The transfer of parthenogenetic embryos following artificial insemination in cows can enhance pregnancy recognition via the secretion of interferon tau

Abstract

Repeat breeding is a reproductive disorder in cattle. Embryo transfer following artificial insemination (AI) improves pregnancy rate by replenishing interferon tau (IFNT), but it results in a notably higher rate of twin occurrence. This study hypothesized that parthenogenetic (PA) embryo transfer following AI (AI + PA) could improve the conception rate because that PA embryo become as a supplemental source of IFNT without twins. PA embryos showed higher IFNT mRNA expression than in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos. An examination of the effect of the cultured conditioned media (CM) of PA or IVF embryos on Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells with stably introduced promoter-reporter constructs of interferonstimulated gene 15 (ISG15, marker of IFN response) showed higher stimulation levels of ISG15 promoter activity with PA than with IVF embryo. We investigated in vivo the effect of AI + PA on healthy Japanese Black cattle. Cattle transferred with PA embryo alone were non-fertile, but those that underwent AI + PA showed a pregnancy rate of 53.3%, the similar as that with AI alone (60%). In pregnant cattle in AI + PA group, adding the PA embryo upregulated the expression of ISGs and plasma progesterone concentration. No twin were generated in AI only and AI + PA groups. Using repeat breeding Holstein cows that did not become pregnant with 4-9 times of AI, transfer of PA embryo following AI resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than that of control (AI only). We suggest that AI + PA may be beneficial for improving maternal pregnancy recognition in repeat breeder cattle while avoiding twin generation.

Metabolomic profiles of plasma and uterine luminal fluids from healthy and repeat breeder Holstein cows

“…Repeat breeding Holstein cows were defined by characteristics [ 1 , 17 ] that include detectable estrous behavior with occasional abnormal estrous cycles, healthy uterus and ovaries as determined by transrectal palpation, and the inability to conceive after four or more AIs following normal estrous behavior. After selection of 5 repeat breeder cows, the estrous cycle was synchronized using the method used for healthy cows; then blood and uterine fluid was collected from these repeat breeder cows on day 7 of the estrous cycle.…”

“…After selection of 5 repeat breeder cows, the estrous cycle was synchronized using the method used for healthy cows; then blood and uterine fluid was collected from these repeat breeder cows on day 7 of the estrous cycle. In our previous investigations, we transferred in vitro fertilized embryo or parthenogenetic embryo on day 7 after estrus following artificial insemination in repeat breeder cows to improve pregnancy recognition [ 17 , 18 ]. Therefore, in the present study, we collected samples to investigate the condition of blood and uterine fluid in the same timing with previous study.…”

Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin and intravaginal progesterone device treatment after artificial inseminations on the reproductive performance of normal and repeat breeder lactating dairy cows

“…Although the causes of repeat breeder cows were multifactorial and various treatment options for repeat breeder cows were investigated, parthenogenetic embryo transfer following AI increases the conception rate in repeat breeder lactating dairy cows in a recent study [ 32 ]. Parthenogenetic embryos show higher interferon-tau mRNA expression and induce higher interferon-tau stimulated gene mRNA expression in the white blood cells of cows that was transferred parthenogenetic embryo in the uterus [ 32 ]. From these results, one of the causes of infertility in the repeat breeder cows might have been a shortage of interferon-tau secretion from the embryo.…”

Inflammatory uterine microenvironment in long-term infertility repeat breeder cows compared with normal fertile cows

“…RBCs in the university farm were defined by following ( Dochi et al, 2008 ; Funeshima et al, 2019 ): RBCs showed normal estrous behavior, normal uterus and ovaries as determined by observation using ultrasound diagnostic, and the inability to conceive after four or more AIs following normal estrous behavior ( n = 5). Then, the estrous cycle was synchronized using the above method used for normal fertile cows.…”