Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Extracellular matrix (ECM) has both structural and regulatory roles in tissues and influences the activity of local growth factors. In testis, ECM plays an integral role in the differentiation of germ cells and the function of support cells. It is becoming clear that sex steroids influence ECM and growth factors. In swine, suppression of aromatase activity resulted in an estrogen receptor-mediated increase in Sertoli cells (Berger et al. 2013), with sign...

Introduction: Human germ cells develop in synchronised nests in the fetal ovary, interspersed with somatic cells prior to reorganisation to form primordial follicles. We have isolated several somatic cell lines from disaggregated human fetal ovaries as a model for understanding their contribution to the germ cell niche. Fetal dysregulation of TGFβ signalling has been linked with fibrosis in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): effects of TGFβ on extracellular matrix (EC...

Introduction: This study investigates the effect of dietary crude protein on conception in range beef heifers and uses circulating progesterone as a measure of early embryonic loss known to be a major cause of reproductive inefficiency.Methods: Primaparous 14 month old Bos indicus cross heifers (n=350) were selected from a range population. 60 days prior to artificial insemination they were randomly assigned to two equal groups and indi...

Sex specific expression occurs in 20–30% of all hepatic genes in the adult animal (1). We have shown that there is an interaction between gender and the level of maternal dietary protein intake on bovine fetal development as early as 36–39 days post conception (dpc) We hypothesise that exposure to different levels of maternal protein intake in the periconceptional period (60d preconception to 23dpc) and in the postconceptional period (23–98dpc) will result in a ...

Introduction: Neonatal and fetal mortality is increased in male fetuses. Evidence is emerging of sex specific differences in fetal and placental perfusion1. This study investigates effects of dietary intervention at specific time points upon blood flow and fetal growth trajectory in cattle.Materials and methods: Primiparous heifers were either individually- (Australia, Au; n=360) or group-fed (UK; n=188) diets containing diff...