Interferon, the oxytocin receptor and the maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants and non-ruminants: a comparative approach

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
AP Flint
Keyword(s):  
Roe Deer ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Type I ◽  
Embryonic Diapause ◽  
Domestic Pig ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Characteristic Type ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy

Ruminant and non-ruminant members of the Artiodactyla appear to use different mechanisms for the maternal recognition of pregnancy. In ruminants, the trophoblast of the developing blastocyst produces a characteristic Type I interferon of the interferon-tau family; this acts by blocking endometrial synthesis of the oxytocin receptor. A similar mechanism applies to domestic ruminants (sheep, cow, goat) and deer. In roe deer, which have embryonic diapause and are monoestrus, there is no requirement for a pre-implantation blastocyst signal to ensure maternal recognition of pregnancy. This paper compares the mechanisms leading to the maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants with that suggested to occur in a non-ruminant (the domestic pig).

scholarly journals Interferon-tau and fertility in ruminants

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (5) ◽  
pp. F33-F43 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Forde ◽  
P Lonergan
Keyword(s):  
Prostaglandin F2α ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Type I ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Uterine Endometrium ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Oxytocin Receptors ◽  
Pregnancy Recognition ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy ◽  
Primary Agent

Establishment of pregnancy in domestic ruminants includes pregnancy recognition signalling by the conceptus, implantation and placentation. Despite the high fertilisation success rate in ruminants, a significant amount of embryo loss occurs, primarily during early gestation. Interferon-tau (IFNT), a type I interferon that is exclusively secreted by the cells of the trophectoderm of the ruminant conceptus, has been recognised as the primary agent for maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants. It produces its antiluteolytic effect on the corpus luteum by inhibiting the expression of oxytocin receptors in the uterine epithelial cells, which prevents pulsatile, luteolytic secretion of prostaglandin F2α by the uterine endometrium. While the importance of IFNT in maternal recognition of pregnancy and prevention of luteolysis in ruminants is unequivocal, important questions, for example, relating to the threshold level of IFNT required for pregnancy maintenance, remain unanswered. This paper reviews data linking IFNT with measures of fertility in ruminants.

scholarly journals One Health Approach: An Overview of Q Fever in Livestock, Wildlife and Humans in Asturias (Northwestern Spain)

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1395
Author(s):  
Alberto Espí ◽  
Ana del Cerro ◽  
Álvaro Oleaga ◽  
Mercedes Rodríguez-Pérez ◽  
Ceferino M. López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
One Health ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Wild Ungulates ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Iberian Red Deer ◽  
Northwestern Spain

This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants, wild ungulates, as well as the current situation of Q fever in humans in a small region in northwestern Spain where a close contact at the wildlife–livestock–human interface exists, and information on C. burnetii infection is scarce. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii was 8.4% in sheep, 18.4% in cattle, and 24.4% in goats. Real-time PCR analysis of environmental samples collected in 25 livestock farms detected Coxiella DNA in dust and/or aerosols collected in 20 of them. Analysis of sera from 327 wild ungulates revealed lower seroprevalence than that found in domestic ruminants, with 8.4% of Iberian red deer, 7.3% chamois, 6.9% fallow deer, 5.5% European wild boar and 3.5% of roe deer harboring antibodies to C. burnetii. Exposure to the pathogen in humans was determined by IFAT analysis of 1312 blood samples collected from patients admitted at healthcare centers with Q fever compatible symptoms, such as fever and/or pneumonia. Results showed that 15.9% of the patients had IFAT titers ≥ 1/128 suggestive of probable acute infection. This study is an example of a One Health approach with medical and veterinary institutions involved in investigating zoonotic diseases.

scholarly journals The Importance of Interferon-Tau in the Diagnosis of Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Alicja Kowalczyk ◽  
Ewa Czerniawska-Piątkowska ◽  
Marcjanna Wrzecińska
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Type I ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Interferon Stimulated Genes ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
New Type ◽  
Pregnancy Recognition

