Proteomics Recapitulates Ovarian Proteins Relevant to Puberty and Fertility in Brahman Heifers (Bos indicus L.)

Abstract

High fertility and early puberty in Bos indicus heifers are desirable and genetically correlated traits in beef production. The hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis synthesizes steroid hormones, which contribute to the shift from the pre-pubertal state into the post-pubertal state and influence subsequent fertility. Understanding variations in abundance of proteins that govern steroid synthesis and ovarian signaling pathways remains crucial to understanding puberty and fertility. We used whole ovaries of six pre-pubertal and six post-pubertal Brahman heifers to conduct differential abundance analyses of protein profiles between the two physiological states. Extracted proteins were digested into peptides followed by identification and quantification with massspectrometry (MS) by sequential window acquisition of all instances of theoretical fragment ion mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS). MS and statistical analysis identified 566 significantly differentially abundant (DA) proteins (adjusted p < 0.05), which were then analyzed for gene ontology and pathway enrichment. Our data indicated an up-regulation of steroidogenic proteins contributing to progesterone synthesis at luteal phase post-puberty. Proteins related to progesterone signaling, TGF-β, retinoic acid, extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, and pleiotrophin signaling were DA in this study. The DA proteins probably relate to the formation and function of the corpus luteum, which is only present after ovulation, post-puberty. Some DA proteins might also be related to granulosa cells signaling, which regulates oocyte maturation or arrest in ovaries prior to ovulation. Ten DA proteins were coded by genes previously associated with reproductive traits according to the animal quantitative trait loci (QTL) database. In conclusion, the DA proteins and their pathways were related to ovarian activity in Bos indicus cattle. The genes that code for these proteins may explain some known QTLs and could be targeted in future genetic studies.

Ovarian extracellular matrix‐based hydrogel for human ovarian follicle survival in vivo: A pilot work

“…The goal of this pilot study was to develop and characterize a hydrogel derived from decellularized bovine ovarian extracellular matrix (oECM) to support survival and development of isolated human follicles when it was combined with alginate. Bovine ovaries were chosen due to their similarity to human ovaries in terms of ultrastructure, follicle dynamics, rigidity, ECM organization, and composition [31][32][33][34][35][36] and unlimited supply, since they are normally discarded. Furthermore, some bovine-ECM products have already been commercialized 28 and reportedly used without any safety issues which is promising for extending possible clinical applications.…”

Meta-Analysis of Heifer Traits Identified Reproductive Pathways in Bos indicus Cattle

“…The gene IDH3A was in the peak SNP region on chromosome 21. The protein coded by IDH3A was up regulated in the ovaries of post-pubertal heifers as compared to pre-pubertal heifers [ 96 ]. The gene PTGDR was within a peak SNP region in this study and had been reported as a candidate in a previous GWAS as associated with age at first calving in cattle [ 97 ].…”

“…In Chinese Holstein cows, an SNP in the 5′ UTR region of FSHR is associated with superovulation [ 151 ]. The gene CS converts acetyl-CoA to citrate [ 152 ] which contributes to steroid synthesis downstream [ 96 ]. Steroidogenic genes CYP11A and HSD17B catalyze reactions of conversion of cholesterol to pregnanolone and estradiol-1 to estradiol-2, respectively [ 78 ].…”

Sustainable Intensification of Beef Production in the Tropics: The Role of Genetically Improving Sexual Precocity of Heifers

“…Using advanced proteomic technologies, Nguyen et al [ 157 ] and Tahir et al [ 158 ] identified differentially expressed proteins, their functions, and interactions in Brahman heifers. These authors showed that the puberty and fertility of these animals depended on proteins related to steroid synthesis and ovarian signaling pathways.…”