Seminal plasma uterine priming alters uterine transcriptomics and negatively impacts embryo growth and uterine artery resistance but not offspring liver transcriptomics in beef cattle

Seminal plasma uterine priming is important for pregnancy and offspring phenotype in mice and swine; however, impacts on the uterus of the dam and her offspring in cattle are unknown. We sought to determine the effects of seminal plasma uterine priming at estrus on uterine transcriptomics, early gestation (days 35, 40, and 45) embryo morphometrics, mid- to late-gestation (days 140 to 220) uterine artery hemodynamics, birth morphometrics, and liver transcriptomics in offspring at 30 d of age. Multiparous Angus-based commercial beef cows were randomly assigned to receive treatment at estrus: 0.5 mL pooled seminal plasma in the uterine body (n = 31, seminal plasma primed) or no treatment (n = 31, control). Seven days later a subset of cows (n = 4/treatment) underwent uterine biopsies, and the remaining cows underwent embryo transfer. Embryo crown-rump length and uterine artery hemodynamics were measured during gestation using ultrasonography. Morphometrics of the calf were collected within 24 h of parturition. Liver biopsies were collected at 30 d of age. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a completely randomized design for the effect of treatment. Myosin heavy chain I (JSP.1) was downregulated [Benjamin-Hochberg adj P (BH) ≤ 0.05] and ABO alpha 1-3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase and alpha 1-3-galactosyltransferase (ABO) was upregulated (BH adj P ≤ 0.05) in the uterus of seminal plasma primed cows 7 d after treatment. Embryo crown-rump length was less (P