The spatial signature of the endometrium: distribution of secretory activity and histotroph composition in beef cows

• Grant number: 15/21831-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Mario Binelli
• Grantee: Nathália Souza Gomes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/03226-4 - Signatures of receptivity, AP.TEM

Abstract

During bovine pregnancy, preimplantation period is critical, since the development of conceptus is fully dependent on the intrauterine environment. Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, growth factors and ions, which are synthesized and secreted by endometrial glands and that compose the histotrophic, have influence in maintaining conceptus until the time of implantation. It indicates that uterine tissue is essential to promote an optimal environment for preimplantation embryo development. During this phase, the uterine operation is under endocrine control of ovarian steroids estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). Progesterone, for instance, influences the endometrial gene expression during early embryonic development, and, in this way, it is able to change histotrophic composition. Furthermore, it is known that the contribution of E2 and P4 along the reproductive tract is regulated spatially. This current research suggests that the E2 and P4 distribution pattern in the uterus has effects on gene transcription and, thereby, they can modulate the nutritional contribution to conceptus in the early diestrus (day 7). It is of great interest to relate differences in their abundance of transcripts with differences in the endometrium histotrophic spatial composition. Multiparous Nelore cows were synchronized and slaughtered on day 7 after estrus, reproductive tracts were isolated and endometrial samples and uterine flush (representative of histotrophic) were collected in the cranial regions, medial and caudal of each uterine horn. It will be investigated the spatial distribution of transcripts related to the intracellular signaling of steroid hormones and the secretion activity in endometrial tissue, as well as specific proteins abundance of unterine flush in each region. Thus, it will be possible to establish whether there is an association between the 'space transcriptomic signature' of the endometrium and the composition of uterine secretions. It is assumed that such an association occurs and that it is critical to the control of the molecular mechanisms responsible for embryo survival, gestational success and reproductive performance of beef cattle female.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SPONCHIADO, MARIANA; GOMES, NATHALIA SOUZA; FONTES, PATRICIA KUBO; MARTINS, THIAGO; DEL COLLADO, MAITE; PASTORE, ATHOS DE ASSUMPCAO; PUGLIESI, GUILHERME; GOUVEIA NOGUEIRA, MARCELO FABIO; BINELLI, MARIO. Pre-hatching embryo-dependent and -independent programming of endometrial function in cattle. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 4, APR 19 2017. (11/03226-4, 15/21831-3)