama Embryo Donors. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:597960. [PMID: 33282934 PMCID: PMC7705098 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.597960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the uterine blood flow (UBF) and corpus luteum blood flow (CLBF) in llamas 8 days post-mating, using color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDU), to determine the possible relationship between vascularization and the presence of an embryo. Adult females (n = 25) were used to monitor ovarian dynamics by palpation and transrectal ultrasonography until detection of a ≥6 mm growing follicle. Females were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group I (n = 19), were mated and ovulation was induced by a single dose of buserelin (GnRH analog) that same day (Day 0); and Group II (n = 6), only ovulation was induced (control). On Day 8, UBF and CLBF were evaluated transrectally in both groups. The color-flow images obtained were analyzed with Image J1.52a software to determine the vascularization area and the percentage of corpus luteum with blood flow emission (CLBF%) together with the percentage for each uterine horn (UBF%). Statistical analysis was performed using an ANOVA test. In Group I, uterine flushing was performed to obtain the embryos, thus dividing the females into Group I+ (n = 10), when an embryo was recovered and Group I- (n = 9), when no embryo was recovered. Embryo recovery rate was 52.63% (10/19). In Group I+, UBF% was significantly higher compared to Group I- and Group II (P <0.05). UBF appears to be a good predictor for embryo presence, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9 and an optimal cut-off value of 9.37% (with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 88.9%). The CLBF% did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, it is possible to detect a local increase of UBF in the presence of an embryo on day 8 post-mating in llamas. This could be useful to achieve an early pregnancy diagnosis or to decide whether to carry out the uterine flushing in a llama embryo transfer program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enzo G Zampini
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Teriogenología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María F Gallelli
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Teriogenología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María G Chaves
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Teriogenología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Deborah M Neild
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Teriogenología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Gambarotta
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Cátedra de Bioestadística, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo H Miragaya
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Teriogenología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia L Trasorras
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de Teriogenología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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