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Association between progesterone concentration and endometrial gene expression in dairy cows
L V Madoz1, M B Rabaglino2, A L Migliorisi3
1Instituto de Investigaciones en Reproducción Animal (INIRA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; National Research Council, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Domestic Animal Endocrinology
|July 5, 2020
Summary
Progesterone levels in dairy cows influence uterine gene expression. High progesterone supports a favorable environment for embryo implantation, while low levels activate immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genomics
- Dairy Science
Background:
- Progesterone is crucial for establishing and maintaining pregnancy in cattle.
- Understanding the endometrial transcriptome's response to progesterone is key for improving fertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between progesterone concentration on Days 4 and 9 of the estrus cycle and the endometrial transcriptome on Day 9 in lactating dairy cows.
- To identify specific genes and pathways affected by varying progesterone levels.
Main Methods:
- Lactating grazing dairy cows were grouped based on progesterone levels (low, anestrous, high, superovulated).
- Blood and endometrial biopsy samples were collected on specific days for progesterone measurement and RNA sequencing.
- Differential gene expression analysis was performed using edgeR in R software.
Main Results:
- 3,042 differentially expressed genes were identified across the four groups.
- High progesterone and superovulated groups clustered separately from low progesterone and anestrous groups.
- Low progesterone upregulated immune and inflammatory response genes, while high progesterone upregulated genes related to uterine relaxation, focal adhesion, and GnRH signaling.
Conclusions:
- A progesterone threshold in early luteal phase is critical for endometrial gene expression.
- This threshold influences the uterine environment's readiness for embryo implantation.
- Findings suggest a link between progesterone levels and a favorable uterine environment for fertility in dairy cows.