Several decades of improving dairy cattle towards unilateral utilization of dairy cattle led to enormous progress in the field of milk yield; however, it resulted in a number of unfavorable features, such as reproductive disorders, increased calf mortality, and reduced health. Most cases of embryo loss and/or lost pregnancies occur during the first four to five weeks of gestation; accurate detection for pregnancy during this period is likely to contribute to an improvement in gestation rates. A specific protein, interferon-tau (IFNT), stimulates interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), and their expression increases during gestation within 21 days after insemination. In bovines, the early conceptus undergoes a phase of rapid growth and elongation before implantation, the latter occurring 2–3 weeks after fertilization. IFNT acts mainly in the endometrium of the luminal epithelium. It is a new type I interferon that regulates several genes encoding uterine-derived factors. They are crucial in the processes of preparing the uterus for placenta attachment, modifying the uterine immune system, and regulating early fetal development. Because IFNT is expressed and induces ISGs in the endometrium during pregnancy recognition, it was reasoned that surrogate markers for pregnancy or IFNT might be present in the blood and provide an indicator of pregnancy status in cattle.

6 Decelerating embryo development? Characterisation of the uterine environment in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) during diapause

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
V. A. van der Weijden ◽  
A. R. Vegas ◽  
V. Milojevic ◽  
A. B. Rüegg ◽  
J. T. Bick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stage ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Embryonic Diapause ◽  
Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Uterine Fluid ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Uterine Environment ◽  
Differentially Abundant Proteins

The early developing embryo faces a continuously changing microenvironment to supports its growth. In the European roe deer, this environment accompanies embryonic diapause, a period of up to 4 months in which fertilization and subsequent implantation are decoupled. Diapause is characterised by a deceleration of embryonic growth. In most ruminants such as cattle and sheep, interferon tau (IFNt) plays a major role in maternal recognition of pregnancy. Uniquely to ruminants, the roe deer embryo does not secrete IFNt. The roe deer was used as a model species to gain insights into the changing uterine environment devoid of IFNt that supports prolonged decelerated embryo development, resumption of developmental velocity, and subsequent implantation. Uterine fluid samples from 188 female does were collected during regular huntings between September and January, and 4 developmental stages-blastocysts at early, mid, and late diapause and elongated embryos (16, 57, 97, and 18 does per developmental stage, respectively)-were defined. The developmental stages were assigned based on morphological characteristics of the embryo and the embryonic genomic DNA content. For the analysis of amino acids (AA), all 188 uterine fluid samples were subjected to targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Almost all AA increased over the course of embryo development. Although most AA showed developmental stage-specific concentration peaks, serine, glycine, alanine, glutamate, and glutamine were most abundantly present irrespective of the developmental progression. For the analysis of the protein abundances in the uterine fluid in a selected subset of samples (n=5 per developmental stage), holistic liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified and quantified a total of 819 proteins with a false discovery rate of <1%. Comparison between the developmental stages revealed 106 differentially abundant proteins. Most changes in protein abundance that occurred related to embryo elongation. Interestingly, 713 proteins remained stable during embryo development, indicating that these proteins may contribute to prolonged embryo survival during embryonic diapause. The differentially abundant proteins were clustered with DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.8 (https://david.ncifcrf.gov/). The most enriched clusters were cell-cell adhesion, biosynthesis of AA and carbon metabolism, microtubule, structural molecule activity, and chaperone binding. The ongoing detailed identification of stably abundant proteins will advance our basic understanding of the embryos’ needs for sustained survival during prolonged decelerated development. In addition, a comparison with the protein abundances around the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy in other species could advance our knowledge on conserved proteins that support embryo development and establishment of pregnancy in mammals. Our findings may contribute to defining optimal in vitro embryo culture conditions in a species-independent manner and potentially identify factors capable of halting embryo development.

scholarly journals In Vitro Evidence Suggests Activin-A May Promote Tissue Remodeling Associated with Human Luteolysis

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (8) ◽  
pp. 3730-3739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Myers ◽  
Eva Gay ◽  
Alan S. McNeilly ◽  
Hamish M. Fraser ◽  
W. Colin Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Gelatin Zymography ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Primary Cell ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Type I ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy

