Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
Department of Animal Reproduction with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 14, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Aug 24;25(17):9187. doi: 10.3390/ijms25179187.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in reproductive health, but its function in postpartum dairy cows remains poorly understood. This study investigated the expression patterns of ECS-related genes in the endometrium of postpartum dairy cows and their associations with endometrial health and the presence of fatty liver. Endometrial biopsies were collected from 22 Holstein Friesian cows at 4 and 7 weeks postpartum. Gene expression was analyzed using RT-qPCR, focusing on key ECS components including , , , , , and The results reveal dynamic changes in ECS gene expression associated with endometritis and fatty liver. expression was significantly upregulated in cows with endometritis at 7 weeks postpartum, while expression was consistently downregulated in cows with fatty liver. showed a time-dependent pattern in endometritis, and expression was elevated in clinical endometritis at 4 weeks postpartum. The presence of fatty liver was associated with altered expression patterns of several ECS genes, suggesting a link between metabolic stress and endometrial ECS function. These findings indicate a potential role for the ECS in postpartum uterine health and recovery, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive disorders in dairy cows and paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches.
内源性大麻素系统 (ECS) 在生殖健康中起着至关重要的作用,但它在产后奶牛中的功能仍知之甚少。本研究调查了 ECS 相关基因在内膜中的表达模式及其与子宫内膜健康和脂肪肝的存在的关系。从 22 头荷斯坦弗里生奶牛产后 4 周和 7 周采集子宫内膜活检。使用 RT-qPCR 分析基因表达,重点关注关键的 ECS 成分,包括、、、、、和。结果揭示了与子宫内膜炎和脂肪肝相关的 ECS 基因表达的动态变化。在产后 7 周患有子宫内膜炎的奶牛中,表达显著上调,而在患有脂肪肝的奶牛中,表达持续下调。在子宫内膜炎中表现出时间依赖性模式,在产后 4 周的临床子宫内膜炎中表达升高。脂肪肝的存在与 ECS 基因表达模式的改变有关,表明代谢应激与子宫内膜 ECS 功能之间存在联系。这些发现表明 ECS 在产后子宫健康和恢复中可能发挥作用,为奶牛生殖障碍的分子机制提供了新的见解,并为新的治疗方法铺平了道路。