Amino acids in oviduct and uterine fluid and blood plasma during the estrous cycle in the bovine

Abstract

Up to 40% of cattle embryos die within 3 weeks of fertilization while they are nutritionally dependent on the maternal environment provided by the oviduct and uterine fluids for their development and survival. Despite this dependence there is limited information on the composition of these fluids in cattle. Amino acids are essential for the normal growth and development of the early embryo, acting as precursors of proteins and nucleic acids and as energy sources, osmolytes and signaling molecules. The objective of this study was to measure and compare the amino acid concentrations of oviduct and uterine fluid and blood plasma on different days of the estrous cycle. Oviduct fluid was collected in situ from anaesthetised heifers on Days 0, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and uterine fluid on Days 6, 8 and 14 of the estrous cycle and the concentrations of 19 amino acids determined. Glycine was the most abundant amino acid in both oviduct and uterine fluid. However, the concentrations of many amino acids differed between oviduct and uterus and many were present at higher concentrations in oviduct and uterine fluid than in blood plasma. Oviduct fluid concentrations of amino acids were not affected by day of cycle in contrast to uterine fluid for which there was a day of cycle effect on most of the amino acids. These results provide novel information on the amino acid concentrations in the maternal environment of the early cattle embryo and could form the basis for devising improved media for the production of embryos in vitro.

Effect of progesterone on embryo survival

“…We were unable, however, to find a significant association between the concentration of systemic progesterone and the secretion rate of uterine fluid or the concentrations of amino acids, ions, or glucose, lactate and pyruvate in uterine fluid nor was there any differences between days 6, 8 and 14 (Hugentobler et al, 2007a(Hugentobler et al, , 2007b(Hugentobler et al, and 2007c.…”

“…Using short-term collection (under 3 h), we have recently been able for the first time, however, to collect both oviduct and uterine fluids under physiological conditions . This has enabled the objective measurement of the concentrations a range of amino acids (Hugentobler et al, 2007a), ions (Hugentobler et al, 2007b) and energy substrates (Hugentobler et al, 2007c) in oviduct and uterine fluid throughout the oestrous cycle. In these studies, the secretion rate of uterine fluid tended to decrease from 1.83 ml on day 6 to 1.04 ml on day 14; however, this decrease was not significant.…”

Metabolism throughout follicle and oocyte development in mammals

“…It is important to bear in mind the changing environment from that within the follicular fluid, through that in the post ovulatory oviduct fluid and later in the uterus (Fischer and Bavister, 1993;Harris et al, 2005). There is no specific blood supply following ovulation and until well after implantation (Burton et al, 2010), and significant variations in oxygen, carbohydrate and amino acid concentration along the reproductive tract have been reported (Fischer and Bavister, 1993;Harris et al, 2005;Hugentobler et al, 2007).…”

Spatial differences in gene expression in the bovine oviduct

“…Internally, the oviductal epithelium is made up of ciliary and secretory cells; the secretory cells are responsible for secreting and actively transporting the proteins, amino acids and ions that are present in the oviductal fluid (Hugentobler et al 2007a(Hugentobler et al , 2010.…”