Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality
Abstract Background Recent studies have indicated the potential involvement of haptoglobin in a variety of events during mammalian reproduction, with previous research highlighting its efficacy in promoting porcine embryo development. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation o...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Biological Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-025-00635-0 |
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| author | Karina Cañón-Beltrán Yulia N. Cajas Cristina Martínez-López Carla Moros-Nicolás Pilar Sòria-Monzó Miriam Balastegui-Alarcón Manuel Avilés Dimitrios Rizos Francisco A. García-Vázquez Mª José Izquierdo-Rico |
| author_facet | Karina Cañón-Beltrán Yulia N. Cajas Cristina Martínez-López Carla Moros-Nicolás Pilar Sòria-Monzó Miriam Balastegui-Alarcón Manuel Avilés Dimitrios Rizos Francisco A. García-Vázquez Mª José Izquierdo-Rico |
| author_sort | Karina Cañón-Beltrán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recent studies have indicated the potential involvement of haptoglobin in a variety of events during mammalian reproduction, with previous research highlighting its efficacy in promoting porcine embryo development. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation of haptoglobin expression and secretion in the bovine uterus, with a view to assessing its impact on bovine in vitro embryo production. A systematic study was conducted on cows in different oestrous stages, early follicular, late follicular, early luteal and late luteal stages. Relative haptoglobin mRNA abundance was quantified by RT-qPCR, and the expression of the protein was analysed by immunohistochemistry. The results were complemented by proteomic analyses of the uterine fluid. In vitro bovine fertilisation and embryo culture were carried out in the presence of haptoglobin. Results Haptoglobin mRNA expression in the bovine uterus is most abundant during the late luteal stage of the oestrous cycle. The presence of haptoglobin was demonstrated in the uterine epithelium and the uterine fluid in different stages of the oestrous cycle by immunohistochemistry and proteomic analyses. Furthermore, the addition of haptoglobin to in vitro culture improved the development of bovine embryos when the protein was present on the days corresponding to its passage through the uterus, with a higher blastocyst yield (P < 0.05) being observed in haptoglobin treatments compared with control groups. Haptoglobin appears to influence embryonic development by reducing mitochondrial activity and lipid content. Furthermore, transcripts associated with oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and cell cycle regulation were affected by the presence of haptoglobin. Conclusions The presence of haptoglobin protein in the female tract of cows during different stages of the oestrous cycle suggests that it plays a significant role in the reproductive process. The addition of haptoglobin during in vitro embryo production resulted in enhanced blastocyst rates and improved quality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20b306aa073343f79cbc054827e2acd8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0717-6287 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biological Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-20b306aa073343f79cbc054827e2acd82025-08-24T11:09:11ZengBMCBiological Research0717-62872025-08-0158112010.1186/s40659-025-00635-0Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and qualityKarina Cañón-Beltrán0Yulia N. Cajas1Cristina Martínez-López2Carla Moros-Nicolás3Pilar Sòria-Monzó4Miriam Balastegui-Alarcón5Manuel Avilés6Dimitrios Rizos7Francisco A. García-Vázquez8Mª José Izquierdo-Rico9Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC)Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC)Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de MurciaInstituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla (IMIB)Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla (IMIB)Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla (IMIB)Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla (IMIB)Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC)Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de MurciaInstituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla (IMIB)Abstract Background Recent studies have indicated the potential involvement of haptoglobin in a variety of events during mammalian reproduction, with previous research highlighting its efficacy in promoting porcine embryo development. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation of haptoglobin expression and secretion in the bovine uterus, with a view to assessing its impact on bovine in vitro embryo production. A systematic study was conducted on cows in different oestrous stages, early follicular, late follicular, early luteal and late luteal stages. Relative haptoglobin mRNA abundance was quantified by RT-qPCR, and the expression of the protein was analysed by immunohistochemistry. The results were complemented by proteomic analyses of the uterine fluid. In vitro bovine fertilisation and embryo culture were carried out in the presence of haptoglobin. Results Haptoglobin mRNA expression in the bovine uterus is most abundant during the late luteal stage of the oestrous cycle. The presence of haptoglobin was demonstrated in the uterine epithelium and the uterine fluid in different stages of the oestrous cycle by immunohistochemistry and proteomic analyses. Furthermore, the addition of haptoglobin to in vitro culture improved the development of bovine embryos when the protein was present on the days corresponding to its passage through the uterus, with a higher blastocyst yield (P < 0.05) being observed in haptoglobin treatments compared with control groups. Haptoglobin appears to influence embryonic development by reducing mitochondrial activity and lipid content. Furthermore, transcripts associated with oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and cell cycle regulation were affected by the presence of haptoglobin. Conclusions The presence of haptoglobin protein in the female tract of cows during different stages of the oestrous cycle suggests that it plays a significant role in the reproductive process. The addition of haptoglobin during in vitro embryo production resulted in enhanced blastocyst rates and improved quality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-025-00635-0HaptoglobinCattleEmbryo productionUterusUterine fluid |
| spellingShingle | Karina Cañón-Beltrán Yulia N. Cajas Cristina Martínez-López Carla Moros-Nicolás Pilar Sòria-Monzó Miriam Balastegui-Alarcón Manuel Avilés Dimitrios Rizos Francisco A. García-Vázquez Mª José Izquierdo-Rico Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality Biological Research Haptoglobin Cattle Embryo production Uterus Uterine fluid |
| title | Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality |
| title_full | Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality |
| title_fullStr | Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality |
| title_short | Haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture: a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality |
| title_sort | haptoglobin as a supplement in in vitro embryo culture a tool for improving bovine embryo development and quality |
| topic | Haptoglobin Cattle Embryo production Uterus Uterine fluid |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40659-025-00635-0 |
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