Metabolism-associated genome-wide epigenetic changes in bovine oocytes during early lactation.

ABSTRACT: Dietary intake in early lactating cows is outmatched by milk production. These cows experience a negative energy balance, resulting in a distinct blood metabolism and poor reproductive function due to impaired ovulation and increased embryo loss. We hypothesize that oocytes from lactating cows undergoing transient metabolic stress exhibit a different epigenetic profile crucial for developmental competence. To investigate this, we collected oocytes from metabolically-profiled cows at early- and mid-postpartum stages and characterized their epigenetic landscape compared with control heifers using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Early-postpartum cows were metabolically deficient with a significantly lower energy balance and significantly higher concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids

SUBMITTER: Poirier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7012839 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature