Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Identification of the impact that thermal stress has on ovarian signaling is resulting in a mechanistic map being developed, upon which strategies to ameliorate seasonal infertility can be based.

We have identified that dairy cows have an amazing capacity to develop tolerance to chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure and that no effect of this exposure on the growing dominant follicle is observed.

Molecular signaling protein alterations during the follicular and/or luteal phase from lipopolysaccharide or thermal stress treated gilts have been identified.

Determined influence of a physiological stressor, obesity, on the ovarian capacity to respond to a toxic environmental stress.

Identified molecular proteins within the oocyte that contribute to viability of the oocyte.

We have cultured ovarian oocytes to investigate intra-oocyte mechanisms of heat stress induced infertility.

Zinc depletion during preantral development impairs oocyte-somatic cell communication and oocyte growth and competence to complete meiosis.

NR5A2 is a regulator of luteal progesterone production and may be translationally regulated by miRNA.

Changes in the profile of lipids within the CL indicate potential roles for these small molecules as regulators of immune cells, components of intercellular signaling pathways and cell death.

We have shown that bovine granulosa and theca express CCN1, along with αV, αIIb, α6, β1, β3 and β5 integrin subunits.  The suppressive effect of PSI on CCN1 expression in KGN cells was accompanied by a decrease in phosphorylated NF-κB activity, while the suppressive effect of Calphostin C and PSI on CCN1 expression in HGrC1 cells probably did not involve NF-κB.

We have determined the effects of Ovsynch manipulation on intraovarian events and pregnancy in multiparous dairy cows.

We have manipulated ERK signaling (via growth factors) in bovine granulosa cells (GCs) to gain insight about its role in immune-mediated apoptosis of GCs and selection of bovine follicles.

Our results provide new information on the property of ZNFO, which will help further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in ZNFO-dependent transcriptional regulation during maternal- embryonic transition.

We determined that feeding rumen-protected methionine to high-producing, multiparous dairy cattle reduced pregnancy loss in multiparous dairy cows.

We determined that high energy diets could reduce oocyte quality, leading to lack of fertilization.

We have defined two other mechanisms that underlie reduced fertility in animals fed high energy diets, namely high progesterone catabolism and reduced embryo quality.

An important practical finding was that loss of body condition score from 21 days before calving until 21 days after calving led to reduced fertility in lactating dairy cows.

We have determined that early plane of nutrition impacts the progression of uterine gland development in heifers, and that this outcome may be mediated by changes in the expression of several local controllers of gland development.

Our recent findings support the contention that maternal obesity modifies a subset of important mediators of embryonic and extraembryonic development in ovine and porcine conceptuses.

We determined that maternal obesity also modifies uterine gene expression during early pregnancy in sheep.

We determined that Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle differ in their ability to produce viable offspring following nutrient restriction during early pregnancy.

We have discovered that the cytokine, interleukin-6, improves development of the inner cell mass (ICM) in bovine embryos.

We determined that early weaning of beef heifers can have long-term effects on physiology.  Some of these changes have implications for lifetime productivity and may be beneficial in some production systems.

We investigated the effects of steroid content of follicle fluid on the cumulus-oocyte complex.  Cumulus cell expansion and gene expression differed with estradiol and progesterone concentrations, but in vitro embryo development to the blastocyst stage did not.

We determined that a lack of Ca2+ oscillations is not the main reason of the poor success of ICSI in the bovine. This was demonstrated using both in in vitro matured mouse and bovine oocytes injected with bovine sperm.

We found that bovine sperm heads are highly resistant to sperm head decondensation, which compromises the ability of in vitro maturated oocytes to reprogram the sperm nucleus.

We identified treatments that abruptly change the metabolic status of bull sperm, enhancing the ability of those sperm upon ICSI to initiate Ca2+ oscillations. This also improved the ability of these sperm to undergo decondensation and support pre-implantation embryo development.

We have developed the Short-Resynch protocol. This new reproductive management strategy for re-insemination of lactating dairy cows improves reproductive performance and has other benefits for dairy herd management. Compared to traditional resynchronization strategies widely used on dairy farms, Short-Resynch increased pregnancy rates, increased the fertility of subgroups of sub-fertile cows, while taking advantage of inseminations at detected estrus after a previous insemination.

We demonstrated that the Short-Resynch program resulted in similar pregnancy rate than one of the most effective resynchronization of ovulation programs available for dairy farms (i.e., Resynch-25) thorough more inseminations at detected estrus, a short interval between inseminations, and increased P/AI for sub-fertile cows.

