Abstract
Abnormal uterine function affects conception rate and embryo development, thereby leading to poor fertility and reproduction failure. Exosomes are a nanosized subclass of extracellular vesicles (EV) that have important functions as intercellular communicators. They contain and carry transferable bioactive substances including micro RNA (miRNA) for target cells. Elements of the cargo can provide epigenetic modifications of the recipient cells and may have crucial roles in mechanisms of reproduction. The dairy industry accounts for a substantial portion of the economy of many agricultural countries. Exosomes can enhance the expression of inflammatory mediators in the endometrium, which contribute to various inflammatory diseases in transition dairy cows. This results in reduced fertility which leads to reduced milk production and increased cow maintenance costs. Thus, gaining a clear knowledge of exosomal epigenetic modifiers is critical to improving the breeding success and profitability of dairy farms. This review provides a brief overview of how exosomal miRNA contributes to inflammatory diseases and hence to poor fertility, particularly in dairy cows.
Highlights
Poor reproductive efficiency is directly linked with metabolic disorders, a decline in longevity, reduced milk production, greater involuntary culling rate, and higher cow maintenance rates [1]
An activated inflammatory system via immune and/or infectious challenge of the uterus occurring during the postpartum period and higher metabolic pressure due to elevated milk production [3,4,5] can lead to impaired reproduction and fertilization failure [6]
Ubiquitous specialized membrane platform known as Tetraspanin-enriched microdomain (TEM) involves sorting receptors and signaling proteins into compartments in the plasma membrane [44] and that along with TEM, tetraspanin CD81 is involved in trafficking target receptors in the direction of exosomes [45]
Summary
Poor reproductive efficiency is directly linked with metabolic disorders, a decline in longevity, reduced milk production, greater involuntary culling rate, and higher cow maintenance rates [1]. Dairy cow fertility has declined as a result of selective breeding for elevated milk production without having due consideration for the functional traits responsible for fertility and reproduction [2]. An activated inflammatory system via immune and/or infectious challenge of the uterus occurring during the postpartum period and higher metabolic pressure due to elevated milk production [3,4,5] can lead to impaired reproduction and fertilization failure [6]. Inflammatory diseases related to the intrauterine environment of dairy cows and those occurring during the early lactation period negatively influence the reproductive cycle and reduce overall fertility [25,26,27]
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