title: Oestrus synchronisation and superovulation alter the cervicovaginal mucus proteome of the ewe.
abstract: Although essential for artificial insemination (AI) and MOET (multiple ovulation and embryo transfer), oestrus synchronisation and superovulation are associated with increased female reproductive tract mucus production and altered sperm transport. The effects of such breeding practices on the ovine cervicovaginal (CV) mucus proteome have not been detailed. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate the Merino CV mucus proteome in naturally cycling (NAT) ewes at oestrus and mid-luteal phase, and quantitatively compare CV oestrus mucus proteomes of NAT, progesterone synchronised (P4) and superovulated (SOV) ewes. Quantitative analysis revealed 60 proteins were more abundant during oestrus and 127 were more abundant during the luteal phase, with 27 oestrus specific and 40 luteal specific proteins identified. The oestrus proteins most disparate in abundance compared to mid-luteal phase were ceruloplasmin (CP), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), clusterin (CLU), alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) and mucin-16 (MUC16). Exogenous hormones greatly altered the proteome with 51 and 32 proteins more abundant and 98 and 53 proteins less abundant, in P4 and SOV mucus, respectively when compared to NAT mucus. Investigation of the impact of these proteomic changes on sperm motility and longevity within mucus may help improve sperm transport and fertility following cervical AI.
  
  
  
  This manuscript is the first to detail the proteome of ovine cervicovaginal mucus using qualitative and quantitative proteomic methods over the oestrous cycle in naturally cycling ewes, and also after application of common oestrus synchronisation and superovulation practices. The investigation of the mucus proteome throughout both the follicular and luteal periods of the oestrous cycle, and also after oestrous synchronisation and superovulation provides information about the endocrine control and the effects that exogenous hormones have on protein expression in the female reproductive tract. This information contributes to the field by providing important information on the changes that occur to the cervicovaginal mucus proteome after use of exogenous hormones in controlled breeding programs, which are commonly used on farm and also in a research setting.
authors.affiliation: RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: jessie.maddison@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jessie W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Maddison
authors.affiliation: RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: jessica.rickard@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jessica P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rickard
authors.affiliation: RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: nber1226@uni.sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Naomi C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bernecic
authors.affiliation: PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: guillaume.tsikis@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsikis
authors.affiliation: PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: clem_soleilhavoup@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soleilhavoup
authors.affiliation: PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: valerie.labas@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Labas
authors.affiliation: PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: lucie.combes-soia@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Combes-Soia
authors.affiliation: PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: gregoire.harichaux@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gregoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harichaux
authors.affiliation: PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: xavier.druart@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Druart
authors.affiliation: RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: tamara.leahy@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leahy
authors.affiliation: RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: simon.degraaf@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: de Graaf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D013480:Superovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome
keywords: Cervicovaginal; Exogenous; Hormones; Mucus; Oestrous cycle; Proteome