Luteolysis in women is associated with an up-regulation of the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which is inhibited by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during maternal recognition of pregnancy. Because the primary source of MMP-2 is fibroblasts that do not express LH/hCG receptors, we aimed to investigate the regulation of MMP-2. Women with regular cycles having hysterectomy for nonmalignant conditions and women undergoing oocyte retrieval for assisted conception were used in this current study. Novel primary cultures and cocultures of luteinized granulosa cells and fibroblast-like cells in conjunction with human corpora lutea from different stages of the luteal phase were used to investigate the role of activin-A in the corpus luteum. The effect of hCG, activin-A, and follistatin on MMP-2 activity and expression was assessed by gelatin zymography and quantitative RT-PCR in primary cell cultures. Confirmation of signaling pathways involved in the activation of MMP-2 was assessed by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and quantitative RT-PCR. In primary cell culture, steroidogenic cells secrete activin-A and its inhibitors, inhibin-A and follistatin. Follistatin expression is up-regulated by hCG (P < 0.05). The fibroblast-like cells producing MMP-2 have the machinery for activin reception, expressing both type I and type II activin receptors and Smad proteins. Activin-A up-regulated both activity and expression of MMP-2 in fibroblast-like cells (P < 0.05). This activity was inhibited in cocultures of luteinized granulosa cells and fibroblast-like cells in the presence of hCG (P < 0.05) or follistatin (P < 0.01). Activin-A is an excellent candidate for an effector molecule in human luteolysis whose paracrine action is inhibited during maternal recognition of pregnancy.

scholarly journals Uterine regulation of preimplantation embryo development in fertility-classified heifers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Joao Gabriel Nascimento Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Amino Acid Metabolism ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Embryonic Mortality ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Preimplantation Embryo Development ◽  
Conceptus Development ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy

Infertility and subfertility represent pervasive problems in domestic animals and humans, and embryonic mortality is a major factor influencing reproductive efficiency. In cattle, the majority of embryonic loss occurs during the first month of gestation that involves the period of blastocyst formation, conceptus elongation, maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation and beginning of placentation. Pregnancy success and embryonic mortality are affected by paternal, maternal, embryonic, and environmental factors, and the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy are a result of complex conceptus-endometrium interactions that results in adequate conceptuses (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes) development, implantation and placentation. Our central hypothesis is that the uterus directly influences embryonic and conceptus development, and we proposed that heifers with consistently high or low fertility have distinct uterine capacity to support pregnancy. To test this hypothesis, serial embryo transfer (3-4 rounds) was used to classify heifers based on pregnancy success on day 28 as high fertile (HF; 100%), subfertile (SF; 25%), or infertile (IF; 0%). Next, a series of experiments were conducted using the fertility-classified heifers to investigate conceptus development and uterine biology in two time points: (1) day 14, to investigate conceptus development prior to the period when pregnancy induce changes are detected in the endometrium transcriptome; (2) at day 17, to evaluate conceptus-endometrial cross talk during the period of maternal recognition of pregnancy. Results from the studies conducted on day 14 supports the idea that: (1) circulating progesterone concentrations are not different among fertility-classified heifers; (2) conceptus development and survival by day 14 is not affected by fertility classification; (3) only minimal differences in endometrium transcriptome are detected among pregnant fertility-classified heifers. Collectively, these results indicated that the biological mechanisms underlying subfertility and infertility manifests between days 14 and 28, when pregnancy recognition signaling and conceptus elongation and implantation must occur for the establishment of pregnancy. Moreover, results from the subsequent experiments conducted at day 17 indicated that: (1) the mechanism of pregnancy loss in fertility-classified heifers start to manifest around the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy; (2) conceptus survival by day 17 is compromised in IF heifers; (3) conceptus development is advanced in HF than SF heifers; (4) conceptus transcriptome is directly influenced by the uterine environment; (5) dysregulated conceptus-endometrial interactions in SF heifers seems to be the major cause of pregnancy loss. Analysis of the uterine luminal fluid (ULF) from fertility classified heifers on day 17 established that: (1) ULF composition is affected by conceptus-endometrium interactions; (2) glucose concentrations in ULF are not different among fertility-classified heifers; (3) pregnancy induced changes in the metabolites found in ULF was diminished in SF heifers, and the majority of the metabolites that increased in the ULF of pregnant HF than SF heifers were associated with energy and amino acid metabolism; (4) increased abundance of proteins involved with energy metabolism, oxidative stress, amino acid metabolism, and cell proliferation and differentiation were detected in ULF of pregnant HF than SF heifers; (5) The lipid content of the ULF is altered by pregnancy and fertility classification; (6) overall concentrations prostaglandins and interferon tau were increased in the uterine lumen of pregnant HF than SF heifers, likely due to differences in conceptus size. Collectively, results from these studies supports the idea that the dysregulated conceptus-endometrium interactions in SF heifers affects the uterine luminal contents and impairs conceptus survival and elongation. Furthermore, knowledge gained from these studies enhances our understanding of the mechanisms regulating pregnancy loss in cattle and provides new information on uterine and conceptus biology during early pregnancy in ruminants.

