Modulation of bovine preimplantation embryonic development and pregnancy by FGF2, LIF, and IGF1
Loading...
Authors
Meeting name
Sponsors
Date
Journal Title
Format
Thesis
Subject
Abstract
In vitro embryo production enhances genetic selection through capitalizing on superior genetics, improving fertility, and increasing animal efficiency, all of which contribute to sustainable food animal production. Of the livestock species, cattle use more embryo technologies than any other. While the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, the low pregnancy rate associated with in vitro derived embryos, specifically cryopreserved embryos, warrants improvements to the system and a greater understanding of embryo development in vitro. Embryokine supplementation has been widely explored to improve the in vitro system. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) as a cytokine cocktail named FLI, was first recognized for its role in embryonic stem cell derivation and then for improvements to in vitro porcine embryo production. These same three cytokines have been identified as embryokines in the cow and have the potential to improve in vitro bovine embryo production. Thus, the central goal of this work was to understand FLI modulation of preimplantation embryo development and pregnancy outcomes in cattle. This work aimed to: 1) characterize an embryo phenotype following FLI supplementation to the bovine in vitro embryo production system; 2) investigate the effects of FLI on embryo survival and conceptus elongation; 3) evaluate the effect of FLI on pregnancy establishment and embryo-maternal signaling to day 30 of gestation; 4) elucidate how and when FLI regulates embryo development; 5) characterize the necessity for FGFR2, LIFR, and IGF1R for FLI modulation of the developing embryo. Overall, this work illustrated the benefit of FLI supplementation through improved embryo development, cell membrane integrity, and cell survival after cryopreservation. Furthermore, it showed that by binding to membrane receptors, FLI initiates changes in the transcriptome that drive differences in PI3K-AKT, MAPK, TGF?, and Hippo signaling throughout the preimplantation period. By investigating the effects of embryokine supplementation to the in vitro embryo production system we can further understand mechanisms that regulate early embryo development, enhance embryo production, and ultimately improve adoption of this technology.
Table of Contents
PubMed ID
Degree
Ph. D.