Abstract
The signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) has still not been identified in the horse. High-throughput molecular biology at the embryo–maternal interface has substantially contributed to the knowledge on pathways affected during MRP, but an integrated study in which proteomics, transcriptomics and miRNA expression can be linked directly is currently lacking. The aim of this study was to provide such analysis. Endometrial biopsies, uterine fluid, embryonic tissues, and yolk sac fluid were collected 13 days after ovulation during pregnant and control cycles from the same mares. Micro-RNA-Sequencing was performed on all collected samples, mRNA-Sequencing on the same tissue samples and mass spectrometry was conducted previously on the same fluid samples. Differential expression of miRNA, mRNA and proteins showed high conformity with literature and confirmed involvement in pregnancy establishment, embryo quality, steroid synthesis and prostaglandin regulation, but the link between differential miRNAs and their targets was limited and did not indicate the identity of an unequivocal signal for MRP in the horse. Differential expression at the embryo–maternal interface was prominent, highlighting a potential role of miRNAs in embryo–maternal communication during early pregnancy in the horse. These data provide a strong basis for future targeted studies.
Highlights
Pregnancy in the horse is characterized by several unique events: After selective transport through the utero-tubal junction, the equine embryo develops a glycoprotein capsule, remains spherical and moves throughout the uterus to signal its presence to the mare [1,2,3,4]
Messenger-RNA Sequencing Out of the, on average, 60 million reads that were generated per sample, 95% were mapped to the EnsOemutbolfetqhuei,noenEaqvuerCaagbe,26.800mrielflieornenrceeadgsenthoamt we.eAremgoennegrathteed2p6e,7r4s0ameqpulein, e95t%ranwsecrreipmtsarpepgeidstetored, 11,t7h9e6EtnrasenmscbrlipetqsuwineereEqcuoCnsaibd2e.r8e0drqefuearnenticfieagbelenoinmteh. eAcmoomnpgatrhiseo2n6,b7e4t0weeqeunintehterapnrsecgrnipatnstreengdisotemreedtr, ial banio1badpn1iot,sd7hpi9eets6shieeetamsrneaambdnnrsbdtychrrotyeihnpoecitncyscicctwyilcstiecilssiruceseuenecsendo,sdnoa,osmaitmdoteoetetatrrtaerliaildoaloflqbfb1ui11ioa1o,pn,6p6st0s0ii2ife2eiasese.b.qqlIIuuenniiinnttnhheeteehttrrcecaaoocnnmmossmcpcprraipairppraitsitrssosioswnwonebnebrerbeetewetctwcoweoneenesneesindntidhetteerhherepederdppeqrrguqeenugagannanntanaitnftnieitatfinebeadnlnbeoddl.moeo.memteretiurtirmaiul m
Another transcriptomics by RNA-Sequencing in our study provided added value is more sensitive than microarray
Summary
Pregnancy in the horse is characterized by several unique events: After selective transport through the utero-tubal junction, the equine embryo develops a glycoprotein capsule, remains spherical and moves throughout the uterus to signal its presence to the mare [1,2,3,4]. This embryonic signaling initiates a series of events leading to the persistence of the corpus luteum, progesterone production, and a receptive uterine environment to support the maintenance of gestation, a process known as maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) [5]. The embryo produces the very substance responsible for luteal regression, and even though embryo-derived PGs only act locally, a delicate balance and regulation exists to establish MRP and maintain pregnancy, highlighting the importance of the embryo–maternal dialogue [3]
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