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Published on: June 22, 2014
Major histocompatibility complex-linked social signalling affects female fertility
D Burger1, S Thomas1, H Aepli1
1Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Agroscope and University of Berne, 1580 Avenches, Switzerland.
Female horses are more likely to get pregnant when exposed to males with different Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes. This suggests MHC-linked social signals influence early pregnancy success.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes influence social signaling and mate choice in many species.
- MHC signaling may play a role in female fertility, a factor less explored.
- Understanding MHC's impact on reproduction is crucial for evolutionary and conservation biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of MHC similarity on female fertility in horses (Equus caballus).
- To determine if MHC-linked social cues influence early pregnancy outcomes.
- To differentiate MHC effects from general genetic distance in reproductive success.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design exposing 191 female horses to MHC-similar or MHC-dissimilar stimulus males.
- Within-subject design controlled for individual female and non-MHC male traits.
- Instrumental insemination controlled for semen and embryo characteristics.
Main Results:
- Females exposed to MHC-dissimilar males had higher pregnancy rates compared to those exposed to MHC-similar males.
- Overall genetic distance, assessed via microsatellite markers, did not affect pregnancy rates.
- MHC-linked social signaling appears to influence cryptic female choice, impacting early pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- MHC-dissimilarity enhances the likelihood of conception in horses.
- Early pregnancy failures can be influenced by maternal decisions based on MHC-linked signals.
- This highlights the role of MHC in cryptic female choice and reproductive success.
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