We found that it is possible to collect up to five CL biopsies 48 h apart on the same CL of lactating dairy cows.  Five serial CL biopsies from the same CL in lactating dairy cows did not reduce circulating concentrations of P4, CL size, or affect blood flow. Serial CL biopsies did not cause CL regression during the period of biopsy collection.

We determined that a reproductive management strategy designed to increase insemination of cows in estrus after NPD resulted in similar reproductive performance (time to pregnancy) than a typical resynchronization of ovulation protocol used in dairy farms.

Proof of concept studies were performed using in vitro mouse follicles and COCs to understand how TNF and H₂O₂ signaling impact transcriptional and post-transcriptional mRNA synthesis and stability, respectively.  We have demonstrated that obesity induces ovarian inflammation which in turn increases the abundance of oocyte-specific transcription factors, oocyte-specific growth factors, and maternal effect genes. Current studies are discriminating between transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of these candidate mRNAs in primary follicles, secondary follicles, and cumulus-oocyte complexes by acute treatments with TNF and H₂O₂.  Pathway activation by TNF and H₂O₂ in follicles and COCs are also being elucidated. 

We determined that increased abundance of specific polymorphic alleles in the IGF-I and TNFα genes in Holstein cows are favorably associated with increased conception rate to 1st AI and a shorter calving to conception interval during lactation ie. higher fertility.

We found that sperm epigenome (chromatin dynamics) as well as functional genome (macromolecules) are associated with bull fertility, and identified key sperm and seminal plasma metabolites that are associated with bull fertility.

Peer-reviewed journal articles published in 2017 reporting research from this project

Hale, B.J., Hager, C.J., Siebert, J.T., Selsby, J.T., Baumgard, L.H., Keating, A.F., Ross, J.W. 2017. Heat stress induces autophagy in pig ovaries during follicular development. Biology of Reproduction. 97(3):426-437.

Kvidera, S.K., Horst, E.A., Sanz-Fernandez, M.V., Abuajamieh, M., Ganesan, S., Gorden, P.J., Green, H.B., Schoenberg, K.M., Trout, W.E., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. 2017. Characterizing effects of feed restriction and glucagon-like peptide 2 administration on biomarkers of inflammation and intestinal morphology. Journal of Dairy Science. 100(11):9402-9417.

Ganesan, S., Dickson, M.J., Keating, A.F. Pesticides. In: Encyclopedia of Reproduction. In Press.

Ross, J.W., Hale, B.J., Seibert, J.T., Romoser, M. R., Adur, M.K., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. 2017. Physiological mechanisms through which heat stress compromises reproduction in pigs. Molecular Reproduction and Development.  84(9): 934-945.

McNeel AK, Vallet JL, Snelling WM, Wright EC, Larimore EL, Amundson OL, Miles JR, Chase Jr CC, Lents CA, Sonstegard TE, Schroeder SG, Wood JR, Cupp AS, Perry GA, and Cushman RA (2017) Beef heifers with diminished numbers of antral follicles have decreased uterine protein concentrations, Anim Reprod Sci 179:1-9 PMID: 28215453

Romereim SM, Summers AF, Pohlmeier WE, Zhang P, Hou X, Talbott HA, Cushman RA, Wood JR, Davis JS, and Cupp AS (2017) Gene expression profiling of bovine ovarian follicular and luteal cells provides insight into cellular identities and functions, Mol Cell Endocrinol 439:379-394 PMID: 27693538

Romereim SM, Summers AF, Pohlmeier WE, Zhang P, Hou X, Talbott HA, Cushman RA, Wood JR, Davis JS, and Cupp AS (2017) Transcriptomes of bovine ovarian follicular and luteal cells, Data in Brief 10:335-339 PMID: 28004024

Talbott H, Hou X, Qiu F, Guda C, Yu F, Cushman RA, Wood JR, Wang C, Cupp AS, and Davis JS (2017) Early transcriptome responses of the bovine mid-cycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2 alpha includes cytokine signaling, Mol Cell Endocrinology 452: 93-109, PMID: 28549990

Talbott H, Hou X, Qiu F, Zhang P, Guda C, Yu F, Cushman RA, Wood JR, Wang C, Cupp AS, and Davis JS (2017) Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the early time-course of the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha in the bovine corpus luteum, Data in Brief 14:695-706, PMCID: PMC5596332

Wood JR and Cupp AS (2017) Female Endocrinology –Aromatization. Encyclopedia of Reproduction, Second Edition (accepted, in press)

Águila L, Felmer R, Arias ME, Navarrete F, Martin-Hidalgo D5, Lee HC, Visconti P, Fissore R. 2017. Defective sperm head decondensation undermines the success of ICSI in the bovine.  Reproduction. 154:207-218.

