Seminal plasma uterine priming is important for pregnancy and offspring phenotype in mice and swine; however, impacts on the uterus of the dam and her offspring in cattle are unknown. We sought to determine the effects of seminal plasma uterine priming at estrus on uterine transcriptomics, early gestation (days 35, 40, and 45) embryo morphometrics, mid- to late-gestation (days 140 to 220) uterine artery hemodynamics, birth morphometrics, and liver transcriptomics in offspring at 30 d of age. Multiparous Angus-based commercial beef cows were randomly assigned to receive treatment at estrus: 0.5 mL pooled seminal plasma in the uterine body (n = 31, seminal plasma primed) or no treatment (n = 31, control). Seven days later a subset of cows (n = 4/treatment) underwent uterine biopsies, and the remaining cows underwent embryo transfer. Embryo crown-rump length and uterine artery hemodynamics were measured during gestation using ultrasonography. Morphometrics of the calf were collected within 24 h of parturition. Liver biopsies were collected at 30 d of age. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a completely randomized design for the effect of treatment. Myosin heavy chain I (JSP.1) was downregulated [Benjamin-Hochberg adj P (BH) ≤ 0.05] and ABO alpha 1-3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase and alpha 1-3-galactosyltransferase (ABO) was upregulated (BH adj P ≤ 0.05) in the uterus of seminal plasma primed cows 7 d after treatment. Embryo crown-rump length was less (P < 0.05) in seminal plasma primed cows. Mid- to late-gestation (days 140 to 220) uterine artery resistance was increased (P < 0.05) in seminal plasma primed cows. Seminal plasma priming did not alter birth weights or curve-crown-rump length, but heart girth was increased (P < 0.05) in offspring from seminal plasma primed cows. There were no differentially expressed genes (BH adj P ≤ 0.05) in offspring liver at 30 d of age; however, myosin light chain, phosphorylatable, fast skeletal muscle (MYLPF) was absent in all liver samples from calves from seminal plasma primed cows. In contrast, vomeronasal 1 receptor bosTauV1R414 (BOSTAUV1R414) was present in 6 of the 7 liver samples from calves from seminal plasma primed cows. Seminal plasma uterine priming alters uterine transcriptomics, negatively impacts early gestation embryo growth, and mid- to late-gestation uterine artery resistance suggesting downstream vascular anomalies. However, these in utero conditions did not impact offspring from birth to 30 d of age.
Keywords: birth morphometrics; liver transcriptomics; paternal programming; seminal plasma; uterine artery hemodynamics; uterine transcriptomics.
We sought to determine if administering seminal plasma in the uterus at estrus impacted the uterine environment, pregnancy, and neonatal growth in beef cattle. In the uterus, seminal plasma downregulated an immune gene that has been shown to inhibit maternal immune tolerance. Furthermore, seminal plasma in the uterus upregulated a glycoprotein gene that has been shown to aid in embryo survival. These gene alterations were found 7 d after seminal plasma priming, the time period an embryo would be entering the uterus. In cows receiving seminal plasma prior to embryo transfer, uterine artery resistance was increased, suggesting downstream vascular dysfunction that could cause reductions in nutrient and oxygen supply to the placenta and growing fetus. Similarly, seminal plasma primed cows had smaller embryos. These negative impacts of seminal plasma during pregnancy did not persist into the postnatal stage among calves, as birth weights and liver gene expression at 30 d of age were similar. These data suggest seminal plasma has minimal impacts on beef cows, specifically in terms of offspring programming.
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