Martín-Maestro Alicia, Sánchez-Ajofrin Irene, Iniesta-Cuerda María, Medina-Chávez Daniela, Maside Carolina, Fernández-Santos María Rocío, Garde Julián, Soler Ana Josefa
SaBio Group. IREC (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), ETSIAMB. Campus Universitario s/n, Albacete, 02071, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 17;15(1):17163. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-01173-1.
Global population growth requires an increase in the production of food, particularly meat, with an expected increase in sheep farming. However, climate change challenges livestock management, with heat stress negatively impacting reproductive performance. In vitro embryo production (IVP) in sheep farming is promising, although optimizing embryo quality and efficiency remains challenging. Heat stress impairs oocyte developmental competence, affecting IVP outcomes. This study investigated the effects of season on oocyte quality and embryo production given seasonal variations in the temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) and in vitro-induced heat stress. In the first experiment, ovaries were collected in four seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn), with differences in THI, and in the second experiment, ovaries were exposed to 30 °C (control), 38.5 °C, 40 °C and 41 °C. The results indicated that elevated summer temperatures significantly compromised oocyte and cumulus cell viability, DNA integrity, mitochondrial distribution, and blastocyst quality. These detrimental effects persisted into autumn, likely due to a carry-over effect from summer heat stress. Furthermore, in vitro exposure to temperatures at or above 38.5 °C led to marked decreases in oocyte quality and blastocyst rates. Understanding these effects is essential for developing strategies to mitigate heat stress and enhance reproductive outcomes in sheep.
全球人口增长需要增加粮食产量,特别是肉类产量,预计养羊业也会增长。然而,气候变化给畜牧业管理带来挑战,热应激对繁殖性能产生负面影响。养羊业中的体外胚胎生产(IVP)很有前景,尽管优化胚胎质量和效率仍然具有挑战性。热应激会损害卵母细胞的发育能力,影响IVP结果。本研究调查了季节对卵母细胞质量和胚胎生产的影响,考虑到温度和温湿度指数(THI)的季节性变化以及体外诱导的热应激。在第一个实验中,在四个季节(冬季、春季、夏季和秋季)采集卵巢,THI存在差异;在第二个实验中,将卵巢暴露于30°C(对照)、38.5°C、40°C和41°C。结果表明,夏季气温升高显著损害了卵母细胞和卵丘细胞的活力、DNA完整性、线粒体分布以及囊胚质量。这些有害影响持续到秋季,可能是由于夏季热应激的残留效应。此外,体外暴露于38.5°C及以上的温度会导致卵母细胞质量和囊胚率显著下降。了解这些影响对于制定减轻热应激和提高绵羊繁殖结果的策略至关重要。
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