Impact of Endometrial Lipids on Uterine Histotroph Composition and Preimplantation Conceptus Development in Dairy Cattle

繁殖是乳品可持续发展的关键组成部分，因为它影响畜群的整体产奶量及其生产效率。然而，哺乳期奶牛的妊娠损失是巨大的，并损害了奶牛场的繁殖效率和盈利能力。着床前胚胎（胚胎和相关的胚胎外膜）的伸长是牛成功怀孕的先决条件，并取决于子宫内膜的组织细胞分泌。然而，大约三分之一的囊胚在发育的第四周结束时不能伸长并存活。提高奶牛的繁殖效率需要制定策略，以尽量减少早期胚胎死亡率，这反过来又需要更好地阐明早期发育生物学中的关键事件。

Reproduction is a critical component of dairy sustainability because it impacts the overall milk yield in a herd and its’ production efficiency. Pregnancy loss in lactating cows, however, is substantial and impairs reproductive efficiency and profitability of dairy farms. Elongation of the preimplantation conceptus (embryo and associated extra-embryonic membranes) is a prerequisite for successful pregnancy in cattle and depends on histotroph secretion by the endometrium. Nonetheless, approximately one third of viable blastocysts fail to elongate and survive by the end of the fourth week of development. Improvements in reproductive efficiency of dairy cows will require the development of strategies to minimize early embryonic mortality, which in turn will require a better elucidation of critical events in early developmental biology.