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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / The Effect of Seminal Plasma on the Equine Endometrial Trans...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2024; 59(9); e14711; doi: 10.1111/rda.14711

The Effect of Seminal Plasma on the Equine Endometrial Transcriptome.

Abstract: The establishment of pregnancy involves a fine-tuned balance between protection and tolerance within the maternal immune system, as the female needs to accept a foreign antigen (the semi-allogenic fetus) while still being able to combat pathogens from the uterus. In the horse, the first uterine exposure to paternal antigens is during mating when sperm is introduced to the tissue and draining lymphatics of the uterus. Additionally, it has been suggested that seminal plasma and its proteins within it play an essential role in preparing the female tract for a suitable immunologic environment but this has not been confirmed in the horse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the endometrial transcriptome following insemination either with seminal plasma or with reduced seminal plasma. We hypothesised that reduced seminal plasma would alter the endometrial transcriptome and affect transcripts relating to immunotolerance, antigen presentation and embryo growth and development. To do so, six (n = 6) mares were inseminated in a randomised switch-back design over the course of four oestrous cycles. Mares were rectally palpated and scanned via ultrasonography for the detection of a pre-ovulatory follicle (>35 mm) alongside increasing uterine oedema and relaxed cervix, and then treated with one of four treatment groups including (1) 30 mL lactated Ringers solution (LRS; NegCon), (2) 500 × 10 spermatozoa in conjunction with 30 mL seminal plasma (SP+), (3) 30 mL lactated Ringers solution (LRS; wash out) and (4) 500 × 10 spermatozoa with seminal plasma reduced via gradient centrifugation and resuspended in 30 mL LRS (SP-). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered to standardise the time to ovulation and endometrial biopsies were collected 7 days after insemination. RNA was isolated utilising Trizol, and RNA-Seq was performed by Novogene, with 97.79% total mapping and 40 million read depth. p value was set to <0.05. When comparing SP+ to SP-, 158 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Biological processes impacted included antigen processing and regulation, cholesterol synthesis, and immune/inflammatory response. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis using DAVID v6.8 revealed that many of these DEGs were involved in biological process such as antigen presentation (HLA-DM beta chain, HLA-DRB, HLA-DQA and RASGRP1), immune cell signalling (CXCL9, CXCL1, DEFB1 and MIP-2B), embryo growth and development (INHA, KLF2, RDH10, LAMA3 and SLC34A2) and embryo metabolism (ABCA1, ABCA2, APOA1, LDL, INSR, IGFBP2 and IGFBP3). Overall, reduction of seminal plasma from the insemination dose impacted the endometrial transcriptome at the time of early embryonic exposure to the uterine environment. Further work is justified to evaluate these alterations impact on embryo maturation, placental development, pregnancy outcome and development of offspring.
© 2024 The Author(s). Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2024-09-09 PubMed ID: 39246124DOI: 10.1111/rda.14711Google 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.

The article investigates the effects of seminal plasma on the endometrial transcriptome in horses during pregnancy establishment. The researchers hypothesized that reducing seminal plasma would modify the endometrial transcriptome and affect constructs related to immunotolerance, antigen presentation, and embryo growth and development.

Objective of the Study

  • The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the endometrial transcriptome in the presence of full seminal plasma and reduced seminal plasma. The research aimed to understand whether seminal plasma plays a key role in creating a suitable immunological environment within the female reproductive tract. The study also sought to identify how modifications in the endometrial transcriptome could influence processes such as immunotolerance, antigen presentation, and embryonic growth and development.

Methodology of the Study

  • In order to test this, the scientists performed an experiment with six mares administered using a randomized switch-back design over four oestrous cycles. Four groups of treatments were used: a control group with lactated Ringers solution, a group with spermatozoa and full seminal plasma, a group with lactated Ringers solution to wash out seminal plasma, and a group with spermatozoa and reduced seminal plasma.
  • Following this, the mares were administered with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to something the time to ovulation. Endometrial biopsies were collected seven days after insemination. Following this, RNA was isolated, and RNA-Seq was performed, ensuring a total mapping of 97.79% and a 40 million read depth.

Results and Findings

  • The research discovered that when comparing the samples with full seminal plasma to the ones with reduced seminal plasma, 158 differentially expressed genes were identified. These genes related to several biological processes, such as antigen processing and regulation, cholesterol synthesis, and immune/inflammatory response.
  • Gene ontology enrichment analysis unveiled that many of these Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) were involved in processes like antigen presentation, immune cell signalling, embryo growth and development, and embryo metabolism. This finding supported the researchers’ hypothesis, indicating that reduced seminal plasma did indeed alter the endometrial transcriptome.

Conclusions and Further Research

  • The research concluded that reducing the seminal plasma from the insemination dose had a considerable impact on the endometrial transcriptome at the early embryonic exposure to the uterine environment stage.
  • The researchers suggested that further work should be done to evaluate how these alterations affect the fetus’s development and maturity, placental development, pregnancy outcome, and the development of the offspring.

Cite This Article

APA
Fedorka CE, El-Sheikh-Ali H, Scoggin KE, Coleman S, Humphrey EA, Troutt L, Troedsson MHT. (2024). The Effect of Seminal Plasma on the Equine Endometrial Transcriptome. Reprod Domest Anim, 59(9), e14711. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14711

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 59
Issue: 9
Pages: e14711

Researcher Affiliations

Fedorka, C E
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
El-Sheikh-Ali, H
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Scoggin, K E
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Coleman, S
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Humphrey, E A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee, USA.
Troutt, L
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee, USA.
Troedsson, M H T
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Female
  • Semen
  • Transcriptome
  • Endometrium / metabolism
  • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
  • Male
  • Pregnancy

Grant Funding

  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
  • Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine

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