Reproduction in Domestic Animals

110 RS Robinson, AJ Hammond, DC Wathes, MG Hunter and GE MannConclusionsThe establishment of pregnancy in cattle involves aseries of highly coordinated interactions between theovary, endometrium and embryo. First, the appropriatetiming of these interactions is critical. In particular, thetiming of the post-ovulatory rise in progesterone determinesboth the transport of the embryo and thestimulation of appropriate endometrial secretions requiredfor the rapid development of the embryo. Anyinadequacy in the post-ovulatory progesterone leads todelayed embryo development and embryo mortality.The ‘status’ of the pre-ovulatory follicle and rate ofsubsequent luteal development have profound effects onluteal function. Secondly, the precise interplay betweenthe embryo and the endometrium on which it isdependent are also crucial. The embryo must blockluteolysis to establish pregnancy. It does this in the cowby secreting IFNT, which in turn directly suppresses theup-regulation of the OXTR in the luminal epithelium.Embryonic development is influenced by a number ofendometrial growth factors, such as the IGFs. Thesefactors are likely mediators of the cow’s metabolic statusand are thus exciting targets for development ofstrategies to alleviate the declining fertility.AcknowledgementsThis work has been funded by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries andFood, DEFRA, BBSRC, the Wellcome Trust and the Milk DevelopmentCouncil. We greatly appreciate the technical assistance of staff atthe University of Nottingham and Royal Veterinary College withoutwhich this work would not have been possible.ReferencesAcosta TJ, Hayahsi KG, Ohtani M, Miyamoto A, 2003: Localchanges in blood flow within the pre-ovulatory follicle walland early corpus luteum in cows. 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