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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360834
Research Project: Improving Livestock Production by Developing Reproductive and Precision Management Technologies

Location: Livestock Bio-Systems

Title: Abundance of transcript for bovine interferon tau is decreased in blastocysts produced from ovaries with increased numbers of antral follicles

Author
item Cushman, Robert - Bob
item NORTHROP, EMMALEE - South Dakota State University
item RICH, JERICA - South Dakota State University
item PERRY, GEORGE - South Dakota State University
item Miles, Jeremy
item Chase, Chadwick - Chad

Submitted to: Society for the Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2019
Publication Date: 6/1/2019
Citation: Cushman, R.A., Northrop, E.J., Rich, J.J., Perry, G.A., Miles, J.R., Chase, Jr., C.C. 2019. Abundance of transcript for bovine interferon tau is decreased in blastocysts produced from ovaries with increased numbers of antral follicles [abstract]. Society for the Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting. Abstract Program p. 308. Available: https://community.ssr.org/news-events/past-meetings/annual-meeting575

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Conflicting reports exist regarding the influence of increased numbers of follicles in bovine ovaries on the competence of oocytes to develop to blastocysts in vitro. Interferon tau (IFNT) is considered a marker for blastocyst developmental competence because IFNT production was negatively correlated with blastocyst development in vitro. Therefore, we hypothesized that IFNT transcript abundance on day 8 would be greater in blastocysts produced in vitro from ovaries with decreased numbers of follicles compared to blastocysts produced in vitro from ovaries with increased numbers of follicles. Bovine ovaries were collected at a local abattoir (n = 12 reps) and classified as Low (<11) or High (>19) based on numbers of visible antral follicles. Cumulus oocyte complexes (20-40/group for each rep) were matured and fertilized in vitro using semen from a single bull. On day 8, blastocysts were collected in pools of 10 (n = 9 pools/group). Total cellular RNA was extracted and relative IFNT transcript abundance was quantified using real-time RT-PCR. Percentage developing to the blastocyst stage was analyzed using GLIMMIX and relative transcript abundance of IFNT was analyzed using GLM. There was no difference in the percentage developing to the blastocyst stage by day 8 in vitro due to follicle number (Low: 18.6 ± 7.6% vs High: 27.6 ± 8.8%; P = 0.45). Relative transcript abundance of IFNT was decreased in blastocysts from ovaries with increased numbers of follicles compared to blastocysts from ovaries with diminished numbers of follicles (P < 0.01). While there was no difference in ability to develop to the blastocyst stage, the decreased abundance of IFNT transcript in blastocysts suggests that embryonic survival after day 8 might be improved in blastocysts produced from ovaries with increased numbers of antral follicles.