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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 912721; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.912721

Insulin-like growth factor system components expressed at the conceptus-maternal interface during the establishment of equine pregnancy.

Abstract: In many species, the insulin-like growth factors (IGF1 and IGF2), their receptors and IGF binding proteins play important roles in preparing the endometrium for implantation, and regulating conceptus growth and development. To determine whether the IGF system may contribute to conceptus-maternal interaction during equine pre-implantation development, we evaluated mRNA expression for IGF system components in conceptuses, and endometrium recovered from pregnant and cycling mares, on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after ovulation. We also investigated expression of IGF1, IGF2 and their receptors 6 and 11 days after transfer of day 8 embryos to synchronous (day 8) or asynchronous (day 3) recipient mares. Expression of IGF1 and IGF2, IGF1R, IGF2R, INSR and IGFBPs 1, 2, 4 and 5 was evident in endometrium and conceptus membranes during days 7-28. Endometrial IGF2, INSR, IGFBP1 and IGFBP2 expression increased between days 7 and 28 of pregnancy. In conceptus membranes, expression of all IGF system components increased with developmental stage. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong expression of IGF1, IGF2 and IGF1R in both endometrium and conceptus membranes, whereas INSR was highly expressed in endometrium but barely detectable in the conceptus. Finally, a negatively asynchronous uterine environment retarded IGF1, IGF2 and INSR expression in the conceptus, whereas in the endometrium only INSR expression was altered by asynchrony. The presence of IGFs, their receptors and IGFBPs in the endometrium and conceptus during early equine pregnancy, and down-regulation in the conceptus following asynchronous embryo transfer, suggest a role in conceptus-maternal communication during the preparation for implantation.
Copyright © 2022 Gibson, de Ruijter-Villani and Stout.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-13 PubMed ID: 36176700PubMed Central: PMC9513317DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.912721Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research article investigates the role of insulin-like growth factors (IGF1 and IGF2) and their receptors in the early stages of horse pregnancy. It suggests these factors could be crucial in communication between the conceptus and the mother during preparation for implantation.

Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of this study was to explore the possible role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in early equine pregnancy. The IGF system consists of two growth factors, IGF1 and IGF2, their receptors, and IGF binding proteins. Previous research has shown that this system plays important roles in preparing the endometrium for implantation and regulating growth and development in many species.
  • The researchers evaluated mRNA expression for IGF system components in conceptuses (early stage embryos) and endometrium tissue recovered from pregnant and cycling mares. This was performed on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after ovulation.
  • Additionally, they studied the expression of IGF1, IGF2 and their receptors at 6 and 11 days after the transfer of day 8 embryos to synchronous or asynchronous recipient mares.

Findings

  • The study found that expression of these IGF system components was clearly present in both the endometrium and conceptus membranes during days 7 to 28.
  • In the endometrium, the expression of these elements increased between days 7 and 28 of pregnancy.
  • Within the conceptus membranes, the expression of all IGF system components was found to increase with developmental stages.
  • They also discovered that a negatively asynchronous uterine environment (where a recipient mare was not in the same cycle phase as the donor mare) reduced the expression of these factors in the conceptus.

Implications

  • The findings are suggestive of a role for the IGF system in conceptus-maternal communication during the preparation phase for implantation in equine pregnancy.
  • The down-regulation of IGF expression following asynchronous embryo transfers implies that matching the reproductive cycle phase between the donor and recipient mares might be crucial for successful implantation and pregnancy.

Cite This Article

APA
Gibson C, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TAE. (2022). Insulin-like growth factor system components expressed at the conceptus-maternal interface during the establishment of equine pregnancy. Front Vet Sci, 9, 912721. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.912721

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 912721

Researcher Affiliations

Gibson, Charlotte
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
de Ruijter-Villani, M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Stout, Tom A E
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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