Embryo gene expression in pig pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy is a complex process in which significant changes occur continually in both the corpora lutea and in the endometrium of the females and varies depending on the embryonic, pre‐implantation or foetal stages. In the embryonic stages, the majority of genes expressed in the pig embryo correspond to the loss of cellular pluripotency. In contrast, the implantation consists of three phases: elongation of the conceptus, adhesion and union of the embryo to the endometrial epithelium. During these phases, many factors are expressed, including growth factors, molecules that facilitate adhesion and cytokines. All these changes are ultimately regulated by different lipid and hormonal substances, specifically by progesterone, oestradiol and prostaglandins, which regulate the expression of many proteins necessary for the development of the embryo, endometrial remodelling and embryo–maternal communication. This paper is a review of primary gene regulatory mechanisms in pigs during different stages of implantation.

Pluripotency and Growth Factors in Early Embryonic Development of Mammals: A Comparative Approach

“…Factors such as Nanog and SRY-box transcription factor 2 ( SOX2 ) are upregulated by the Wnt pathway in ICM around Day 8 in bovine embryos, with one ( SOX2 ) or two ( Nanog ) characteristic peaks of expression in goat embryos at the 8- to 16-cell stage and later blastocyst stage, respectively. In this context, Nanog expression is necessary for the proliferation of TE cells [ 5 , 15 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Extracellular vesicles and domestic animal reproduction

“…The definition of exosomes from the ExoCarta database for exosomes is "30-150 membrane vesicles of endocytic origin secreted by most cell types in vitro" (Keerthikumar et al, 2016). Exosome cargoes are very varied and include different types of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TFG) and hormones (aldosterone)), all essential for embryonic development and implantation in different species of domestic animals (Clayton et al, 2019;Llobat, 2020). Saadeldin et al (2014) found mRNA related to pluripotency (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Nanog) in cultured mammalian embryos (Saadeldin et al, 2014).…”

“…Saadeldin et al (2014) indicated the relevance of MVs in pig embryo communication. These microvesicles contain mRNAs essential for early embryonic development (Llobat, 2020;Saadeldin et al, 2014).…”

“…Pregnancy is a complex process that depends on various events happening correctly, such as oocyte fertilization, embryonic development, and implantation. For correct embryonic development and subsequent implantation, maternal-embryonic communication is essential, and, mediated by hormones, this allows the expression of some molecules fundamental for these processes to occur (Llobat, 2020). After fertilization, communication between the oviduct and the embryo begins, the oviduct playing a fundamental role in early embryonic development (Besenfelder et al, 2012;Leese et al, 2008).…”

A Proteomic Study of the Effect of N-acetylcysteine on the Regulation of Early Pregnancy in Goats

“…The establishment of pregnancy is a complex physiological process. A series of structural and functional changes must occur in the maternal uterus at the early stage of the establishment of pregnancy to enable the implantation of early embryos and the growth and development of the foetuses [ 2 , 3 ]. The steady state of the intrauterine environment is also an important condition for successful pregnancy and normal foetal growth and development [ 4 ].…”