Cerny, K.L., R.A.C. Ribeiro, Q. Li, J.C. Matthews and P.J. Bridges.  2017.  Effect of lipopolysachharide (LPS) on the expression of inflammatory mRNAs and microRNAs in the mouse oviduct.  Reproduction, Fertility and Development.  doi: 10.1071/RD17241.

Li, Q., R. Hegge, P.J. Bridges and J. C. Matthews.  2017.  Pituitary genomic expression profiles of steers are altered by grazing of high vs. low endophyte-infected tall fescue forages.  PLoS One.  12(9): e0184612.

Willis, E.L., P.J. Bridges and J.E. Fortune.  2017.  Progesterone receptor and prostaglandins mediate LH-induced changes in messenger RNAs for ADAMTS proteases in theca cells of bovine periovulatory follicles.  Molecular Reproduction and Development.  84:55-66.

Miles, E.D., B.W. McBride, P.J. Bridges and J.C. Matthews.  2017.  Effect of 17β-estradiol administration on hepatic expression of glutamine synthetase, β-catenin, and GPR30 in aged beef cows.  Canadian Journal of Animal Science.  97:281-289.

Hester J, Hanna-Rose W and Diaz FJ.  2017. Zinc depletion reduces fertility and disrupts oocyte development in C. elegans.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 191, 203-209.

Tian X, Anthony K and Diaz FJ.  2017. Transition metal chelator induces progesterone production in mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes and corpora lutea. Biological Trace Mineral Research. doi:10.1007/s12011-016-0841-x.

Krumm, C. S., S. L. Giesy, L. S. Caixeta, W. R. Butler, H. Sauerwein, J. W. Kim, and Y. R. Boisclair. Effect of hormonal and energy-related factors on plasma adiponectin in transition dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 100 (11):9418-9427, 2017.

Cheong, S. H., O. G. Sa Filho, V. A. Absalón Medina, A. Schneider, W. R. Butler, and R. O. Gilbert. Uterine and systemic inflammation influences ovarian follicular function in postpartum dairy cows. PLoS One 12 (5):e0177356, 2017.

Jaskiewicz NJ, Parisi S, Hermawan C, Townson DH 2017 O-GlcNAcylation enhances the tumorigenic properties of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Clinical Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine 3(3):1-6

Mattos FCSZ, Canavessi AMO, Wiltbank MC, Bastos MR, Lemes AP, Mourao GB, Susin I, Coutinho LL, Sartori R (2017). Investigation of mechanisms involved in regulation of progesterone catabolism using an overfed versus underfed ewe-lamb model. J Anim Sci  95:5537-46.

Barletta RV, Maturana M, Carvalho PD, Del Valle TA, Netto AS, Renno FP, Mingoti RD, Gandra JR, Mourao GB, Fricke PM, Sartori R, Madureira EH, Wiltbank MC (2017). Association of changes among body condition score during the transition period with NEFA and BHBA concentrations, milk production, fertility, and health of Holstein cows. Theriogenology 104:30-6.

Hackbart KS, Bender RW, Carvalho PD, Vieira LM, Dresch AR, Guenther JN, Gencoglu H, Nascimento AB, Shaver RD, Wiltbank MC (2017). Effects of propylene glycol or elevated luteinizing hormone during follicle development on ovulation, fertilization, and early embryo development. Biol Reprod  97:550-63.

Pereira MHC, Wiltbank MC, Guida TG, Lopes FR, Vasconcelos JLM (2017B). Comparison of 2 protocols to increase circulating progesterone concentration before timed artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows with or without elevated body temperature. J Dairy Sci  100:8455-70.

Garcia-Guerra A, Motta JCL, Melo LF, Kirkpatrick BW, Wiltbank MC (2017A). Ovulation rate, antral follicle count, and circulating anti-Mullerian hormone in Trio allele carriers, a novel high fecundity bovine genotype. Theriogenology  101:81-90.

Garcia-Guerra A, Kirkpatrick BW, Wiltbank MC (2017B). Follicular waves and hormonal profiles during the estrous cycle of carriers and non-carriers of the Trio allele, a major bovine gene for high ovulation and fecundity. Theriogenology  100:100-13.

