Maternal age influences the number of primordial follicles in the ovaries of yearling Angus heifers

Tenley, S. C.; Gomes, Renata Spuri; Rosasco, Shelby L; Northrop, Emmalee J.; Rich, Jerica J.J.; McNeel, Anthony K.; Summers, Adam F.; Miles, Jeremy R.; Chase, C. C.; Lents, C. A.; Perry, George A.; Wood, Jennifer R.; Cupp, Andrea S.; Cushman, Robert A.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.12.004

Cited by 27 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…In two species of birds, female offspring of older mothers had fewer chicks throughout their lifetime, despite having a similar lifespan (Bouwhuis et al, 2015;Schroeder et al, 2015). Conversely, in Angus heifers, having a younger mother was associated with having fewer primordial follicles (Tenley et al, 2019). In an analysis of 228 229 fertility records of UK dairy cows (Banos et al, 2007), first-born heifers born to younger dams had slightly earlier first service (the interval from birth to insemination) but required 7% more inseminations than those born to older dams.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Maternal age at birth and daughter’s fecundability

et al. 2021

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STUDY QUESTION Do daughters of older mothers have lower fecundability? SUMMARY ANSWER In this cohort study of North American pregnancy planners, there was virtually no association between maternal age ≥35 years and daughters’ fecundability. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Despite suggestive evidence that daughters of older mothers may have lower fertility, only three retrospective studies have examined the association between maternal age and daughter’s fecundability. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Prospective cohort study of 6689 pregnancy planners enrolled between March 2016 and January 2020. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) is an ongoing pre-conception cohort study of pregnancy planners (age, 21-45 years) from the USA and Canada. We estimated fecundability ratios (FR) for maternal age at the participant’s birth using multivariable proportional probabilities regression models. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Daughters of mothers ≥30 years were less likely to have previous pregnancies (or pregnancy attempts) or risk factors for infertility, although they were more likely to report that their mother had experienced problems conceiving. The proportion of participants with prior unplanned pregnancies, a birth before age 21, ≥3 cycles of attempt at study entry or no follow-up was greater among daughters of mothers <25 years. Compared with maternal age 25–29 years, FRs (95% CI) for maternal age <20, 20–24, 30–34, and ≥35 were 0.72 (0.61, 0.84), 0.92 (0.85, 1.00), 1.08 (1.00, 1.17), and 1.00 (0.89, 1.12), respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Although the examined covariates did not meaningfully affect the associations, we had limited information on the participants’ mother. Differences by maternal age in reproductive history, infertility risk factors and loss to follow-up suggest that selection bias may partly explain our results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our finding that maternal age 35 years or older was not associated with daughter’s fecundability is reassuring, considering the trend towards delayed childbirth. However, having been born to a young mother may be a marker of low fecundability among pregnancy planners. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) PRESTO was funded by NICHD Grants (R21-HD072326 and R01-HD086742) and has received in-kind donations from Swiss Precision Diagnostics, FertilityFriend.com, Kindara.com, and Sandstone Diagnostics. Dr Wise is a fibroid consultant for AbbVie, Inc. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER n/a

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Maternal age at birth and daughter’s fecundability

et al. 2021

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“…More recently, a study describes a significantly higher percentage of RBCs when serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations are lower [ 94 ]. This hormone is associated with the antral follicle count and informs about the size of the ovarian primordial follicle reserve pool [ 95 ]. Therefore, the reduced fertility in cows with low AMH concentrations could be attributable to lower oocyte quality, reduced sensitivity of theca, granulosa, and luteal cells to FSH and LH, impaired embryonic developmental competence, and a relatively lower progesterone concentration during the estrous cycle.…”

Section: Steroid Hormones Biochemical Components and Gametes/embryo C...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Insights in the Repeat Breeder Cow Syndrome

Marı́n

Arias

2023

Animals

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Cows can have difficulties becoming pregnant, and in certain cases, these reproductive failures do not have an evident cause. Furthermore, when these failures are repeated three or more times with estrous cycles of normal duration and in the absence of evident clinical signs, it is considered repeat breeder cow (RBC) syndrome. A substantive incidence of RBC syndrome has been reported all over the world, which severely affects the farm economy. This paper reviews those studies particularly focused on RBC syndrome from 2000 to 2023 but also includes consolidated information until this date. Hormonal imbalances, undetectable oviductal or uterine defects, or poor oocyte or embryo quality have been reported as causes of RBC syndrome, while subclinical endometritis has been considered a relevant causal agent. However, it is unresolved why this condition is recurrent in certain animals, despite the implementation of corrective management actions or treatments. Recent studies evaluate the putative role of certain genes, factors, hormones, or proteins in the pathogenesis of RBC syndrome. Numerous risk factors contribute to the appearance of this syndrome, and some of them could be mitigated to partially prevent this infertility, while others cannot be changed. Due to the complexity of this syndrome, it is important to increase knowledge about the mechanisms involved, develop new diagnostic tools to differentiate causal agents, and implement new treatments to restore fertility. There is consensus about the huge repercussions of this syndrome on farm profitability, but further studies are now needed to describe its economic impact.

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“…This was accompanied by reduced concentrations of AMH and increased concentrations of FSH. It was reported by Tenley et al [ 97 ] that heifer offspring of PP Angus beef cows had a smaller ovarian reserve that offspring of MP cows, containing fewer antral follicles assessed by ultrasonography, and with fewer primordial follicles in histological sections. Gobikrushanth et al [ 98 ] did not, however, find any relationship between serum AMH concentrations and dairy cow fertility.…”

Section: Influence Of Fetal Programming On the Development Of Specifi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental Programming of Fertility in Cattle—Is It a Cause for Concern?

Wathes

2022

Animals

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Cattle fertility remains sub-optimal despite recent improvements in genetic selection. The extent to which an individual heifer fulfils her genetic potential can be influenced by fetal programming during pregnancy. This paper reviews the evidence that a dam’s age, milk yield, health, nutrition and environment during pregnancy may programme permanent structural and physiological modifications in the fetus. These can alter the morphology and body composition of the calf, postnatal growth rates, organ structure, metabolic function, endocrine function and immunity. Potentially important organs which can be affected include the ovaries, liver, pancreas, lungs, spleen and thymus. Insulin/glucose homeostasis, the somatotropic axis and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis can all be permanently reprogrammed by the pre-natal environment. These changes may act directly at the level of the ovary to influence fertility, but most actions are indirect. For example, calf health, the timing of puberty, the age and body structure at first calving, and the ability to balance milk production with metabolic health and fertility after calving can all have an impact on reproductive potential. Definitive experiments to quantify the extent to which any of these effects do alter fertility are particularly challenging in cattle, as individual animals and their management are both very variable and lifetime fertility takes many years to assess. Nevertheless, the evidence is compelling that the fertility of some animals is compromised by events happening before they are born. Calf phenotype at birth and their conception data as a nulliparous heifer should therefore both be assessed to avoid such animals being used as herd replacements.

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Maternal age influences the number of primordial follicles in the ovaries of yearling Angus heifers

Cited by 27 publications

References 23 publications

Maternal age at birth and daughter’s fecundability

Maternal age at birth and daughter’s fecundability

Current Insights in the Repeat Breeder Cow Syndrome

Developmental Programming of Fertility in Cattle—Is It a Cause for Concern?

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