Analysis and characterization of differential gene expression during rapid trophoblastic elongation in the pig using suppression subtractive hybridization

During late peri-implantation development, porcine conceptuses undergo a rapid (2–3 hrs) morphological transformation from a 10 mm sphere to a thin filamentous form greater than 150 mm in length. Elongation of the conceptus is important for establishing adequate placental surface area needed for embryo and fetal survival throughout gestation. Genes involved with triggering this unique transition in conceptus development are not well defined. Objective of the present study was to utilize suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to characterize the change in gene expression during conceptus transformation from spherical (8–9 mm) to tubular (15–40 mm) to early filamentous (>150 mm) morphology. Spherical, tubular, and filamentous conceptuses were collected from pregnant gilts and subjected to SSH. Forward and reverse subtractions were performed to identify candidate genes differentially expressed during spherical to tubular and tubular to filamentous transition. A total of 384 transcripts were differentially screened to ensure unique expression. Of the transcripts screened, sequences were obtained for 142 that were confirmed to be differentially expressed among the various morphologies. Gene expression profiles during rapid trophoblastic elongation were generated for selected mRNAs using quantitative real-time PCR. During the transition from tubular to early filamentous conceptuses, s-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and heat shock cognate 70 kDa expression were significantly enhanced. A novel unknown gene was isolated and shown to be significantly up-regulated at the onset of rapid trophoblastic elongation and further enhanced in filamentous conceptuses

Endometrial caspase 1 and interleukin-18 expression during the estrous cycle and peri-implantation period of porcine pregnancy and response to early exogenous estrogen administration

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The role for endometrial secretion of cytokines during the establishment of pregnancy in a number of mammals is well established. The current study determined endometrial expression of caspase 1 (CASP1) and interleukin-18 (IL18) during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, and following early estrogen administration, which induces conceptus loss during early development in pigs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Gilts were hysterectomized on either D 0, 5, 10, 12, 15 and 18 of the estrous cycle, or D 10, 12, 15 or 18 of pregnancy. The abundance of endometrial CASP1 mRNA was unaffected by day of the estrous cycle, however there was a 6 and 10-fold increase in expression on D 15 and 18 of pregnancy. Endometrial expression of IL18 mRNA increased 5-fold between D 10 to 18 in cyclic and pregnant gilts. Total recoverable IL18 in uterine flushings was greater in pregnant compared to cyclic gilts on D 15 and 18.</p> <p>In the second experiment, mated gilts were treated with either corn oil (CO) or estrogen (E) on D 9 and 10 and hysterectomized on either D 10, 12, 13, 15 or 17 of pregnancy. The current study localizes the presence of CASP1 to the epithelial layer of the endometrium for the first time. Further, a day × treatment interaction was detected for endometrial CASP1 mRNA and protein abundance as E stimulated an earlier increase on D 13 compared to CO gilts. Although IL18 mRNA expression remained unaltered from the E treatment, protein abundance was significantly attenuated on D 15 and 18 in response to E treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Endometrial expression of CASP1 and IL18 is associated with establishment of pregnancy in pigs. Alteration of CASP1 and IL18 following premature exposure of the uterus to estrogen during early pregnancy may contribute to conceptus loss between Days 15 to 18 of pregnancy.</p

Characterization of the colombian cattle breed "blanco orejinegro" (Bon). I. Reproductive performance and genetic parameters of preweaning growth traits

