Ortiz Uriarte, Bianca P.

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    Evaluation of gene expression in endometrial epithelial and immune cells and segregation of candidate genes polymorphisms in slick and non-slick cattle
    (2022-12-09) Ortiz Uriarte, Bianca P.; Pagán Morales, Melvin; College of Agricultural Sciences; Negrón, Veronica; Jiménez Cabán, Esbal; Department of Animal Science; Matos, Abigail
    Under environmental conditions where the thermo-neutral zone of cattle is exceeded, the performance of the animals is affected due to heat stress. The selection of heat-tolerant cattle is a viable option to face the problems and economic losses caused by heat stress in cattle. The slick phenotype (SL) has been associated with an improved ability to dissipate heat and with having shorter calving intervals, compared to wildtype animals (WT). The first objective of this study was to investigate the apparent reproductive advantage in SL Holstein by analyzing if candidate genes express differentially between SL and WT Holsteins in endometrial tissue. Hypothesizing that the differences in expression would allow us to explain the molecular basis of the reproductive advantage of SL cattle. Using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the expression CCDC80, HSF1, HSPA1A, PGR, SPP1, STAT1, and TAP genes in endometrial samples collected via uterine swabs was compared in SL and WT cows and heifers. SL heifers tend to have an up-regulation of PGR (2.94-fold), compared to WT heifers (p=0.06). In addition, a higher expression of HSPA1A and HSF1 genes was observed in the sampling carried out in March 2021 where the temperature and humidity index (THI) was lower (THI = 73) than in the sampling carried out in November 2020 (THI=75). The second objective was to observe the segregation of polymorphisms in candidate genes in Holstein and Senepol cattle to identify possible genetic markers that help counteract the negative effects of HS in Puerto Rico. Association analysis of polymorphisms with molecular breeding values (MBV) and genomic predicted transmission ability (GPTA) for important traits was performed. In the SPP1 gene, the genotype in c.20C>T was associated with the GPTA for gestation length (GL) (pA had a significant effect on GPTA for milk production and daughter pregnancy rate. For HSPA1A, segregation of ten polymorphisms was observed in iii Holstein and Senepol cattle. In Holsteins, the polymorphisms c.*54G>A/c.*101C>T; c.*114T>C; c.*173C>T had an effect on the GPTA for GL (pA polymorphism was associated with the MBV for marbling, with the CC genotype being the favorable one (pC polymorphism affected the MBV for milk production, longevity, and calving ease maternal (CEM) (pC /c.*140A>G also affected MBV for CEM. The results presented herein for PGR expression could indicate that the differences in reproductive efficiency of SL and WT cattle could be potentially explained by differences in the concentrations of that hormone and receptor during the reproductive cycle. Furthermore, multiple candidate gene polymorphisms showed novel associations with economically important traits GPTA and MBV within our unique populations of SL and WT Holsteins and SL Senepols, which could be used in marker assisted selection and marker assisted management.