Prata AB, Pontes GCS, Monteiro PLJ, Drum JN, Wiltbank MC, Sartori R (2017). Equine chorionic gonadotropin increases fertility of grazing dairy cows that receive fixed-time artificial insemination in the early but not later postpartum period. Theriogenology  98:36-40.

Mollo MR, Monteiro PLJ, Surjus RS, Martins AC, Ramos AF, Mourao GB, Carrijo LHD, Lopes G, Rumpf R, Wiltbank MC, Sartori R (2017). Embryo production in heifers with low or high dry matter intake submitted to superovulation. Theriogenology  92:30-5.

Pereira MHC, Sanches CP, Guida TG, Wiltbank MC, Vasconcelos JLM (2017A). Comparison of fertility following use of one versus two intravaginal progesterone inserts in dairy cows without a CL during a synchronization protocol before timed AI or timed embryo transfer. Theriogenology  89:72-8.

Baez GM, Trevisol E, Barletta RV, Cardoso BO, Ricci A, Guenther JN, Cummings NE, Wiltbank MC (2017). Proposal of a new model for CL regression or maintenance during pregnancy on the basis of timing of regression of contralateral, accessory CL in pregnant cows. Theriogenology  89:214-25.

Sartori R, Spies C, Wiltbank MC (2017). Effects of dry matter and energy intake on quality of oocytes and embryos in ruminants. Reprod Fertil Dev  29:58-65.

Ochoa JC, Penagaricano F, Baez GM, Melo LF, Motta JC, Guerra AG, Meidan R, Ferreira JCP, Sartori R, Wiltbank MC (2017). Mechanisms for rescue of CL during pregnancy: Gene expression in bovine CL following intrauterine pulses of Prostaglandins E1 and F2alpha. Biol Reprod DOI:10.1093/biolre/iox183.

Toledo MZ, Baez GM, Garcia-Guerra A, Lobos NE, Guenther JN, Trevisol E, Luchini D, Shaver RD, Wiltbank MC (2017). Effect of feeding rumen-protected methionine on productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows. PLoS ONE  12:e0189117.

Wijma, M. M. Pérez, M. Masello, D. G. García, M. L. Stangaferro, and J.O. Giordano. 2017. A resynchronization of ovulation program based on ovarian structures present at nonpregnancy diagnosis reduced time to pregnancy in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 101:1697-1707.

Wijma, M.L. Stangaferro, M. Masello, G. E. Granados, and J.O. Giordano. 2017. Resynchronization of ovulation protocols for dairy cows including or not including gonadotropin-releasing hormone to induce a new follicular wave: Effects on re-insemination pattern, ovarian responses, and pregnancy outcomes. J. Dairy Sci. 100:7613-7625.

S.H. Cheong, O.G. Sá Filho, V.A. Absalon-Medina, A. Schneider, W.R. Butler, R.O. Gilbert. Uterine and systemic inflammation influences ovarian follicular function in postpartum dairy cows. PLoS ONE. 2017 May 12(5):e0177356 doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177356. PMID: 28542500

Ealy, A.D. and Wooldridge, L.K. 2017. The evolution of interferon-tau. Reproduction 154:F1-F10.

Hughes, C.K., Xie, M.M., McCoski, S.R. and Ealy, A.D. 2017. Activities for leptin in bovine trophoblast cells. Dom. Anim. Endocrinol. 58:84-89.

Kelley, D.E., Galvao, K.N., Mortensen, C.J., Risco, C.A. and Ealy, A.D. 2017. Using Doppler ultrasonography on day 34 of pregnancy to predict pregnancy loss in lactating dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 100:3266-3271.

Lu, Y., Bradley, J.S., McCoski, S.R., Gonzalez, J.M., Ealy, A.D. and Johnson, S.E. 2017. Reduced skeletal muscle fiber size following caloric restriction is associated with calpain-mediated proteolysis and attenuation of IGF-1 signaling. Am. J. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 312:R806-R815. 

Lugar, D.W., Rhoads, M.L., Clark-Deener, S.G., Callahan, S.R., Revercomb, A.K., Prusa, K.J. and Estienne, M.J. (2017). Immunological castration temporarily reduces testis size and function without long-term effects on libido and sperm quality in boars. Animal 11:643-649.

MacGhee, M.E., Bradley, J.S., McCoski, S.R., Reeg, A.M., Ealy, A.D. and Johnson, S.E. 2017.  Plane of nutrition affects growth rate, organ size and skeletal muscle satellite cell activity in newborn calves. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 101:475-483.

