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Cell type-specific endometrial transcriptome changes during initial recognition of pregnancy in the mare.
Abstract: Previous endometrial gene expression studies during the time of conceptus migration did not provide final conclusions on the mechanisms of maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in the mare. This called for a cell type-specific endometrial gene expression analysis in response to embryo signals to improve the understanding of gene expression regulation in the context of MRP. Laser capture microdissection was used to collect luminal epithelium (LE), glandular epithelium and stroma from endometrial biopsies from Day 12 of pregnancy and Day 12 of the oestrous cycle. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) showed greater expression differences between cell types than between pregnant and cyclic states; differences between the pregnant and cyclic states were mainly found in LE. Comparison with a previous RNA-Seq dataset for whole biopsy samples revealed the specific origin of gene expression differences. Furthermore, genes specifically differentially expressed (DE) in one cell type were found that were not detectable as DE in biopsies. Overall, this study revealed spatial information about endometrial gene expression during the phase of initial MRP. The conceptus induced changes in the expression of genes involved in blood vessel development, specific spatial regulation of the immune system, growth factors, regulation of prostaglandin synthesis, transport prostaglandin receptors, specifically prostaglandin F receptor (PTGFR) in the context of prevention of luteolysis.
Publication Date: 2018-09-27 PubMed ID: 30253121DOI: 10.1071/RD18144Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research discusses the changes in gene expression in different cell types found in the endometrium of pregnant mares, specifically focusing on the early phase where the mother’s biology initially recognizes the pregnancy. It uses the technique of laser capture microdissection for sample collection and RNA sequencing for analysis.
Methodology and Findings
- The researchers used laser capture microdissection to collect samples of different cell types — luminal epithelium (LE), glandular epithelium and stroma — from the endometrium of mares both 12 days into their pregnancy and in the 12th day of their oestrous cycle.
- The RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technique was used for mapping and quantifying RNA molecules within these samples. This method revealed more expression differences between the types of cells than between pregnant and non-pregnant states, and most differences between pregnant and non-pregnant states were found specifically in the LE.
- A comparison with previously obtained RNA-Seq data from whole biopsy samples allowed the researchers to track the specific origins of gene expression differences. They found genes that were differentially expressed (DE), meaning they showed different levels of expression, in one type of cell that weren’t noticeable in the biopsy samples.
Significance and Implications
- This study uncovers spatial information about endometrial gene expression changes during the initial phase of pregnancy recognition in mares. Specific gene expression changes were induced by the embryo (the developing baby horse).
- These changes pertain to genes involved in several significant biological processes such as blood vessel development, spatial regulation of the immune system, and growth factors. They also touched upon the regulation of synthesis and transport of prostaglandin receptors, particularly prostaglandin F receptor (PTGFR), which plays a role in preventing luteolysis — the degradation of the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure required for pregnancy maintenance.
- The findings help in understanding the complex mechanisms involved in the initial recognition and support of pregnancy in mares and may prove valuable in veterinary medicine and reproductive biology research.
Cite This Article
APA
Scaravaggi I, Borel N, Romer R, Imboden I, Ulbrich SE, Zeng S, Bollwein H, Bauersachs S.
(2018).
Cell type-specific endometrial transcriptome changes during initial recognition of pregnancy in the mare.
Reprod Fertil Dev, 31(3), 496-508.
https://doi.org/10.1071/RD18144 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Embryo Implantation / physiology
- Endometrium / cytology
- Endometrium / metabolism
- Estrous Cycle / genetics
- Estrous Cycle / metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Horses
- Laser Capture Microdissection
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
- Receptors, Prostaglandin / genetics
- Receptors, Prostaglandin / metabolism
- Transcriptome
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Vegas AR, Podico G, Canisso IF, Bollwein H, Fröhlich T, Bauersachs S, Almiñana C. Dynamic regulation of the transcriptome and proteome of the equine embryo during maternal recognition of pregnancy. FASEB Bioadv 2022 Dec;4(12):775-797.
- Rudolf Vegas A, Hamdi M, Podico G, Bollwein H, Fröhlich T, Canisso IF, Bauersachs S, Almiñana C. Uterine extracellular vesicles as multi-signal messengers during maternal recognition of pregnancy in the mare. Sci Rep 2022 Sep 16;12(1):15616.
- Premont A, Saadeh K, Edling C, Lewis R, Marr CM, Jeevaratnam K. Cardiac ion channel expression in the equine model - In-silico prediction utilising RNA sequencing data from mixed tissue samples. Physiol Rep 2022 Jul;10(14):e15273.
- Pereira G, Guo Y, Silva E, Bevilacqua C, Charpigny G, Lopes-da-Costa L, Humblot P. Progesterone differentially affects the transcriptomic profiles of cow endometrial cell types. BMC Genomics 2022 Jan 27;23(1):82.
- Rudolf Vegas A, Podico G, Canisso IF, Bollwein H, Almiñana C, Bauersachs S. Spatiotemporal endometrial transcriptome analysis revealed the luminal epithelium as key player during initial maternal recognition of pregnancy in the mare. Sci Rep 2021 Nov 16;11(1):22293.
- Chankeaw W, Lignier S, Richard C, Ntallaris T, Raliou M, Guo Y, Plassard D, Bevilacqua C, Sandra O, Andersson G, Humblot P, Charpigny G. Analysis of the transcriptome of bovine endometrial cells isolated by laser micro-dissection (1): specific signatures of stromal, glandular and luminal epithelial cells. BMC Genomics 2021 Jun 18;22(1):451.
- Chankeaw W, Lignier S, Richard C, Ntallaris T, Raliou M, Guo Y, Plassard D, Bevilacqua C, Sandra O, Andersson G, Humblot P, Charpigny G. Analysis of the transcriptome of bovine endometrial cells isolated by laser micro-dissection (2): impacts of post-partum negative energy balance on stromal, glandular and luminal epithelial cells. BMC Genomics 2021 Jun 18;22(1):450.
- Weber KS, Wagener K, Blanco M, Bauersachs S, Bollwein H. A comparative analysis of the intrauterine transcriptome in fertile and subfertile mares using cytobrush sampling. BMC Genomics 2021 May 22;22(1):377.
- Almiñana C, Rudolf Vegas A, Tekin M, Hassan M, Uzbekov R, Fröhlich T, Bollwein H, Bauersachs S. Isolation and Characterization of Equine Uterine Extracellular Vesicles: A Comparative Methodological Study. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Jan 19;22(2).
- Zeng S, Ulbrich SE, Bauersachs S. Spatial organization of endometrial gene expression at the onset of embryo attachment in pigs. BMC Genomics 2019 Nov 21;20(1):895.
- Loux SC, Dini P, El-Sheikh Ali H, Kalbfleisch T, Ball BA. Characterization of the placental transcriptome through mid to late gestation in the mare. PLoS One 2019;14(11):e0224497.
- Satué K, La Fauci D, Medica P, Damiá Gímenez E, Cravana C, Fazio E. Shifts between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory profiles in pregnant mares: a review of physiological functions. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1660759.
- Siemieniuch-Tartanus M. The early pregnancy in mares - What do we still not know?. Vet Anim Sci 2025 Jun;28:100441.
- de Castro T, van Heule M, Domingues RR, Jacob JCF, Daels PF, Meyers SA, Conley AJ, Dini P. Embryo-endometrial interaction associated with the location of the embryo during the mobility phase in mares. Sci Rep 2024 Feb 7;14(1):3151.
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