Protein analysis by bidimensional electrophoresis of uterine microenvironment in supplemented Nelore cows or not with sunflower seed

• Grant number: 17/00563-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Maria Bertan Membrive
• Grantee: Jéssica Macedo Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Dracena. Dracena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), among these compounds rich in linoleic acid (LA), favors the reproductive performance in bovine females. However, the determining mechanisms of this effect are little known. Among the sources of LA include the sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus L.). In previous studies by this group, it was found that supplementation with sunflower seed for 22 days in Nelore cows submitted to TAI (Proc. FAPESP 2007/04539-0) and in zebu crossbred heifers submitted to TET of embryos produced in vitro (Proc. FAPESP no 2011/12595-3; Proc. FAPESP no 2011/1444-2) increase in conception rate in 18.91 % (66.67 % vs. 47.76 %; p < 0.05) and 18.72 % (55.66 % vs. 36.94 %; p < 0.01) respectively (CORDEIRO et al., Theriogenology, 2015, v. 83, p. 1461-68). Brazil's Midwest region has 32% of the national beef bovine females and the largest sunflower seed producer; making such economically promising results. Making a retrospective analysis of previous research with PUFA in reproductive performance of bovine females, the majority prioritizes the effects of protected fat and dairy herds. In such studies, the effect in conception rates has become contradictory and often differs when the same treatment was compared by different authors. Whereas, in both studies by this group there was an increase very similar the conception rate, it was concluded that the delivery of the sunflower seed is an excellent experimental model for study to evaluate the mechanism by which PUFA supplementation, specifically sunflower seed, promotes increased conception rate in beef bovine females. Whereas the increase in conception rate was similar when such supplementation was associated with TAI programs and TET, and that there wasn't an increase in plasma progesterone, the hypothesis is that such supplementation increases the rate of conception by promote effects on the embryo, fetus, uterine microenvironment, endometrial tissue and corpus luteum. Thus, for which part of this investigation is carried out, the hypothesis of the proposed study is that such supplementation increases the rate of conception by promoting protein modifications in the composition of the uterine microenvironment. It is the objective of this study to compare the protein composition of the uterine microenvironment at 10, 13 and 16 days post-insemination, from Nelore cows not supplemented or supplemented with sunflower seed during 10, 13 and 16 days after insemination. The understanding of such mechanisms may help in the development of new strategies that can increase the design rate in TAI and TET programs through the use of specific PUFA. (AU)