Early Developing Pig Embryos Mediate Their Own Environment in the Maternal Tract

Abstract

The maternal tract plays a critical role in the success of early embryonic development providing an optimal environment for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Preparation of this environment requires an intimate dialogue between the embryo and her mother. However, many intriguing aspects remain unknown in this unique communication system. To advance our understanding of the process by which a blastocyst is accepted by the endometrium and better address the clinical challenges of infertility and pregnancy failure, it is imperative to decipher this complex molecular dialogue. The objective of the present work is to define the local response of the maternal tract towards the embryo during the earliest stages of pregnancy. We used a novel in vivo experimental model that eliminated genetic variability and individual differences, followed by Affymetrix microarray to identify the signals involved in this embryo-maternal dialogue. Using laparoscopic insemination one oviduct of a sow was inseminated with spermatozoa and the contralateral oviduct was injected with diluent. This model allowed us to obtain samples from the oviduct and the tip of the uterine horn containing either embryos or oocytes from the same sow. Microarray analysis showed that most of the transcripts differentially expressed were down-regulated in the uterine horn in response to blastocysts when compared to oocytes. Many of the transcripts altered in response to the embryo in the uterine horn were related to the immune system. We used an in silico mathematical model to demonstrate the role of the embryo as a modulator of the immune system. This model revealed that relatively modest changes induced by the presence of the embryo could modulate the maternal immune response. These findings suggested that the presence of the embryo might regulate the immune system in the maternal tract to allow the refractory uterus to tolerate the embryo and support its development.

Oviduct-Embryo Interactions in Cattle: Two-Way Traffic or a One-Way Street?1

“…In relation to cellular component, the up-regulated genes were expressed mainly in the chromosome (4) and in the cell surface (3) (Supplemental Table 4.5.) whereas the extracellular region (22) and plasma membrane (19) were overrepresented amongst the downregulated genes (Supplemental Table S4.6. ).…”

“…In contrast, relatively little evidence exists of a reciprocal effect of the early embryo on the oviduct. Limited data exist demonstrating an effect of gametes [14][15][16][17] or embryos [18,19] on the oviduct transcriptome and secretory proteome. All of these studies come from litter-bearing species (mice and swine), where any embryo-induced alterations are likely to be amplified by the multiple embryos present.…”

Maternal-embryo interaction leading up to the initiation of implantation of pregnancy in cattle

“…In contrast, relatively little evidence exists of an effect going the other way (embryo to oviduct). The limited data reporting an effect of gametes on the oviduct come from litter-bearing species, where any effect is likely to be amplified (Lee et al, 2002;Fazeli et al, 2004;Alminana et al, 2012). We have recently characterized the transcriptome of the bovine oviduct epithelium on Day 3 post oestrus in pregnant and cyclic heifers, corresponding to the initiation of embryonic genomic activation .…”

Tribbles role in reproduction

“…Interestingly spermatozoa and oocyte alter the proteomic profile of oviductal cell in dissimilar and definite way [17,18]. In other words, the oviductal cells are able to distinguish between spermatozoa and oocyte that helps to provide the appropriate microenvironment for sperm transportation, sperm storage and capacitation, fertilization and early embryo development [19][20][21][22].…”