title: Amniotic fluid l-ergothioneine concentrations in pregnant sheep after natural mating and transfer of vitrified/thawed in-vitro produced embryos.
abstract: L-ergothioneine levels were measured in amniotic fluid of pregnant sheep after natural mating and transfer of vitrified/thawed in-vitro produced embryos. Amniotic fluids were collected between 60 and 65 and 80-85 days of gestation and analysed by an ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (UPLC)method with fluorescence detection. L-Ergothioneine concentrations ranged between 0.23 and 9.36 μmol/L and were significantly higher in pregnancy obtained by the transfer of vitrified/thawed in-vitro produced embryos. Conversely, no significant changes in amniotic fluid L-ergothioneine concentrations were observed according to the stages of pregnancy considered in this study. These findings suggest that L-ergothioneine concentrations, are not affected as much by the gestational age, but rather by the method used to induce the pregnancy. On the whole, the measurement of L-ergothioneine in amniotic fluid could serve as a useful biomarker of oxidative stress and/or inflammatory state in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: salvatore.sotgia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotgia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zinellu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Dionigia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arru
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nieddu
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strina
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ariu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; Quality Control Unit, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ciriaco
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carru
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bogliolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ledda
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004880:Ergothioneine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012098:Reproduction; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000502:physiology*; D058989:Vitrification
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004880:Ergothioneine
keywords: ART; Antioxidant; Pregnancy; Sheep; Vitrified/thawed IVP