Reinholt, B.M., Bradley, J.S., Jacobs, R.D., Ealy, A.D. and Johnson, S.E. 2017. Tissue organization alters gene expression in equine induced trophectoderm cells. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 247:174-182. 

Talbot, N.C., Sparks, W.O., Phillips, C., Ealy, A.D., Powell, A.M., Caperna, T.J., Garrett, W.M., Donavan, D.M. and Blomberg, L.A. 2017. Bovine trophectoderm cells induced from bovine fibroblasts with induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming factors. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84:468-485.

Wilson, M.L., McCoski, S.R., Geifer, A.J., Akers, R.M., Johnson, S.E. and Ealy, A.D. 2017. The influence of postnatal nutrition on reproductive tract and endometrial gland development in dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 100:3243-3256.

Xie, M., McCoski S.R., Johnson, S.E., Rhoads, M.L. and Ealy, A.D. 2017. Combinatorial effects of epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 2 and insulin-like growth factor 1 on trophoblast cell proliferation and embryogenesis in cattle. Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 29:419-430.

Zezeski, A.L., McCracken, V.L., Poole, R.K., Al Naib, A., Smith, J.K., McCann, M.A. and Rhoads ML. (2017) Metabolic and reproductive characteristics of replacement beef heifers subjected to an early weaning regimen involving high-concentrate feeding. Animal 11:820-825.

Conference papers and abstracts/presentations:

Yost, E.E., Arzuaga, X., Carlson, L., Keating, A.F., Lehmann, G. 2017. Focusing and refining the evaluation of reproductive endpoints in a systematic review of PCBs.  International Symposium on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Laboratory Animal Studies.

Ganesan, S., Nteeba, J. and Keating, A.F.  2017. Impact of glyphosate on ovarian signaling pathways regulating folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. Society for the Study of Reproduction annual meeting. 

Hines, E.A., Romoser, M., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H., Niemi, J., Williams, N.H., Haberl, B., Kerr, B., Touchette, K.T., Ross, J.W. 2017. Supplementation of arginine does not improve gilt reproductive performance under commercial conditions. Society for the Study of Reproduction annual meeting. 

Hines, E.A., Romoser, M., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H., Niemi, J., Haberl, B., Kerr, B., Touchette, K., Ross, J.W. 2017. Effect of maternal arginine supplementation on offspring performance of pigs in a commercial production environment.  Importance of nutrition and environment on birth weight, muscle growth, health and survival of the neonate workshop meeting.

Baumgard, L.H., Kvidera, S.K., Horst, E.A., Dickson, M.J., Ydstie, J.A., Shouse, C.S., Mayorga, E.J., Al-Qaisi, M., Lei, S., Bidne, K.L., Seibert, J.T., Hall, B.J., Keating, A.F., Ross, J.W., Selsby, J.T., Rhoads, R.P. 2017. Consequences of leaky gut on the immune system, metabolism, physiology and animal performance. American Society of Dairy Science annual meeting.

Dickson, M.J., Kvidera, S.K., Horst, E.A., Ydstie, J.A., Bidne, K.L., Wiley, C.E., Gunn, P.J., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. Chronic lipopolysaccharide infusion has no impact on dominant follicular size but affects 17β-estradiol in lactating dairy cows.  American Society of Dairy Science annual meeting.

Kvidera, S.K., Horst, E.A., Sanz Fernandez, M.V., Abuajamieh, M., Ganesa, S., Gordon, P.J., Green, H.B., Schoenberg, K.M., Trout, W.E., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. 2017. Glucagon-like peptide 2 administration improves biomarkers of inflammation and intestinal morphology in feed restricted lactating Holstein cows.  American Society of Dairy Science annual meeting.

Kvidera, S.K., Dickson, M.J., Horst, E.A., Ydstie, J.A., Shouse, C.S., Bidne, K.L., Mayorga, E.J., Al-Qaisi, M., Ramirez, H.A., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. 2017. Effects of continuous and increasing lipopolysaccharide infusion on basal metabolism in lactating cows.  American Society of Dairy Science annual meeting.

Dickson, M.J., Kvidera, S.K., Horst, E.A., Ydstie, J.A., Shouse, C.S., Mayorga, E.J., Al-Qaisi, M., Bidne, K.L., Ramirez, H.A., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. 2017. Metabolic responses to a glucose tolerance test and epinephrine challenge post-continuous lipopolysaccharide infusion in lactating cows.  American Society of Dairy Science annual meeting.

