The effect of energy balance on the transcriptome of bovine granulosa cells at 60Â days postpartum

Dairy cows expend great amounts of energy during the lactation peak to cope with milk production. A state of negative energy balance (NEB) was suggested as a cause for the suboptimal fertility observed during this period, via an interaction with ovarian function. The objective of this study was to identify the impact of NEB on gene expression in granulosa cells of dairy cows at 60 days postpartum and to suggest a potential treatment to improve ovarian function. Dairy cows at 60 days postpartum from 10 typical medium-sized farms were synchronized using a single injection of prostaglandin. Dominant follicles  were collected 42 hours later by transvaginal aspiration. Blood concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) on the day of aspiration were used to classify animals into two groups: severe NEB (high BHB, n = 12) and mild NEB (low BHB, n = 12). The transcriptomes of granulosa cells from both groups were contrasted using microarrays, and the differentially expressed genes were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis to identify affected functions and potential upstream regulators. Genes linked with cellular organization (KRT4 and PPL), proliferation (TACSTD2), and fatty acids metabolism (VNN2) were downregulated in granulosa cells from animals with severe NEB. Several genes linked to decitabine, a hypomethylating agent, and with beta-estradiol, were downregulated in the severe NEB group. Numerous genes linked to vitamins A and D were also downregulated in this group of cows, suggesting a potential deficiency of these vitamins in dairy cows during the postpartum period. This study supports the idea that energy balance has an impact on follicular dynamics which could be detrimental to resumption of fertility after calving.