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Altered endometrial immune gene expression in beef heifers with retarded embryos

M. E. Beltman A D, N. Forde B, P. Lonergan B C and M. A. Crowe A C

A School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
B School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
C Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
D Corresponding author. Email: marijke.beltman@ucd.ie

Reproduction, Fertility and Development - http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD12232
Submitted: 27 May 2012  Accepted: 28 August 2012   Published online: 4 October 2012


 
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare endometrial gene expression profiles in a group of beef heifers yielding viable or retarded embryos on Day 7 after oestrus as a means of potentially explaining differences in embryo survival rates. Heifers were classified as either: (1) viable, when the embryo collected on Day 7 after oestrus was at the correct developmental stage (i.e. morula/early blastocyst); or (2) retarded, when the embryo was arrested at the 2–16-cell stage. The focus of the present study was on genes that were associated with either the pro- or anti-inflammatory immune response. Endometrial gene expression was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Expression of the β-defensin (DEFB1), interferon (IFN)-α (IFNA), IFN-γ (IFNG), interleukin (IL)-6 (IL6), IL-10 (IL10), forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 1 (NCR1) genes was lower in endometria from viable than retarded heifers. Expression of the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 (NKFB1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β (TGFB), IFN-γ-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and IL-21 (IL21) genes was higher in viable than retarded heifers. We propose that small disturbances in the expression of immune genes in the endometrium on Day 7 after oestrus can have detrimental effects on embryo survival.

Additional keywords: anti-inflammatory, embryo development, pre-implantation, pro-inflammatory, uterus.


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