Hormonal protocol for cervical dilation modifies the protein profile of uterine lavage recovered from superovulated ewes.

Hormonal protocols for cervical dilation (HPCD) are essential for non-surgical embryo recovery in ewes, due to the cervical complexity of this species. However, the hormones used for this purpose can alter the uterine protein profile and impact the embryonic quality. To test this hypothesis, Santa Inês ewes were superovulated and subjected or not to the HPCD before uterine lavage and embryos recovery by laparotomy. The protein profile of the uterine lavage was determined by mass spectrometry. Overall, 1447 proteins were identified, of which 436 and 126 were found exclusively in the treated and control groups, respectively. A total of 17 proteins were highly expressed in the treated group (P < 0.05), such as glutathione transferase (related to prostaglandin biosynthesis) and osteopontin (involved in the regulation of estradiol). In the control group, five proteins were up-regulated (P < 0.05), including cofilin (linked to up-regulation of embryonic development). Based on the gene ontology, in both groups, the proteins most abundant in the uterine fluid are related to cellular and metabolic processes, in addition to locomotion and localization in the control group. In conclusion, the hormonal protocol for cervical dilation modifies the protein profile of uterine lavage recovered from superovulated ewes after embryo collection.