Dickson, M.J., Kvidera, S.K., Horst, E.A., Ydstie, J.A., Shouse, C.S., Mayorga, E.J., Al-Qaisi, M., Bidne, K.L., Ramirez, H.A., Keating, A.F., Baumgard, L.H. 2017. Chronic lipopolysaccharide infusion reduces productivity in lactating dairy cows.  American Society of Dairy Science annual meeting.

McCain AR, Beede KA, Yates DT, and Wood JR (2017) Maternal and Paternal Obesity Differentially Affect Fetal Growth with Maternal Obesity Associated Growth Restriction Attributed to Decreased 11-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Expression Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC

Timme KA, Xie F, Davis JS, and Wood JR (2017) Ovarian Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Associated with Diet Induced Obesity (DIO) Impacts RNA-Binding Protein Expression and Potentially mRNA Stability in the Murine Ovary and Oocyte.  Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC

Romereim SM, Summers AF, Pohlmeier WE, McFee RM, Spuri-Gomes R, Kurz SG, Davis JS, Wood JR, and Cupp AS (2017) A High-Androgen Microenvironment Inhibits Granulosa Cell Proliferation and May Alter Cell Identity. Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC

Abedal-Majed MA, Hart ML, Largen V, Magamage MPS, Kurz SG, Sargent KM, Bergman J, McFee RM, Cushman RA, Davis JS, Wood JR, and Cupp AS (2017) Ovarian Cortex from High A4 Cows Secrete Excess A4 and Exhibits Increased Oxidative Stress, Macrophage Markers and Arrested Follicle Development Which can be Partially Rescued by Angiogenic VEGFA Isoforms. Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC

Nafziger S, Abedal-Majed MA, Tenley S, Summers A, Hart ML, Harsh G, Bergman J, Kurz SG, Wood JR, Cushman RA, and Cupp AS (2017) Endocrine Profiles during Attainment of Puberty may Predict Reproductive Longevity in Heifers. Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC

Wood JR (2017) Maternal Obesity, the Gut Microbiota, and Oocyte mRNAs: Potential Impact on the Developing Embryo and Fetus. 4^th World Congress on Reproductive Biology, Naha, Okinawa, Japan (invited speaker)

McCain AR, Beede KA, Yates DT, Shankar K, and Wood JR (2017) Maternal Obesity Results in Fetal Growth Restriction Associated with Reduced Placental Efficiency and an Altered Placental Transcriptome. 14^th Annual Gilbert Greenwald Symposium on Reproduction, Kansas City, KS

Timme KA, Xie F, Davis JS, and Wood JR (2017) Ovarian Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Associated with Diet Induced Obesity (DIO) Impacts RNA-Binding Protein Expression and Potentially mRNA Stability in the Murine Ovary and Oocyte. 14^th Annual Gilbert Greenwald Symposium on Reproduction, Kansas City, KS

Nafziger S, Abedal-Majed MA, Tenley S, Summers AF, Hart ML, Harsh G, Bergman J, Kurz SG, Wood JR, Cushman RA, and Cupp AS (2017) Endocrine Profiles during Attainment of Puberty may Predict Reproductive Longevity in Heifers. 14^th Annual Gilbert Greenwald Symposium on Reproduction, Kansas City, KS

Abedal-Majed MA, Hart ML, Largen V, Magamage MPS, Kurz SG, Sargent KM, Bergman J, McFee RM, Cushman RA, Davis JS, Wood JR, and Cupp AS (2017) Ovarian Cortex from High A4 Cows Secrete Excess A4, and Exhibit Increased Oxidative Stress and Arrested Follicle Development which can be Partially Rescued by Angiogenic VEGFA Isoforms. 14^th Annual Gilbert Greenwald Symposium on Reproduction, Kansas City, KS

Wijma, M. Masello, M. L. Stangaferro, M. M. Pérez, and J. O. Giordano. 2017. A resynchronization of ovulation strategy based on the ovarian structures present at non-pregnancy diagnosis reduced time to pregnancy in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. Volume 100, E-Supplement 2.

E.M. Sitko, S.H. Cheong 2017 Longitudinal study of metritis risk in dairy cattle. Clinical Theriogenology Sep; 9(3):432.

Ardestani G, Mehregan A, Carvacho I, He C, Fissore RA. Expression and Function of Cation Permeable Channels in Mouse GV oocytes. Gordon Research Conferences. July 2017- Fertilization and Activation of Development. New Hampshire. Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003.

