Project description:Direct exposure to physiologically-relevant elevated temperatures during the first half of in vitro maturation heightens cumulus-derived progesterone production, suppresses matrix metallopeptidase 9 secretion, and alters cumulus transcriptome. We hypothesized that heat-induced perturbations in cumulus cells enveloping maturing oocyte may extend to the mural granulosa of the periovulatory follicle in the heat-stressed cow to subsequently follicular fluid proteome. Lactating Holsteins were pharmacologically stimulated to produce a dominant follicle then given GnRH to induce an LH surge. Following GnRH administration, cows were maintained at ~67 temperature humidity index (THI; thermoneutral conditions) or exposed to conditions simulating an acute heat stress event (71 to 86 THI; heat stress for ~12 h). Fluid was aspirated from periovulatory follicle ~16 h after GnRH. Follicular fluid proteome from thermoneutral (n = 5) and hyperthermic (n = 5) cows was evaluated by quantitative tandem mass spectrometry (nano LC-MS/MS). We identified 35 differentially-abundant proteins. Functional annotation revealed numerous immune-related proteins. Subsequent efforts revealed an increase in levels of the proinflammatory mediator bradykinin in follicular fluid (P = 0.0456) but not in serum (P = 0.9319) of hyperthermic cows. Intrafollicular increases in transferrin (negative acute phase protein) in hyperthermic cows (P = 0.0181) coincided with a tendency for levels to be increased in the circulation (P = 0.0683). Nine out of 15 cytokines evaluated were detected in follicular fluid. Heat stress increased intrafollicular IL6 levels (P = 0.0160). Whether hyperthermia-induced changes in the heat-stressed cow’s follicular fluid milieu reflect changes in mural granulosa, cumulus, other cell types secretions, and/or transudative changes from circulation remains unclear. Regardless of origin, heat stress/hyperthermia related changes in the follicular fluid milieu may have an impact on components important for ovulation and competence of the cumulus-oocyte complex contained within the periovulatory follicle
