Follicular fluid and serum metabolites in Holstein cows are predictive of genetic merit for fertility.
The aims of the present study were to: (1) characterise the metabolome of follicular fluid and serum in dairy cows with similar genetic merit for milk production but with extremes of good (Fert+) or poor (Fert-) genetic merit for fertility; and (2) identify potential biomarkers of dairy cow fertility. Follicular fluid from the first wave dominant follicle and serum were collected on Day 7 of the oestrous cycle. The most pronounced effect of genotype was noted in the serum, where the abundance of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was greater in Fert+ cows, and the abundance of total saturated fatty acids was greater in Fert- cows. The abundance of nine fatty acids (arachidic acid, heneicosanoic acid, myristic acid, behenic acid, myristoleic acid, heptadecenoic acid, cis-11-eicosanoic acid, nervonic acid and γ-linolenic acid) in follicular fluid was affected by genotype. Concentrations of cysteine, leucine, ornithine, proline and tyrosine in follicular fluid, and asparagine, creatinine, cysteine, methionine, proline and valine in serum, were also affected by genotype. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the follicular fluid and serum fatty acids and follicular fluid amino acids that were significantly affected by genotype were highly predictive of fertility genotype.
Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland.
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Moore
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
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A
O'Gorman
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
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Brennan
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland.
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Fair
Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland.
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ST
Butler
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005838:Genotype; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D055442:Metabolome; D008892:Milk; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism
D005227:Fatty Acids