El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar el comportamiento reproductivo y los parámetros genéticos de características de crecimiento hasta el destete del ganado criollo colombiano Blanco Orejinegro (BON). Se analizaron los datos de 636 terneros nacidos de enero a abril, durante 1978 a 1983 en el Centro Regional de Investigaciones El Nus (Antioquia) a 1.200 m.s.n.m., 2200 mm de precipitación anual, 23°C de temperatura media y 87% de humedad relativa. El hato de 230 vacas aproximadamente fue manejado en pastoreo continuÓ en praderas de puntero (Hyparrhenia rufa) y con libre acceso a una mezcla mineral. Las vacas fueron asignadas al azar a grupos de apareamiento durante los meses de mayor precipitación (abril a julio), de más o menos 22 vacas/toro, según su edad y estado reproductivo. Los porcentajes de natalidad, destete y sobrevivencia promediaron 63.9, 59.6 y 93.4%, respectivamente. Las características de crecimiento estudiadas y sus respectivos promedios fueron: peso al nacimiento (PN) 26.6 kg, ganancia diaria de nacimiento al destete (GND) 594 g/día, peso al destete (CD) 50.1. Las heredabilidades (h elevada a la 2) estimadas para las anteriores características fueron PN 275, GND 091, PD 091 y CD 134. Las correlaciones genéticas (G) y fenotípicas (F) de PN con las restantes características fueron de baja magnitud; G y F entre GND y PD fueron de elevada magnitud: .97 y .99, respectivamente. Los errores estándar para la mayoría de los parámetros genéticos fueron altos.This study was conducted from 1977 to 1983 in a tropical region of the north central Andes of Colombia, South America, to evaluate the native breed, BON. The herd of approximately 230 cows managed continuously on puntero grass (Hvparrhenia rz(fri) with a mineral mixture provided at libitum. Cows were randomly alloted to single sire breeding groups within age and physiological status categories. Calving, weaning and liveability rates averaged 63.9, 59.6 and 93.4%, respectively. The traits studied with their respective means were: birth weigth (BW), 26.6 kg; daily gain from birth to weaning (WDG), 594 g/d; weaning weigth adjusted to 240 days of age (WW), 169.2 kg; weaning conformation score (WC), 50.1. Heritabilities (h2) estimates for the above traits were: BW, .275; WDG, .091; WW, 0.91 and WC, .134. Genetic (G) and phenotipic (P) correlations of BW with preweaning traits were low and positive.Genetic and phenotypic correlations between WDG and WW were high, .97 and .99, respectively. Standard error for most genetic parameters were high.Ganado de doble propósito-Ganaderia doble proposit

Caracterización de la raza criolla colombiana Blanco Orejinegro (BON), 3. Heterosis del comportamiento reproductivo de hembras BON, Cebú y sus cruces recíprocos.

La tasa de natalidad, destete y sobrevivencia, y los índices de eficiencia de reproducción de pesos del ternero y la vaca al destete y de eficiencia productiva total: kg de ternero producidos por vaca y por kg de vacas que desteten un ternero en el hato, fueron analizados durante 1977 a 1983, en hembras Blanco Orejinegro (BON), Cebú y sus cruces recíprocos F1 BON x Cebú y Cebú x BON, apareadas con toros BON, Cebú, Charolais y Santa Gertrudis. El estudio se realizó en el Centro de Investigación El Nus (Antioquia), localizado a 800 m.s.n.m., 2200 mm de precipitación anual, 23 grados centígrados de temperatura media y 87 por ciento de humedad relativa. Los promedios de porcentaje de natalidad (67.4), porcentaje de destete (65.3) y porcentaje de sobrevivencia (96.6), la eficiencia de producción 0.49 kg y los índices de Kg de ternero producidos por vaca (132.9 kg) y kgs de vacas que desteten un ternero en el hato (0,32 kg) de las vacas cruzadas F1 fueron superiores (P menor que 0,05) a los valores medios de vacas BON y Cebú, con valores de heterosis (h) que oscilaron entre 3.03 por ciento para porcentaje de sobrevivencia hasta 38.9 por ciento para porcentaje de kgs de ternero producidos por vaca. Las vacas puras (BON y Cebú) presentaron mayores índices de natalidad cuando se aparearon con toros de su misma raza que cuando lo hicieron con toros de raza opuesta (59.5 vs 50.3 por ciento). El peso de las vacas difirió en forma significativa (P menor que 0.05), las vacas cruzadas pesaron más (429 kg) que las BON (387 kg) y Cebú (402 kg). Las vacas híbridas F1 (BON x C ebú y Cebú x BON) obtuvieron su primera cría a los 3 años de edad, mientras que las BON y Cebú a los 3.2 y 3.7 años, respectivamente (P menor que 0.01, h igual a 12.6 por ciento) y destetaron al primer parto 40 grs más peso por cada kilo de su propio peso (510 grs) que el promedio de BON y Cebú (470 grs, h igual a 8.5 por ciento).Ganado de leche-Ganadería lech