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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / Embryo survival in the oviduct not significantly influenced ...
Scientific reports2020; 10(1); 1056; doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-58056-w

Embryo survival in the oviduct not significantly influenced by major histocompatibility complex social signaling in the horse.

Abstract: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) influences sexual selection in various vertebrates. Recently, MHC-linked social signaling was also shown to influence female fertility in horses (Equus caballus) diagnosed 17 days after fertilization. However, it remained unclear at which stage the pregnancy was terminated. Here we test if MHC-linked cryptic female choice in horses happens during the first days of pregnancy, i.e., until shortly after embryonic entrance into the uterus and before fixation in the endometrium. We exposed estrous mares to one of several unrelated stallions, instrumentally inseminated them with semen of another stallion, and flushed the uterus 8 days later to test for the presence of embryos. In total 68 embryos could be collected from 97 experimental trials. This success rate of 70.1% was significantly different from the mean pregnancy rate of 45.7% observed 17 days after fertilization using the same experimental protocol but without embryo flushing. Embryo recovery rate was not significantly dependent on whether the mares had been socially exposed to an MHC-dissimilar or an MHC-similar stallion. These observations suggest that MHC-linked maternal strategies affect embryo survival mainly (or only) during the time of fixation in the uterus.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-23 PubMed ID: 31974438PubMed Central: PMC6978320DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58056-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research article investigates how the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) impacts embryo survival in horses, and concludes that MHC doesn’t significantly impact embryo survival during the early stages of pregnancy.

Understanding the Study

  • The purpose of this study was to examine whether MHC-linked social signalling in horses impacts early stages of pregnancy. Specifically, the researchers were interested in understanding if embryo survival in the oviduct is influenced by MHC during the first few days after conception and before implantation into the uterus.
  • The Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a group of genes that play an important role in immune responses and influence mating preferences in various species. MHC influences which mates are chosen, impacting genetic diversity.
  • In this study, mares in estrus (a period of sexual receptivity or ‘heat’) were exposed to multiple unrelated stallions. They were then inseminated with the semen of another stallion and the uterus was flushed 8 days later to check for the presence of embryos.
  • Out of 97 experimental trials, 68 embryos were collected, leading to a success rate of 70.1%. This success rate was significantly higher than the average pregnancy rate observed 17 days after fertilization using the same protocol, but without flushing the embryos out – 45.7%.
  • The rate at which embryos were recovered was not significantly influenced by whether the mares had been exposed to an MHC-similar or an MHC-dissimilar stallion.

Interpreting the Results

  • The findings suggest that MHC-linked mating preferences do not seem to affect embryo survival in the early stages of pregnancy, i.e., up until shortly after the embryo enters the uterus and before it attaches to the uterine lining (endometrium).
  • Instead, the research implies that any MHC-linked maternal strategies that might influence the outcome of pregnancy appear to take effect mainly, or exclusively, during the fixation phase of the embryo in the uterus.
  • This suggests that characteristics or signals given off by MHC-dissimilar males do not affect the embryo’s chances of survival during its trip down the oviduct and its entrance into the uterus.

Importance of the Study

  • This research deepens our understanding of the biological mechanisms behind early embryo survival in horses and the influences of genetic immune system components, such as the MHC, on it.
  • Understanding these factors could potentially help improve breeding strategies in horses, and this research might also be applicable to other vertebrates.

Cite This Article

APA
Jeannerat E, Marti E, Thomas S, Herrera C, Sieme H, Wedekind C, Burger D. (2020). Embryo survival in the oviduct not significantly influenced by major histocompatibility complex social signaling in the horse. Sci Rep, 10(1), 1056. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58056-w

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Pages: 1056
PII: 1056

Researcher Affiliations

Jeannerat, E
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland.
Marti, E
  • Department of Clinical Research, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
Thomas, S
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland.
Herrera, C
  • Clinic for Animal Reproduction Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sieme, H
  • Unit for Reproductive Medicine - Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Wedekind, C
  • Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. claus.wedekind@unil.ch.
Burger, D
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Embryo, Mammalian / immunology
  • Female
  • Horses / embryology
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / immunology
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex
  • Male
  • Maternal Inheritance
  • Oviducts / immunology
  • Pregnancy

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Auer KE, Primus J, Istel S, Dahlhoff M, Rülicke T. Mate genetic similarity affects mating behaviour but not maternal investment in mice. Sci Rep 2023 Jun 29;13(1):10536.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37547-6pubmed: 37386286google scholar: lookup
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