scholarly journals Probability of Type I Error and Power of Some Parametric Test: Comparative Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-13
Author(s):  
Enegesele Dennis ◽  
Biu O. Emmanuel ◽  
Otaru O.A. Paul
Keyword(s):  
Type I Error ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Type I ◽  
Parametric Test

scholarly journals Fascioloides magna: a parasite of roe deer in Bory Zielonogórskie

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 6037-2018
Author(s):  
ALEKSANDER W. DEMIASZKIEWICZ ◽  
ROBERT KOWALCZYK ◽  
KATARZYNA J. FILIP ◽  
ANNA M. PYZIEL
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Liver Fluke ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Fascioloides Magna ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Liver Surface ◽  
Infected Liver

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection with F. magna flukes in roe deer from the conifer forest Bory Zielonogórskie. Parasitological dissection was performed on 20 roe deer hunted in May 2016. Faecal samples from the animals were examined by the decantation method. One roebuck was verified to be infected with F. magna, which yielded a prevalence of 5%. We noted fibrinous deposits on the diaphragmatic surface of the liver with adhesions to the diaphragm, as well as five dark-coloured nodular protrusions on the liver surface. In the cross section view of the infected liver, we saw five pseudocysts corresponding to the nodular protrusions observed on the liver surface. Three of the pseudocysts were filled with dark brown liquid containing a few flukes, their eggs and cell detritus. The other two pseudocysts contained dark fluid and fragments of dead flukes. Although, no liver fluke eggs were detected in the faeces, thousands of eggs were found in the pseudocysts. Previous studies in Poland revealed two foci of this parasitosis: in south-western and south-eastern parts of the country. It is possible that the range of both foci is expanding due to red deer migrations and the spread of infected water snails and larval forms of the parasite in watercourses and rivers. Fascioloides magna infection is a threat for cervids and domestic ruminants. Therefore, it is important to monitor the occurrence of this fluke in Poland. It is essential to determine the range of fascioloidosis, examine the intermediate host species and record cases of F. magna infection in domestic ruminants..

scholarly journals The Interaction of the Oxytocin Receptor Gene and Subtypes of Child Abuse on Social Cognition in Euthymic Patients With Bipolar Disorder Type I

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulises Rios ◽  
Javier Moran ◽  
Jimena Hermosilla ◽  
Rene Gonzalez ◽  
Paulina Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Type I ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Early Stress ◽  
Bipolar Patients

Abstract Background: Most studies on cognitive impairment in Bipolar Disorder (BD) have neglected the role of early stress, despite the high frequency of childhood maltreatment in this clinical group. The aim of this study was to establish a connection between a history of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in childhood and social cognition (SC) functioning in patients with BD type I in euthymia, and to test a possible moderating effect of the polymorphism rs53576 in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene. Results: We found a high frequency of child abuse, indicating that BD patients who had been victims of physical and emotional abuse as children, and were carriers of the GG genotype at OXTR rs53576, displayed higher social cognition alterations, specifically in an emotion recognition test. Conclusions: The gene-environment interaction study presented here proposes a Differential Susceptibility model of a genetic polymorphism that can be plausibly associated with SC functioning. This evidence might help to identify at-risk clinical subgroups within a diagnostic category with well-established intra-group heterogeneity such as BD. Future research aimed at testing the inter-level impact of early stress constitutes an ethical-clinical duty in light of the high rates of childhood abuse reported in bipolar patients.

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