Probing the uterine microenvironment through Systems Biology approaches

In cattle, the developing preimplantation conceptus depends solely on its surrounding environment for supplying nutrients and growth stimuli. Also, throughout gestation, it is during the preimplantation stage of gest ation that most conceptus mortality is observed. Thus, one could rationalize that the composition of the uterine environment plays a major role on conceptus survival. However, the biochemical composition of the uterine environment is only just starting to be deciphered and conditions associated with optimal conceptus development are virtually unknown. In this review we attempt to briefly review and discuss issues associated with sampling and analyzing the uterine envir onment. We suggest that modern, holistic approaches such as Systems Biology are necessary to characterize the uterine functions associated with pregnancy success in cattle.

Probing the uterine microenvironment through Systems Biology approaches

In cattle, the developing preimplantation conceptus depends solely on its surrounding environment for supplying nutrients and growth stimuli. Also, throughout gestation, it is during the preimplantation stage of gest ation that most conceptus mortality is observed. Thus, one could rationalize that the composition of the uterine environment plays a major role on conceptus survival. However, the biochemical composition of the uterine environment is only just starting to be deciphered and conditions associated with optimal conceptus development are virtually unknown. In this review we attempt to briefly review and discuss issues associated with sampling and analyzing the uterine envir onment. We suggest that modern, holistic approaches such as Systems Biology are necessary to characterize the uterine functions associated with pregnancy success in cattle.(AU)

Evaluation of a second uterine flushing on embryo recovery in Nelore cows / Avaliação de uma segunda lavagem uterina sobre a recuperacão de embriões em vacas Nelore

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a second uterine flushing on number of recovered embryos. Cyclic Nelore cows (n= ) were used as donors. Animals were kept under grazing conditions in a farm at Mamborê, Paraná state. Cows were submitted to two sessions of multiple ovulation 80 days apart. At a random stage of estrus cycle (Day 0) donors received an intravaginal device with 1.9 g of progesterone (CIDR; Pfizer; Brasil). Twenty four hours later (Day 1) cows were injected with 2.5 mg/ IM of Estradiol Benzoate (Estrogin, Farmavet, Brasil). Between Day 5 and Day 9, donors received decreasing doses of 250 UI of FSH (Pluset; Calier, Brasil). On Days 7 and cows received 25 mg/ IM of dinoprost (Lutalyse, Pfizer, Brasil) and progesterone implants were removed 12 hs later. Artificial insemination was performed 12 and 24 hours after estrus detection. The first embryo recovery was performed 7 days after AI with the Foley catheter positioned in the uterine body. A total of 1.000 mL of PBS (Embriocare, Cultilab, Brasil) was used in a closed system of uterine flushing, with a 70 µm filter. Recovered uterine fluid was evaluated under a stereomicroscope (SMZ 654, Nikon, Japan) and embryos were classified accord to IETS (1998). Twenty four hours later, the second uterine flushing was performed following the same procedure. Results were analyzed by t-Student test (p &

O objetivo do presente experimento foi verificar a viabilidade de uma segunda lavagem uterina sobre a recuperação de embriões. Doadoras cíclicas da raça Nelore (n= ) foram mantidas a pasto no município de Mamborê, Estado do Paraná. Os animais foram submetidos a tratamentos de superovulação com intervalo de 80 dias. Em um dia aleatório do ciclo estral (Dia 0) as doadoras receberam um dispositivo intravaginal contendo 1,9 g de progesterona (CIDR; Pfizer, Brasil). Vinte e quatro horas após (Dia 1) administrou-se , mg de benzoato de Estradiol (Estrogin; Farmavet, Brasil) por via intramuscular (IM). Entre Dia e Dia 9 realizou-se a superovulação com 0 UI de FSH IM em doses decrescentes (Pluset; Calier, Brasil). Administrou-se 25 mg de dinoprost IM (Lutalyse; Pfizer, Brasil) na manhã do D7 e 12 hs depois, simultaneamente à retirada do dispositivo de progesterona. As vacas foram inseminadas e horas após o início das manifestações estrais. A primeira lavagem uterina foi realizada no sétimo dia após a inseminação artificial, com o posicionamento das sondas de Foley caudal à bifurcação do útero. Em cada lavagem, foram usados .000 ml de DPBS (Embriocare; Cultilab, Brasil) em sistema fechado conectado a um filtro coletor de 70 µm. O lavado uterino foi avaliado com auxílio de um estereomicroscópio binocular (SMZ 654, Nikon, Japão) e os embriões foram classificados seguindo os padrões da IETS

Evaluation of a second uterine flushing on embryo recovery in Nelore cows / Avaliação de uma segunda lavagem uterina sobre a recuperacão de embriões em vacas Nelore

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a second uterine flushing on number of recovered embryos. Cyclic Nelore cows (n= ) were used as donors. Animals were kept under grazing conditions in a farm at Mamborê, Paraná state. Cows were submitted to two sessions of multiple ovulation 80 days apart. At a random stage of estrus cycle (Day 0) donors received an intravaginal device with 1.9 g of progesterone (CIDR; Pfizer; Brasil). Twenty four hours later (Day 1) cows were injected with 2.5 mg/ IM of Estradiol Benzoate (Estrogin, Farmavet, Brasil). Between Day 5 and Day 9, donors received decreasing doses of 250 UI of FSH (Pluset; Calier, Brasil). On Days 7 and cows received 25 mg/ IM of dinoprost (Lutalyse, Pfizer, Brasil) and progesterone implants were removed 12 hs later. Artificial insemination was performed 12 and 24 hours after estrus detection. The first embryo recovery was performed 7 days after AI with the Foley catheter positioned in the uterine body. A total of 1.000 mL of PBS (Embriocare, Cultilab, Brasil) was used in a closed system of uterine flushing, with a 70 µm filter. Recovered uterine fluid was evaluated under a stereomicroscope (SMZ 654, Nikon, Japan) and embryos were classified accord to IETS (1998). Twenty four hours later, the second uterine flushing was performed following the same procedure. Results were analyzed by t-Student test (p &

O objetivo do presente experimento foi verificar a viabilidade de uma segunda lavagem uterina sobre a recuperação de embriões. Doadoras cíclicas da raça Nelore (n= ) foram mantidas a pasto no município de Mamborê, Estado do Paraná. Os animais foram submetidos a tratamentos de superovulação com intervalo de 80 dias. Em um dia aleatório do ciclo estral (Dia 0) as doadoras receberam um dispositivo intravaginal contendo 1,9 g de progesterona (CIDR; Pfizer, Brasil). Vinte e quatro horas após (Dia 1) administrou-se , mg de benzoato de Estradiol (Estrogin; Farmavet, Brasil) por via intramuscular (IM). Entre Dia e Dia 9 realizou-se a superovulação com 0 UI de FSH IM em doses decrescentes (Pluset; Calier, Brasil). Administrou-se 25 mg de dinoprost IM (Lutalyse; Pfizer, Brasil) na manhã do D7 e 12 hs depois, simultaneamente à retirada do dispositivo de progesterona. As vacas foram inseminadas e horas após o início das manifestações estrais. A primeira lavagem uterina foi realizada no sétimo dia após a inseminação artificial, com o posicionamento das sondas de Foley caudal à bifurcação do útero. Em cada lavagem, foram usados .000 ml de DPBS (Embriocare; Cultilab, Brasil) em sistema fechado conectado a um filtro coletor de 70 µm. O lavado uterino foi avaliado com auxílio de um estereomicroscópio binocular (SMZ 654, Nikon, Japão) e os embriões foram classificados seguindo os padrões da IETS