Huang, P.J. Bridges and J.C. Matthews. 2017. Shifts in hepatic transcriptome profiles of growing versus finished beef steers. Journal of Animal Science 95 (Supplement 4) doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.326.

Huang, Y. Jia, Q. Li, W.R. Burris, P.J. Bridges and J.C. Matthews. 2017. GTRAP3-18 protein negatively modulates canalicular glutamate transport and glutamine synthesis capacity in the liver of finishing versus growing beef steers.  Journal of Animal Science 95 (Supplement 4) doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.327.

Li, P.J. Bridges and J.C. Matthews. 2017. Summer-long grazing of endophyte-infected tall fescue by growing beef steers inhibits expression of genes responsible for prolactin and ACTH synthesis. ASAS 2017 Southern Section Meeting. doi:10.2527/ssasas2017.058

Jia, Q. Li, G.E. Aiken, P.J. Bridges and J.C. Matthews. 2017. Effects of Selenium-form Phenotypes on Steers Grazing Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue.  ASAS 2017 Southern Section Meeting. doi:10.2527/ssasas2017.057.

Fetter, ME, Pate, JL, Harvatine, KJ, Moats, J and Ott, TL. 2017. Effects of feeding an extruded flaxseed supplement on fatty acids in milk and plasma and immune function in transition dairy cows. Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, Pittsburg, PA.

Hughes CK and Pate JL. 2017. Differentially expressed proteins, transcripts, and miRNA in the corpus luteum during maternal recognition of pregnancy indicate matrix remodeling and miRNA regulation during luteal rescue. Proceedings of the 50^th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC.

Wetzel L, Inskeep EK and Pate JL. 2017. The importance of the luteal microenvironment for programming resident macrophages. Proceedings of the 50^th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Washington, DC.

Pate JL and Hughes CK. 2017. Cell and networks the facilitate luteal survival for pregnancy success. Proceedings of the 4^th World Congress on Reproductive Biology, Okinawa, Japan.

Pate JL, Maalouf SA and Hughes CK. 2017. MicroRNA as regulators of luteal function. Proceedings of the 37^th annual meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Immunology, Chicago.

Kutchy NA, Menezes ESB, Wills RW, Tan W, Kaya A, Topper E, Didion BA, Moura AA, Perkins A, Memili E. (2017) Sperm Nuclear Proteins are Associated with Bull Fertility. Presented at the International Conference of Society for the Study of Reproduction. Washington, DC. July 13-16, 2017.

Kutchy NA, Menezes E, Moura A, Kaya A, Perkins A, Memili E. (2017) Sperm Epigenomic and Genomic Determinants Regulating Male Fertility. Gordon Research Conference on Fertilization & Activation of Development: Uniting Eggs and Sperm, from Fundamentals to Applications. Holderness, NH July 16-21, 2017.

Haynes, BP, Kutchy NA, Menezes ESB, Ugur MR, Tan W, Moura A, Kaya A, Memili E. (2017) Epigenetic Control of Male Fertility through Sperm Histone 4. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mississippi State University, April 13, 2017.

Ugur MR, Kutchy NA, Menezes SBE, Kaya A, Moura A, Perkins A, Memili E. (2017) Sperm- and Oocyte-born MicroRNA Transcripts Regulating Early Mammalian Embryogenesis and Fertility. Mississippi State University’s Graduate Student Association’s Symposium, March 25, 2017.

Kutchy NA, Menezes ESB, Chiappetta A, Kaya A, Moura A, Perkins A, Memili E. (2017) Sperm Chromatin Dynamics Modulated by Acetylated and Methylated Sperm Histone 3 (H3K27ac and H3K27me3) are Associated with Male Fertility. Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology (TCRB) Conference, Research Triangle Park, NC, February 25, 2017.

Koganti PP, Wang J and Yao J. Identification and Functional Prediction of Bovine Oocyte-Specific Long Non-Coding RNAs. 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Washington D.C. July 13-16, 2017.

Zhang M, Hand JM, Smith GW and Yao J. Determination of the consensus target sequences recognized by ZNFO, a novel oocyte-specific zinc finger transcription factor in cattle. 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Washington D.C. July 13-16, 2017.

Harl, A.W., E.L. Larimore, A. Al Naib†, L.K. Wooldridge, A.D. Ealy, G.A. Perry and M.L. Rhoads. 2017. Maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes with follicle fluid varying in estradiol content affects cumulus cell expansion without affecting subsequent embryo development in vitro. 2017 IETS Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.

