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Endometrial Gene Expression Predicts Pregnancy Outcome in Brahman Cows
Cecilia Constantino Rocha1,2, Felipe A C C Silva3, Ligia Cavani4
1Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Molecular Reproduction and Development
|August 17, 2025
Summary
Researchers identified key gene expression patterns in Brahman cows
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Bovine genomics
- Endometrial gene expression
Background:
- Limited studies exist on Bos indicus uterine biology.
- Endometrial gene expression may predict pregnancy success in cattle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a transcriptional signature in endometrial epithelial cells predicting pregnancy in Brahman cows.
- To investigate gene expression differences between pregnant and non-pregnant cows post-artificial insemination (AI).
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of endometrial cytology samples from pregnant and non-pregnant Brahman cows 4 days after estrus (D4).
- Targeted and untargeted gene expression analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.
- Pregnancy diagnosis at day 30 post-AI.
Main Results:
- 975 genes were significantly associated with pregnancy/AI, with most showing negative association.
- Pregnant cows exhibited downregulation of Th2 immune response and activation of cholesterol biosynthesis.
- Targeted transcript analysis showed higher accuracy but lower precision for pregnancy prediction compared to the whole transcriptome.
Conclusions:
- Endometrial receptivity is characterized by reduced molecular response.
- Th2 immune response and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways are crucial for understanding bovine uterine biology.
- A gene set approach offers a promising future for predicting pregnancy in cattle.
