Pavıtra CHUNDEKKAD, Barbara BLASZCZYK, Tomasz STANKIEWICZ

Embryonic mortality in sheep: a review

Despite extensive research on the reproductive health of domestic animals, embryonic mortality continues to be a problem that brings about significant losses for both commercial breeding and scientific research. This review paper discusses the genetic and environmental factors that affect embryo mortality rates in sheep along with the different techniques developed to overcome this issue. Additionally, one of the objectives of this study is to emphasize the importance of the use of time-lapse cinematography and color Doppler ultrasonography as quick and reliable methods for early detection of pregnancy and embryonic death.

Keywords:

Embryo, mortality sheep, time-lapse cinematography, color Doppler ultrasonography,

PDF

___

1. de Kretser DM, Loveland KL, Meinhardt A, Simorangkir D, Wreford N. Spermatogenesis. Human Reproduction 1998; 13 (1): 1-8. doi: 10.1093/humrep/13.suppl_1.1
2. Schuetz WA. Local control mechanisms during oogenesis and folliculogenesis. In: Browder LW (editor). Developmental Biology. A Comprehensive Synthesis. Volume 1, 1st Ed. New York, NY, USA: Plenum Press; 1985. pp. 3-73. doi: 10.1007/978- 1-4615-6814-8
3. Dai K, Gillies CB, Dollin AE. Synaptonemal complex analysis of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) with Robertsonian translocations. II. Trivalent and pairing abnormalities in Massey I and Massey II heterozygotes. Genome 1994; 37 (4): 679-689. doi: 10.1139/ g94-096
4. Long SE, Williams CV. Frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in early embryos of the domestic sheep (Ovis aries). Reproduction 1980; 58 (1): 197-201. doi: 10.1530/ jrf.0.0580197
5. Murray JD, Boland MP, Moran C, Sutton R, Nancarrow CD et al. Occurrence of haploid and haploid/ diploid mosaic embryos in untreated and androstenedione-immune Australian Merino sheep. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 1985; 74 (2): 551- 555. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0740551
6. Perkel KJ, Tscherner A, Merrill C, Lamarre J, Madan P. The ART of selecting the best embryo: a review of early embryonic mortality and bovine embryo viability assessment methods. Molecular Reproduction & Development 2015; 82 (11): 822- 838. doi: 10.1002/mrd.22525
7. Bolet G. Timing and extent of embryonic mortality in pigs, sheep and goats: genetic variability. In: Sreenan JM, Diskin MG (editors). Embryonic Mortality in Farm Animals. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Vol 34. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer; 1986. pp. 12-43. doi: 10.1007/978-94-009-5038-2
8. Dupont C, Segars J, DeCherney A, Bavister BD, Armant DR et al. Incidence of chromosomal mosaicism in morphologically normal non-human primate preimplantation embryos. Fertility and Sterility 2010; 93 (8): 2545-2550. doi: 10.1016/j. fertnstert.2009.06.040
9. Coppola G, Alexander B, Di Berardino D, St John E, Basrur PK et al. Use of cross-species in-situ hybridization (ZOOFISH) to assess chromosome abnormalities in day-6 in-vivoor in-vitro-produced sheep embryos. Chromosome Research 2007; 15 (3): 399-408. doi: 10.1007/s10577-007-1125-2
10. Abdel-Mageed II, Abd El-Gawad MH. Does parity and nutrition in early pregnancy affect viability of embryos in both Rahmani and Barki Egyptian sheep? Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 2015; 10 (1): 25-34. doi: 10.3923/ ajava.2015.25.34
11. Grazul-Bilska AT, Borowczyk E, Bilski JJ, Reynolds LP, Redmer DA et al. Overfeeding and underfeeding have detrimental effects on oocyte quality measured by in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development in sheep. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 2012; 43 (4): 289-298. doi: 10.1016/j. domaniend.2012.05.001
12. Viñoles C, Glover KMM, Paganoni BL, Milton JTB, Martin GB. Embryo losses in sheep during short-term nutritional supplementation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2012; 24 (8): 1040-1047. doi: 10.1071/RD11281
13. Small E. 38. Lupins – benefit and harm potentials. Biodiversity 2012; 13 (1): 54-64. doi: 10.1080/14888386.2012.658327
14. Santolaria P, Yániz J, Fantova E, Vicente-Fiel S, Palacín I. Climate factors affecting fertility after cervical insemination during the first months of the breeding season in Rasa Aragonesa ewes. International Journal of Biometeorology 2014; 58 (7): 1651- 1655. doi: 10.1007/s00484-013-0770-8
20. Magli CM, Gianaroli L, Ferraretti AP, Lappi M, Ruberti A et al. Embryo morphology and development are dependent on the chromosomal complement. Fertility and Sterility 2007; 87 (3): 534-541. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.07.1512
21. Gardner DK, Leese HJ. Assessment of embryo viability prior to transfer by the noninvasive measurement of glucose uptake. Journal of Experimental Zoology 1987; 242 (1): 103-105. doi: 10.1002/jez.1402420115
