Effect of oral urea supplementation on the endometrial transcriptome of mares.
Abstract: An intravenous large dose of protein led to an increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), resulting in a lesser uterine pH and altered uterine gene expression in mares. The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of a more physiological methodology to increase BUN on the endometrium of mares. Mares were fed hay and a treatment or control diet (n = 11 mares/treatment) in a crossover design starting at time of ovulation detection (D0) and continuing until D7. Mares of the treated group were fed urea (0.4 g/kg BW) with sweet feed and molasses, and those of the control group were fed sweet feed and molasses. Blood samples were collected daily, 1 hour after feeding, for BUN determination. Uterine and vaginal pH were determined after the last feeding on D7, and endometrial biopsies were performed. The RNA sequencing of the endometrium of a subset of mares (n = 6/treatment) was conducted. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between treatments were calculated (FDR-adjusted P-value<0.1). Urea-treated mares had greater BUN (P < 0.05), with no differences in uterine and vaginal pH compared to control mares. A total of 60 DEGs were characterized, those with largest fold change were SIK1, ATF3, SPINK7, NR4A1 and EGR3. Processes related to necrosis and cellular movement were predicted with the DEGs. Dietary administration of urea resulted in transcriptomic changes in the endometrium of mares related to necrosis, tissue remodeling and concentration of lipids. The observed changes in gene expression after an increased BUN might result in a disruption to the endometrium.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-04-18 PubMed ID: 32414463DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106464Google 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
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The abstract overviews a study that investigated the effects of oral urea supplementation on the uterine gene expression in mares. The researchers found that supplementing urea altered gene expression in the uterus, with potential implications on the health of the endometrium.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study utilized a total sample of 22 mares, divided into two groups for treatment and control, with each group containing 11 mares.
- The experiment started at the onset of ovulation and continued until the seventh day (D7).
- The treated mares received urea supplementation in their regular diet of hay, sweet feed, and molasses, while the control group only consumed sweet feed and molasses.
- Blood samples were collected daily an hour after feeding, to determine the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.
- Uterine and vaginal pH levels were measured after the last feeding on D7.
- Endometrial biopsies were also performed to gather samples for RNA sequencing.
- A specialized subset of mares (n = 6/treatment) underwent RNA sequencing of their endometrium.
Findings
- The study found that mares fed with urea had higher BUN levels compared to the control group.
- No significant differences were observed between the treatment and control groups in terms of uterine and vaginal pH levels.
- 60 genes were found to have different expression levels (DEGs) between the two groups, with the most noteworthy ones being SIK1, ATF3, SPINK7, NR4A1, and EGR3.
- The altered gene expression implicated processes related to necrosis and cellular movement.
Conclusion
- The administration of dietary urea led to changes in the genetic makeup of the endometrium in mares.
- Processes related to cell death (necrosis), tissue remodeling, and concentration of fat molecules (lipids) were implicated by the identified DEGs.
- The study suggests that increasing BUN via urea supplementation may disrupt the normal functioning of the endometrium due to changes in gene expression.
Cite This Article
APA
Linhares Boakari Y, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Loux S, Barbosa Fernandes C, Esteller-Vico A, Scoggin K, Lawrence L, Ball B.
(2020).
Effect of oral urea supplementation on the endometrial transcriptome of mares.
Anim Reprod Sci, 216, 106464.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106464 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama, 36849, USA. Electronic address: yzl0269@auburn.edu.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA; Theriogenology Department, University of Mansoura, 35516, Egypt. Electronic address: hossam.elsheikh@uky.edu.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, B-9820, Belgium. Electronic address: pouya.dini@uky.edu.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA. Electronic address: shavahn.loux@uky.edu.
- Department of Animal Reproduction, University of São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil. Electronic address: fernandescb@yahoo.com.br.
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, 37996, USA. Electronic address: aestellervico@gmail.com.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA. Electronic address: kirsten.scoggin@uky.edu.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA. Electronic address: llawrenc@email.uky.edu.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546, USA. Electronic address: b.a.ball@uky.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Cross-Over Studies
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Supplements
- Endometrium / drug effects
- Endometrium / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- RNA, Messenger
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Transcriptome / drug effects
- Urea / administration & dosage
- Urea / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
