Symposium review: Progesterone effects on early embryo development in cattle

Abstract

The causes of low fertility in dairy cattle are complex and multifactorial and may be due to compromised follicle development affecting oocyte quality, a suboptimal reproductive tract environment incapable of supporting normal embryo development, or a combination of both. Progesterone (P4) plays a key role in reproductive events associated with establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, through its effects on oocyte quality and its action on the uterine endometrium. Reduced P4 concentrations during growth of the ovulatory follicle are associated with lower fertility, and low concentrations of circulating P4 after ovulation have been associated with reductions in conceptus growth and elongation, decreased interferon-τ (IFNT) production, and lower pregnancy rates in cattle. In contrast, elevated concentrations of circulating P4 in the period immediately following conception have been associated with advancement of conceptus elongation, increased IFNT production, and, in some cases, higher pregnancy rates in cattle. Despite the potential beneficial effects of exogenous P4 supplementation on fertility, results of supplementation studies have been inconsistent. As part of the 2019 ADSA Reproduction Symposium, focusing on the etiology of pregnancy losses in dairy cattle, the aim of this review is to highlight recent findings from our group and others in relation to embryo-maternal interaction during bovine pregnancy establishment and the role of P4 in uterine biology and embryo development.