Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares

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 endometri...

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Main Authors: Thadeu de Castro, Machteld van Heule, Rafael R. Domingues, Julio C. F. Jacob, Peter F. Daels, Stuart A. Meyers, Alan J. Conley, Pouya Dini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53578-z
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author Thadeu de Castro
Machteld van Heule
Rafael R. Domingues
Julio C. F. Jacob
Peter F. Daels
Stuart A. Meyers
Alan J. Conley
Pouya Dini
author_facet Thadeu de Castro
Machteld van Heule
Rafael R. Domingues
Julio C. F. Jacob
Peter F. Daels
Stuart A. Meyers
Alan J. Conley
Pouya Dini
author_sort Thadeu de Castro
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-d3261eb36ef1487987fdc623d376bfe42024-03-05T19:00:19ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-53578-zEmbryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in maresThadeu de Castro0Machteld van Heule1Rafael R. Domingues2Julio C. F. Jacob3Peter F. Daels4Stuart A. Meyers5Alan J. Conley6Pouya Dini7Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Animal and Dairy Sciences, The Ohio State UniversityDepartmento de Reprodução E Avalição Animal, Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de JaneiroDepartment of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of GhentDepartment of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CaliforniaAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53578-z
spellingShingle Thadeu de Castro
Machteld van Heule
Rafael R. Domingues
Julio C. F. Jacob
Peter F. Daels
Stuart A. Meyers
Alan J. Conley
Pouya Dini
Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
Scientific Reports
title Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
title_full Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
title_fullStr Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
title_full_unstemmed Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
title_short Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
title_sort embryo endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53578-z
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