PR000267 (Project)

Description:Research The objective is to investigate changes in metabolomics of uterine lumen content of lactating dairy cows associated with the onset of conceptus (embryo and associated membranes) elongation. Lactating dairy cows had estrous cycles synchronized and were subjected to induced ovulation and timed artificial insemination (AI). The day of AI was considered study d 0. On d 15, uteri were flushed by transcervical catheterization and infusion of 20 mL of phosphate buffered solution with 0.1% of polyvinyl acetate. Recovered conceptuses were classified based on morphology/length as ovoid (OV; 1-4 mm), tubular (TUB; 5-19 mm) and filamentous (FIL; 20-85 mm). The first 20 mL infused in the uterus were recovered, placed in conical tubes and centrifuged at 2,000 × g at 4?C. The supernatant was collect, aliquoted and stored at -80?C for later analyses of fluid composition, including measurement of IFN-t concentration. Cows with no conceptus recovered and no detection of IFN-t in uterine flushing were considered as nonpregnant (NPREG). The experimental design was then considered a prospective cohort study with 4 independent groups (NPREG, OV, TUB, and FIL). The additional 5th group represents a specific physiological condition of cows within the study and it will be compared to TUB and FIL groups combined, working as a pilot study for future research.