22. Thompson JG, Simpson AC, Pugh PA, Tervit HR. Requirement for glucose during in vitro culture of sheep preimplantation embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development 1992; 31 (4): 253-257. doi: 10.1002/mrd.1080310405
23. Sharkey S, Callan RJ, Mortimer R, Kimberling C. Reproductive techniques in sheep. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 2001; 17 (2): 435-455. doi: 10.1016/ S0749-0720(15)30037-2
24. Green WW, Winters LM. Prenatal development of the sheep. Minnesota Technical Bulletin 1945; 169: 3-36.
25. Barbagianni MS, Ionnidi KI, Vasileiou NGC, Mavrogianni VS, Orfanou DC et al. Ultrasonographic examination of pregnant ewes: from early diagnosis of pregnancy to early prediction of dystocia. Small Ruminant Research 2017; 152: 41-55. doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.12.008
26. Moraes EPBX, Freitas Neto LM, Aguiar Filho CR, Bezerra FQG, Santos MHB et al. Mortality determination and gender identification of conceptuses in pregnancies of Santa Ines ovine by ultrasound. South African Society for Animal Science 2009; 39 (4): 307-312.
27. Yotov SA. Ultrasound diagnostics of late embryonic and foetal death in three sheep breeds. Journal of Veterinary Advances 2012; 2 (3): 120-125.
28. Schrick FN, Inskeep EK. Determination of early pregnancy in ewes utilizing transrectal ultrasonography. Theriogenology 1993; 40 (2): 295-306. doi: 10.1016/0093-691X(93)90267-9
29. Dixon AB, Knights M, Winkler JL, Marsh DJ, Pate JL et al. Patterns of late embryonic and fetal mortality and association with several factors in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 2007; 85 (5): 1274-1284. doi: 10.2527/jas.2006-129
30. Petridis IG, Barbagianni MS, Ionnidi KS, Samaras E, Fthenakis GC et al. Doppler ultrasonographic examination in sheep. Small Ruminant Research 2017; 152: 22-32. doi: 10.1016/j. smallrumres.2016.12.015
31. Arashiro EKN, Ungerfeld R, Clariget RP, Pinto PHN, Balaro MFA et al. Early pregnancy diagnosis in ewes by subjective assessment of luteal vascularisation using colour Doppler ultrasonography. Theriogenology 2018; 106: 247-252. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.10.029
32. McCracken JA, Custer EE, Lamsa JC. Luteolysis: A neuroendocrine-mediated event. Physiological Reviews 1999; 79 (2): 263-323. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1999.79.2.263
33. Cosentino IO, Balaro MFA, Arashiro EKN, Santos JDR, da Silva Carvalho AB et al. Hormonal protocols for early resynchronization of ovulation in ewes: The use of progestagens, eCG, and inclusion of early pregnancy diagnosis with color Doppler ultrasound. Theriogenology 2019; 133: 113-118. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.04.033
34. Otsuka F, McTavish K, Shimasaki S. Integral role of GDF-9 and BMP-15 in ovarian function. Molecular Reproduction and Development 2011; 78 (1): 9-21. doi: 10.1002/mrd.21265.
35. McNatty KP, Galloway SM, Wilson T, Smith P, Hudson NL et al. Physiological effects of major genes affecting ovulation rate in sheep. Genetics Selection Evolution 2005; 37 (1): 25-38. doi: 10.1051/gse:2004029
36. Ptak GE, D’Agostino A, Toschi P, Fidanza A, Zacchini F et al. Post-implantation mortality of in vitro produced embryos is associated with DNA methyltransferase 1 dysfunction in sheep placenta. Human Reproduction 2013; 28 (2): 298-305. doi: 10.1093/humrep/des397
37. Li E, Bestor TH, Jaenisch R. Targeted mutation of the DNA methyltransferase gene results in embryonic lethality. Cell 1992; 69 (6): 915-926. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90611-F
38. Mishra A, Reddy IJ, Gupta PSP, Mondal S. Developmental regulation and modulation of apoptotic genes expression in sheep oocytes and embryos cultured in vitro with L-carnitine. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 2016; 51 (6): 1020- 1029. doi: 10.1111/rda.12789
39. Bogliolo L, Ariu F, Leoni G, Uccheddu S, Bebbere D. High hydrostatic pressure treatment improves the quality of in vitro-produced ovine blastocysts. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2011; 23 (6): 809-817. doi: 10.1071/RD11023
40. Waldenström U, Engström A, Hellberg D, Nilsson S. Lowoxygen compared with high-oxygen atmosphere in blastocyst culture, a prospective randomized study. Fertility and Sterility 2009; 91 (6): 2461-2465. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.03.051
41. Abecia J, Forcada F, Vázquez M, Muiño-Blanco T, CebriánPérez JA et al. Role of melatonin on embryo viability in sheep. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2018; 31 (1): 82-92. doi: 10.1071/RD18308
42. Mezza-Herrera CA, Ross TT, Hallford DM, Hawkins DE, Gonzales-Bulnes A. High periconceptional protein intake modifies uterine and embryonic relationships increasing early pregnancy losses and embryo growth retardation in sheep. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 2010; 45 (4): 723-728. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01341.x
43. Abecia JA, Forcada F, Palacín I, Sánchez-Prieto L, Sosa C et al. Undernutrition affects embryo quality of superovulated ewes. Zygote 2015; 23 (1): 116-124. doi: 10.1017/S096719941300035X