title: Platelet concentrate in bovine reproduction: effects on in vitro embryo production and after intrauterine administration in repeat breeder cows.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A repeat breeder cow (RBC) can be defined as an animal that after 3 or more inseminations cannot get pregnant because of fertilization failure or early embryonic death. If no cause is identified precisely, inadequate uterine receptivity is responsible for implantation failures. Since a large number of identified molecular mediators, such as cytokines, growth factors and lipids have been postulated to be involved in early feto-maternal interaction, in this study a different approach to the treatment of RBC syndrome has been employed using a platelet concentrate (PC) that contains a significant amount of growth factors accumulated in its α-granules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three explorative studies were performed. Initially, PC was supplemented in the in vitro embryo culture medium to study its effect on embryo-development. After the pilot study, 4 RBCs were treated with intrauterine administration of PC to evaluate proliferative potential of endometrium by immunohistochemical expression of the antigen Ki-67. Lastly, the effect of intrauterine administration of PC at 48 hrs after artificial insemination in RBCs was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The in vitro results show that 5 % of PC and 5 % of fetal calf serum (FCS) increase the rate of blastocysts compared with the control containing 10 % FCS only (43.04 % vs 35.00 % respectively). The immunohistochemical study shows more proliferating nuclei in the treated uterine horn compared to the control one. After intrauterine insemination in RBCs, the percentage of pregnant cows in the control group was 33.33 % compared to 70 % of the treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suppose that when embryo descends in uterus could find a more appropriate environment for nesting and subsequent pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Hospital, Reproduction Unit, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy. anna.langeconsiglio@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lange-Consiglio
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Hospital, Reproduction Unit, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy. nadia.cazzaniga@studenti.unimi.it.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.affiliation: Private practitioner, 26833, Merlino, Milan, Italy. rosgarlappi@alice.it.
authors.forename: Rosangela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garlappi
authors.affiliation: Private practitioner, 27100, Pavia, Italy. chspelta@tin.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spelta
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy. claudia.pollera@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pollera
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Hospital, Reproduction Unit, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy. claudia.perrini@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrini
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Hospital, Reproduction Unit, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy. fausto.cremonesi@unimi.it.|Department of Veterinary Science for Animal Health, Production and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy. fausto.cremonesi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremonesi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets; D002417:Cattle; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction