Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development
It is not yet understood why cows that exhibit estrus and ovulate are more likely to become pregnant than those that ovulate but do not exhibit estrus during a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. The objective of this work was to determine whether the follicular fluid from cows that...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Audra W. Harl Verónica M. Negrón-Pérez Jacob W. Stewart George A. Perry Alan D. Ealy Michelle L. Rhoads |
| author_facet | Audra W. Harl Verónica M. Negrón-Pérez Jacob W. Stewart George A. Perry Alan D. Ealy Michelle L. Rhoads |
| author_sort | Audra W. Harl |
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| description | It is not yet understood why cows that exhibit estrus and ovulate are more likely to become pregnant than those that ovulate but do not exhibit estrus during a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. The objective of this work was to determine whether the follicular fluid from cows that exhibit estrus contributes to the increased likelihood of pregnancy. Lactating crossbred cows were subjected to an FTAI estrous synchronization protocol. Estrous behavior was observed and recorded prior to transvaginal follicle aspiration from cows that did (estrus, <i>n</i> = 7) or did not exhibit estrus (non-estrus, <i>n</i> = 6). Follicular fluid (25%) was then added to in vitro maturation media for the maturation of oocytes (<i>n</i> = 1489) from slaughterhouse ovaries. Cleavage rates were not affected by the estrous status of the cows from which the follicular fluid was collected. Blastocyst rates, however, were greater following maturation in the presence of follicular fluid from estrus cows compared to non-estrus cows (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01). This difference in blastocyst rates was not related to blastocyst cell numbers (inner cell mass, trophoblast, and total), as they did not differ between estrus and non-estrus animals. This study demonstrates that the follicular fluid, and thus, the follicular environment just prior to ovulation does indeed contribute to improved pregnancy rates following FTAI. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2221-3759 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Journal of Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eff3a7ded0dc44a9871175a183ae22992025-08-20T03:27:17ZengMDPI AGJournal of Developmental Biology2221-37592025-04-011321410.3390/jdb13020014Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst DevelopmentAudra W. Harl0Verónica M. Negrón-Pérez1Jacob W. Stewart2George A. Perry3Alan D. Ealy4Michelle L. Rhoads5School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USASchool of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USASchool of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USATexas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton, TX 75684, USASchool of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USASchool of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAIt is not yet understood why cows that exhibit estrus and ovulate are more likely to become pregnant than those that ovulate but do not exhibit estrus during a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. The objective of this work was to determine whether the follicular fluid from cows that exhibit estrus contributes to the increased likelihood of pregnancy. Lactating crossbred cows were subjected to an FTAI estrous synchronization protocol. Estrous behavior was observed and recorded prior to transvaginal follicle aspiration from cows that did (estrus, <i>n</i> = 7) or did not exhibit estrus (non-estrus, <i>n</i> = 6). Follicular fluid (25%) was then added to in vitro maturation media for the maturation of oocytes (<i>n</i> = 1489) from slaughterhouse ovaries. Cleavage rates were not affected by the estrous status of the cows from which the follicular fluid was collected. Blastocyst rates, however, were greater following maturation in the presence of follicular fluid from estrus cows compared to non-estrus cows (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01). This difference in blastocyst rates was not related to blastocyst cell numbers (inner cell mass, trophoblast, and total), as they did not differ between estrus and non-estrus animals. This study demonstrates that the follicular fluid, and thus, the follicular environment just prior to ovulation does indeed contribute to improved pregnancy rates following FTAI.https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/13/2/14cattleembryofollicular fluidestrusfertilitypregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Audra W. Harl Verónica M. Negrón-Pérez Jacob W. Stewart George A. Perry Alan D. Ealy Michelle L. Rhoads Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development Journal of Developmental Biology cattle embryo follicular fluid estrus fertility pregnancy |
| title | Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development |
| title_full | Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development |
| title_fullStr | Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development |
| title_short | Follicular Fluid from Cows That Express Estrus During a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol Promotes Blastocyst Development |
| title_sort | follicular fluid from cows that express estrus during a fixed time artificial insemination protocol promotes blastocyst development |
| topic | cattle embryo follicular fluid estrus fertility pregnancy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2221-3759/13/2/14 |
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