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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / The role of embryo contact and focal adhesions during matern...
PloS one2019; 14(3); e0213322; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213322

The role of embryo contact and focal adhesions during maternal recognition of pregnancy.

Abstract: Maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in the mare is an unknown process. In a non-pregnant mare on day 14 post-ovulation (PO), prostaglandin F2α (PGF) is secreted by the endometrium causing regression of the corpus luteum. Prior to day 14, MRP must occur in order to attenuate secretion of PGF. The embryo is mobile throughout the uterus due to uterine contractions from day of entry to day 14. It is unknown what signaling is occurring. Literature stated that infusing oil or placing a glass marble into the equine uterus prolongs luteal lifespan and that in non-pregnant mares, serum exosomes contain miRNA that are targeting the focal adhesion (FA) pathway. The hypothesis of this study is embryo contact with endometrium causes a change in abundance of focal adhesion molecules (FA) in the endometrium leading to decrease in PGF secretion. Mares (n = 3/day) were utilized in a cross-over design with each mare serving as a pregnant and non-pregnant (non-mated) control on days 9 and 11 PO. Mares were randomly assigned to collection day and endometrial samples and embryos were collected on the specified day. Biopsy samples were divided into five pieces, four for culture for 24 hours and one immediately snap frozen. Endometrial biopsies for culture were placed in an incubator with one of four treatments: [1] an embryo in contact on the luminal side of the endometrium, [2] beads in contact on the luminal side of the endometrium, [3] peanut oil in contact on the luminal side of the endometrium or [4] the endometrium by itself. Biopsies and culture medium were frozen for further analysis. RNA and protein were isolated from biopsies for PCR and Western blot analysis for FA. PGF assays were performed on culture medium to determine concentration of PGF. Statistics were performed using SAS (P ≤ 0.05 indicated significance). The presence of beads on day 9 impacted samples from pregnant mares more than non-pregnant mares and had very little impact on day 11. Presence of oil decreased FA in samples from pregnant mares on day 9. On day 11, oil decreased FA abundance in samples from non-pregnant mares. Embryo contact caused multiple changes in RNA and protein abundance in endometrium from both pregnant and non-pregnant mares. The PGF secretion after 24 hours with each treatment was also determined. On day 9, there was no change in PGF secretion compared to any treatments. On day 11, presence of peanut oil increased PGF secretion in samples from non-pregnant mares. In samples from non-pregnant mares, presence of an embryo decreased PGF secretion compared to control samples from non-pregnant mares. Results revealed that while beads and peanut oil may impact abundance of FA RNA and protein in endometrial samples, it does not appear to impact PGF secretion. Conversely, embryo contact for 24 hours with endometrium from a non-pregnant mare causes a decrease in PGF secretion. These results suggest that it is not just contact of any substance/object causing attenuation of PGF secretion, but the embryo itself is necessary to decrease PGF secretion.
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Publication Date: 2019-03-05 PubMed ID: 30835748PubMed Central: PMC6400379DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213322Google 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 the process of Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy (MRP) in mares, and posits that it is the contact of the embryo with the endometrium that decreases prostaglandin F2α (PGF) secretion, leading to a recognition of pregnancy.

Research Context and Hypothesis

  • The article probes the mystery of the process by which mares’ bodies recognize pregnancy. The authors test the deduction that the contact of the embryo with the endometrium causes a change in the abundance of focal adhesion molecules (FA) within the endometrium, leading to a decrease in the secretion of prostaglandin F2α (PGF).

Research Methodology

  • A group of mares were used under a cross-over design experiment, serving as both pregnant and non-pregnant (non-mated) controls. The team collected endometrial samples and embryos on different days post-ovulation (PO).
  • Endometrial biopsies were put into an incubator with either an embryo, beads, peanut oil or by itself making contact with the endometrium, after dividing them into five sections.
  • Protein and RNA were isolated from these samples for tests and analyses with Western blot analysis and PCR for FA. Further, they used PGF assays on the culture medium to determine the concentration of PGF. 

Research Findings and Conclusion

  • The presence of beads or oil on day 9 showed an effect on samples from pregnant mares, but not much effect on day 11. The presence of an embryo, however, caused multiple changes in RNA and protein abundance in the endometrium from both pregnant and non-pregnant mares.
  • There wasn’t any major change in PGF secretion on day 9 in comparison to any treatments. However, on day 11, the presence of peanut oil increased PGF secretion in samples from non-pregnant mares. Fascinatingly, the presence of an embryo decreased PGF secretion in non-pregnant mares.
  • It was found that beads and peanut oil may impact abundance of FA RNA and protein in the endometrial samples, but this does not seem to change PGF secretion. Conversely, the contact of an embryo with the endometrium from a non-pregnant mare results in a decrease in PGF secretion, helping to confirm the embryo’s role in attenuating PGF secretion.

Implications of the Research

  • The study suggests that contact of any substance or object with the endometrium does not cause a reduction in PGF secretion. Rather, it is the embryo itself that is necessary for this effect, shedding new light on the institution of MRP in mares, and opening avenues for further studies in this area.

Cite This Article

APA
Klohonatz KM, Nulton LC, Hess AM, Bouma GJ, Bruemmer JE. (2019). The role of embryo contact and focal adhesions during maternal recognition of pregnancy. PLoS One, 14(3), e0213322. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213322

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 3
Pages: e0213322
PII: e0213322

Researcher Affiliations

Klohonatz, K M
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Nulton, L C
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Hess, A M
  • Department of Statistics and Bioinformatics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Bouma, G J
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
Bruemmer, J E
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / physiology
  • Endometrium / metabolism
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesions / physiology
  • Horses
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Animal
  • Prostaglandins F / metabolism

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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