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The ability of bovine embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage and to implant and generate healthy offspring depends greatly on the competence of the oocyte. Oocyte competence is attributed to its close communication with the follicular environment and to its capacity to synthesize and store substantial amounts of messenger RNA. Higher developmental competence of bovine oocytes has been associated with both the expression of a cohort of developmental genes and the concentration of sex steroids in the follicular fluid. The aim of this study was to identify differences in the expression of FST in cumulus cells and OCT-4 and MATER in oocytes and the influence of the follicular progesterone and follicular estrogen concentration on the competence of bovine oocytes retrieved 30 minutes or 4 hours after slaughter. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were left in postmortem ovaries for 30 minutes (group I) or 4 hours (group II) at 30 °C. Aspirated oocytes were then subjected to IVM, IVF, and IVC or were evaluated for MATER and OCT-4 messenger RNA abundance by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Total RNA was isolated from pools of 100 oocytes for each experimental replicate. Progesterone and estradiol concentration in follicular fluid was evaluated by immunoassay using an IMMULITE 2000 analyzer. Three repeats of in vitro embryo production were performed with a total of 455 (group I) and 470 (group II) COCs. There were no significant differences between the cleavage rates (72 hours postinsemination [hpi]) between both groups (63.5% vs. 69.1%). However, blastocyst (168 hpi) and hatching (216 hpi) rates were higher (P < 0.05) in group II compared with those of group I (21.3% vs. 30.7% and 27.6% vs. 51.5%, respectively). Group II oocytes exhibited the highest MATER and OCT-4 abundance (P < 0.05). Follicular estradiol concentration was not different between both the groups, whereas the progesterone concentration was lower (P ≤ 0.05) in group II follicles. These results indicate that retrieving COCs 4 hours after slaughter could increase bovine in vitro developmental competence, which is linked to higher levels of oocyte MATER and OCT-4 transcripts and lower follicular progesterone concentration. Moreover, the results of the present study contribute to the identification of factors involved in the developmental competence of immature oocytes., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Today, ovum pickup (OPU) followed by in vitro production (IVP) of bovine embryos is an integral part of many breeding programs. The quality of the obtained cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) limits the success of embryo production. The developmental competence of the COC is dependent on several factors, including the stage of the oestrous cycle, the stage of follicular development and the follicular diameter. The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of circulating progesterone (P4) concentrations during repeated OPU sessions on the morphological quality of bovine COC. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated twice weekly for 5 to 6 weeks from 12 Holstein Friesian heifers. The first OPU session took place on Day 7 of the oestrous cycle (ovulation = Day 0). During each session, number and diameter of the punctuated follicles and diameter, consistency and cavities in the corpus luteum (CL) were recorded. Follicles were assigned to 3 groups according to their diameter (3 to 5 mm = small follicles; 6 to 8 mm = intermediate follicles; >8 mm = large follicles). Additionally, blood samples were taken at the time of each OPU session and blood P4 concentration was determined using a radioimmunoassay. The COC were categorised as IVP-suitable (round, ≥3 layers of cumulus cells, homo- or heterogeneous ooplasm) or unsuitable according to their morphological quality. All animals showed signs of oestrus accompanied by the presence of large follicles during the course of the OPU sessions. Statistical analysis was performed by an ANOVA followed by a Tukey test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. The mean (±s.e.m.) cycle lengths for all heifers were 23.8 ± 4.6 days. Following the aspiration of a large follicle, a CL-like structure could be detected (referred to as "induced CL"). According to the P4 concentrations, the cycle was divided into 4 phases: natural CL phase (nCL; P4 ≥1 ng mL-1), follicle phase 1 (Fp1; P4 <1 ng mL-1), induced CL phase (iCL; P4 ≥1 ng mL-1), or follicle phase 2 (Fp2; P4 <1 ng mL-1). During the nCL phase, blood P4 concentrations were significantly higher than during the iCL phase (4.9 ± 2.3 ng mL-1, n = 12 vs 3.0 ± 1.6 ng mL-1, n = 10). There were no differences in follicle numbers, the diameter distribution of follicles, recovery rates, or number of retrieved IVP-suitable COC (nCL: 3.1 ± 3.4; Fp1: 3.3 ± 3.7; iCL: 2.7 ± 3.0; Fp2: 3.7 ± 3.7; Table 1). In summary, circulating P4 concentrations had no effect on follicle number, diameter, recovery rate, or IVP suitability of recovered COC. Table 1. Number of follicles, retrieved oocytes, follicle sizes and recovery rates of the ovum pickup (OPU) sessions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortly after parturition the metabolic situation of high-yielding dairy cows is often dominated by a negative energy balance. These effects affect the whole animal and may especially be detected in the reproductive tract, where they result in reduced fertility. An oral supplementation with dietary fats is often used to counteract by reducing milk fat content and, thus, supplying the individual animal with an increased amount of energy. The focus of the present study was to analyse the effects of an oral supplementation with conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on corpus luteum (CL) function. Healthy Holstein-Friesian cows and heifers were randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups (Group 1: 50 g of CLA day-1 per animal, 2 heifers, 6 cows; Group 2: 100 g of CLA day-1 per animal, 2 heifers, 6 cows) and 1 control group (Ctl; 0 g of CLA day-1 per animal, 3 heifers, 4 cows). Feeding of the supplement began shortly after calving. After calving, all animals were subjected to a standard synchronisation protocol and experienced AI on Day 59 ± 3. Following AI, transvaginal biopsies of the corpus luteum were obtained of pregnant (Group I: n = 4; Group II: n = 4; Ctl: n = 4) and nonpregnant (Group I: n = 4; Group II: n = 4; Ctl: n = 3) animals on Days 6, 13 and 20 post-AI. Animals deemed pregnant on Day 28 were again biopsied on Day 42. Additionally, blood samples were taken from the vena sacralis mediana at the time of each biopsy. The biopsies were analysed regarding the relative abundance of 8 gene transcripts (VEGF, ECE1, PLA2G4A, PTGS2, PTGFR, PPARG, STAR and HSD3B1) via RT-qPCR. Blood samples were analysed for their concentration of progesterone through a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Statistical analysis for both datasets was performed via a 3-way ANOVA with adjoining Tukey test. The expression of 7 of these genes was affected by 1, 2, or all 3 of the following factors: day of cycle (VEGF, ECE1, PLA2G4A, PTGFR, STAR and HSD3B1), pregnancy status (ECE1, PTGFR and HSD3B1) and CLA supplementation (ECE1, PTGS2, PTGFR, STAR and HSD3B1). The effects of the CLA supplementation could be seen as a down-regulation in the mentioned gene transcripts. Progesterone concentrations differed significantly in dependency of the pregnancy status (significantly higher in pregnant vs nonpregnant individuals) of the animals, as well as during the days of the oestrous cycle (physiological progesterone curve with highest values on Day 13 of these samples). An effect of the oral supplementation with CLA could be detected during the early luteal phase (Day 6) where animals that had received 100 g of CLA day-1 had a significantly lower blood progesterone concentration than those receiving 50 g of CLA day-1 or no CLA. In conclusion, dietary CLA supplementation has an effect on luteal gene expression and functionality. The authors thank the DFG (German Research Foundation) for their financial support (PAK286/1; WR154/1-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Progesterone Affects the Messenger RNA Expression of In Vitro-Produced Bovine Embryos," by K. Knauer and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Peripheral Progesterone Concentration Affects Bovine Oocyte Quality at the Molecular Level," by A. Hanstedt et al. is presented.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of time of first postpartum ovulation after calving on uterine involution in dairy cows with and without uterine puerperal disease. Transvaginal follicular puncture (FP) of follicles >6 mm suppressed ovulation and development of a CL until Day 42 after calving. Fifty-three lactating Holstein Friesian cows (3.4 ± 1.2 years old, parity 2.5 ± 1.0 [median ± mean absolute deviation]) were divided into groups on the basis of the presence (UD+) or absence (UD−) of uterine disease and whether FP was carried out (FP+) or not (FP−). Uterine disease was defined as the occurrence of retained fetal membranes and/or metritis. This resulted in the following groups: UD−FP− (n = 15), UD−FP+ (n = 13), UD+FP− (n = 13), and UD+FP+ (n = 12). A general examination, vaginoscopy, transrectal palpation, and transrectal B-mode sonography of the reproductive organs were conducted on Days 8, 11, 18, and 25 and then every 10 days until Day 65 after calving. After hormonal synchronization of ovulation (cloprostenol between Days 55 and 60 postpartum and GnRH 2 days later), cows were inseminated in the next spontaneous estrus. On average, the cows ovulated on Day 21.0 ± 6.0 (UD−FP−), 50.0 ± 4.0 (UD−FP+), 16.0 ± 3.0 (UD+FP−), and 48.0 ± 2.0 (UD+FP+) postpartum. Calving-to-conception interval and first-service conception rates were not affected by FP (P > 0.05). Healthy cows with FP had smaller (P < 0.05) uterine horn and cervical diameters assessed sonographically than cows without FP. FP reduced the prevalence of purulent vaginal discharge and uterine size assessed transrectally in UD+ cows (P < 0.05). The results showed that suppression of an early ovulation by transvaginal FP improved uterine involution in cows with and without uterine disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]