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Global Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Porcine Conceptus Elongation Both In Vivo and In Vitro Utilizing a Three-Dimensional Hydrogel Culture System
Abstract
The process of porcine conceptus elongation is a critical period of development that highly influences subsequent conceptus survival and ultimately litter size, piglet birthweight, and postnatal survival. A thorough understanding of elongation can have extraordinary impacts on the overall efficiency of swine reproduction and the production of a sustainable source of protein for the growing world population. Although previous studies have identified some of the factors contributing to this rapid morphological change of the porcine conceptus, due to the complexity and difficulty of examining this process in vivo and in vitro, many of the specific factors and mechanisms influencing this morphological transition remain unelucidated. In order to develop a deeper understanding of porcine conceptus elongation, this dissertation investigated changes to the global transcriptome of the porcine conceptus, as well as to the metabolome of the surrounding uterine environment, throughout the initial morphological stages of elongation through in vivo metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. These investigations identified potential metabolic changes within the conceptus, including amino acid, protein, bile acid, purine, and energy metabolism, as well as potential mechanisms of gene regulation within the conceptus, such as cytokine, growth factor, and lipid signaling, as well as phospholipid membrane, ECM, and adhesion remodeling, that may contribute to the initiation of porcine conceptus elongation. Further, this dissertation examined changes in the metabolism and secretion of factors by the elongating conceptus in vitro utilizing our developed 3D hydrogel culture system, identifying potential RGD-independent and RGD-mediated mechanisms of elongation, such as phospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism and secretion. Overall, these studies provide further knowledge of the complex factors and mechanisms contributing to this rapid morphological change within the porcine conceptus.
Subject Area
Bioengineering|Developmental biology|Morphology|Zoology
Recommended Citation
Walsh, Sophie C, "Global Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Porcine Conceptus Elongation Both In Vivo and In Vitro Utilizing a Three-Dimensional Hydrogel Culture System" (2022). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI29258798.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI29258798