J.O. Giordano. Integrating automated detection of estrus in reproductive management programs for dairy cattle. Precision Dairy Management Conference. Lexington, KY. May 30th, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Update on reproductive physiology and reproductive management programs of lactating dairy cows. Technical services training program. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. Portland, OR. June 22nd, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Reproductive Physiology and Management of Dairy Cattle. Alta Genetics Dairy Manager School for Spanish speaking managers. Alta Genetics. Watertown, WI. July 17th and 18th, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Reproductive Physiology and Management of Dairy Cattle. Alta Genetics Dairy Manager School for Spanish speaking managers. Alta Genetics. Tulare, CA. May 23rd, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. 1. Practical aspects of reproductive physiology. 2. Current reproductive management strategies for dairy cattle. Eastern New York Dairy Day. Cooperstown, NY. March 28th, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Reproductive Physiology and Management of Dairy Cattle. Alta Genetics Dairy Manager School. Alta Genetics. Gainesville, FL. March 9th, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Reproductive Physiology and Management of Dairy Cattle. Alta Genetics Dairy Manager School. Alta Genetics. Gainesville, FL. February 20th, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Ohio Dairy Health and Management Certificate Program: Dairy Cattle Reproduction with Emphasis on Transition Cow Management in Confinement Systems. 1. Automating Health Monitoring in Dairy Farms. 2. Automating Health Monitoring in Dairy Farms. College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. February 2nd, 2017.

J.O. Giordano. Automating Reproductive and Health Management in Dairy Farms. GEA Technologies technical services team training program. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. January 18th, 2017.

Extension reports:

Romereim SM, Tenley SC, Abedal-Majed MA, Bergman JW, Kurz SG, Davis JS, Wood JR, and Cupp AS (2017) Letrozole: A Steroid-Free Estrous Synchronization Method. Nebraska 2017 Beef Cattle Report, in press

Theses/Dissertations:

Abedal-Majed, MA (2017) Effect of Post-Weaning Diet, Excess Androstenedione, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) Isoforms on Follicular Progression in Bovine Ovarian Cortical Cultures (Nebraska).

Joseph Miseirvitch (2017). Regulation of CCN1 Expression by PGF and PKC Signaling in Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells (New Hampshire).

McCauley Vailes (2017). Post-Transfer Outcomes in Cultured Bovine Embryos Supplemented with Epidermal Growth Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor 2, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1. (Virginia).

Benjamin R. Crites (2017).  Comparison of conception rates in beef cattle inseminated with either SEXEDULTRA™ sex-sorted semen or conventional semen in fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols (Kentucky).

Benjamin Hale (2017). Two components of maintaining developmental competence: MicroRNA-21 in the maturing oocyte and autophagy induction in the follicular stage ovary (Iowa).

Katie L. Bidne (2017). Investigating the ovarian response to endotoxemia (Iowa).

Mackenzie J. Dickson (2017). Impact of endotoxemia on ovarian signaling and function (Iowa).

Active collaboration within the group

NY, PA, NH, VT and WV:  Samples collected to investigate associations between fertility outcomes and SNP in candidate genes from dairy cows.

IA and UK: Samples shared to determine the effect of LPS treatment on ovarian inflammation.

PA and WV: Samples shared for analysis of molecular regulators of luteal function.

VT and NY: Samples assayed (NY) for analysis of progesterone concentrations.

NY and WI:  Samples collected to investigate the effect of supplementation with rumen-protected methionine on reproductive traits of lactating dairy cows.

In addition to Hatch Multistate Funds, these studies were supported by:

National Institute of Environmental Health Science (AK)     

National Institutes of Health (FD)

USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (AK, PB, JP, EM, MR, AE, SHC, JG, MW)

USDA-ARS Specific Cooperative Agreement (SCA) with the Forage and Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU), Lexington, KY (PB)

Virginia Agricultural Council Research Funding (AE, MR)

Iowa Pork Producers Association (AK)                                                                                             

National Pork Board (AK)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (AK)

Iowa Pork Industry Center (AK)

Iowa State University Bailey Career Development Award (AK)

Lee Rumberger and Family Endowment (JP)

Alta Genetics, Inc. (EM)

Brasil Programa de Doutorado Integrado em Zootecnia – PDIZ/UFC and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimeno Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq (EM)

New York Farm Viability Institute (JG)

Adisseo (JG, MW)

Zoetis (JG)