<p><strong>Background</strong>: Genetic improvement in the sheep species focuses on increasing the number of offspring per sheep. Heritable characteristics such as ovulation rate, fertility, and prolificacy are desirable. <strong>Objective</strong>: To evaluate the influence of estrus pre-synchronization with PGF2α on the manifestation of estrus, onset and return to estrus (1st and 2nd), pregnancy, lambing, prolificacy, and fertility in Katahdin ewes carrying exon 2 of the gene Factor Growth and Differentiation 9 (<em>GDF9</em>). <strong>Methodology</strong>: Seventy-two ewes were randomized into four treatments (T): T1 (n = 18), ewes without <em>GDF9</em> gene and without estrus pre-synchronization; T2 (n = 17), ewes without <em>GDF9</em> gene and with estrus pre-synchronization; T3 (n = 19) ewes with the <em>GDF9</em> gene and without estrus pre-synchronization, and T4 (n = 18), ewes with the <em>GDF9</em> gene and with estrus pre-synchronization. <strong>Results</strong>: The presence of estrus, the onset of estrus, and returns to estrus, pregnancy, and lambing percentages were not different between treatments (p>0.05). The average pregnancy and lambing in both cases were 86.2% and the average general prolificacy was 1.4 lambs per ewe for all four treatments. There were also no significant differences for the prolificacy or fertility rate (p>0.05). <strong>Implications</strong>: The present study contributes to the understanding of the use of presynchronization with PGF2α and the effect of the presence of exon 2 of the <em>GDF9</em> gene on reproductive variables. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: The presynchronization of estrus with PGF2α and the presence of exon 2 of the <em>GDF9 </em>gene in ewes of the Katahdin breed did not have a significant effect on the reproductive variables evaluated.</p>
Objective: To describe the involvement of the interferon tau gene in the maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep. Design/Methodology/Approach: A search and analysis of the scientific documents retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases related to the functions of the interferon tau gene in the maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep were conducted. Results: The interferon tau gene (IFNτ) participates in maternal recognition of pregnancy to avoid possible rejection of the embryo, and supports the secretion of progesterone involved in preparing the endometrium for implantation; it also inhibits myometrial motility to maintain pregnancy. IFNτ stimulates the transcription of so-called interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which are the effectors of cell-autonomous antiviral defense. One of the representative members of ISGs is the interferon 15-stimulated gene (ISG15) which regulates endometrial receptivity at implantation, as well as survival, growth and development of the conceptus. Study Limitations/Implications: Most embryonic losses occur between fertilization and maternal recognition of pregnancy. Understanding this issue is essential to understanding the possible causes of early pregnancy losses. Findings/Conclusions: Considerable progress has been made in the discovery of how the IFNτ and ISG15 genes act in maternal recognition of gestation in sheep
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