Romar Andrés, Raquel

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Romar Andrés, Raquel

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Romar Andrés, Raquel

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Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Fisiología

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Open Access
Growth parameters and growth-related hormone profile in a herd of cattle up to 4 years of age derived from assisted reproductive technologies
(MDPI, 2025-02-21) Heras García, Sonia; Sena Lopes, Jordana; Quintero Moreno, Armando Arturo; Romero Aguirregomezcorta, Jon; Cánovas Bernabé, Sebastián; Romar Andrés, Raquel; Coy Fuster, Pilar; Fisiología; Veterinaria
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are routinely used in livestock to generate animals of high genetic value. Despite representing an outstanding accomplishment, recent studies suggest differences in health, fertility, and gestational length of in vitro-produced compared to in vivo-derived animals. Currently, there are no data available on the long-term effects of ART on growth and development. This observational study aimed to understand the relationship between growth and growth-influencing hormones in a herd of cattle derived from artificial insemination (AI) or from in vitro-produced embryos either with BSA (C-IVP) or with reproductive fluids (RF-IVP) as a protein source in culture. Cortisol was associated positively with weight in AI and negatively with body length in males. Thyroxine decreased with age, and it was positively associated with thoracic circumference in RF-IVP. Insulin-like growth factor-1 was greater in RF-IVP than in C-IVP, and it was positively associated with body length and withers height. Growth hormone was greater in females than in males and RF-IVP compared to AI and C-IVP. In conclusion, we present here the first datasets on growth parameters and growth-influencing hormones in cattle from birth to 4 years of age without observing major evidence of differences depending on the embryo origin.
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Oviduct-specific glycoprotein and heparin modulate sperm-zona pellucida interaction during fertilization and contribute to the control of polyspermy
(2008-10-14) Saavedra, MD; Grullón, LA; Coy Fuster, Pilar; Cánovas Bernabé, Sebastián; Mondéjar Corbalán, Irene; Romar Andrés, Raquel; Matas Parra, Carmen; Avilés Sánchez, Manuel; Fisiología
Polyspermy is an important anomaly of fertilization in placental mammals, causing premature death of the embryo. It is especially frequent under in vitro conditions, complicating the successful generation of viable embryos. A block to polyspermy develops as a result of changes after sperm entry (i.e., cortical granule exocytosis). However, additional factors may play an important role in regulating polyspermy by acting on gametes before sperm-oocyte interaction. Most studies have used rodents as models, but ungulates may differ in mechanisms preventing polyspermy. We hypothesize that zona pellucida (ZP) changes during transit of the oocyte along the oviductal ampulla modulate the interaction with spermatozoa, contributing to the regulation of polyspermy. We report here that periovulatory oviductal fluid (OF) from sows and heifers increases (both, con- and heterospecifically) ZP resistance to digestion with pronase (a parameter commonly used to measure the block to polyspermy), changing from digestion times of approximately 1 min (pig) or 2 min (cattle) to 45 min (pig) or several hours (cattle). Exposure of oocytes to OF increases monospermy after in vitro fertilization in both species, and in pigs, sperm-ZP binding decreases. The resistance of OF-exposed oocytes to pronase was abolished by exposure to heparin-depleted medium; in a medium with heparin it was not altered. Proteomic analysis of the content released in the heparin-depleted medium after removal of OF-exposed oocytes allowed the isolation and identification of oviduct-specific glycoprotein. Thus, an oviduct-specific glycoprotein-heparin protein complex seems to be responsible for ZP changes in the oviduct before fertilization, affecting sperm binding and contributing to the regulation of polyspermy.
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Growth performance in pigs derived from in vitro produced embryos is enhanced compared to their artificial insemination-derived counterparts from birth to adulthood
(Elsevier, 2025-03-04) Heras García, Sonia; Soriano-Ubeda, Cristina; Quintero Moreno, Armando Arturo; Romero Aguirregomezcorta, Jon; Paris-Oller, Evelyne; Gadea Mateos, Joaquín; Romar Andrés, Raquel; Cánovas Bernabé, Sebastián; Coy Fuster, Pilar; Fisiología
Research suggests that assisted reproductive technologies may lead to adverse effects on the offspring. To date, long-term effects from fetal development through adulthood have been scarcely researched. In the present observational study, we aimed to describe growth (body weight, BW; crown-rump length, CRL; and average daily gain, ADG), and growth-related hormone levels (growth hormone, GH; insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1;thyroxine, T4; cortisol) of pigs derived from artificial insemination (AI) and from embryos produced in vitro under two different conditions, C-IVP, with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and RF-IVP, with reproductive fluids and BSA, as protein source in culture, from birth to 5 years of age. In vitro-produced animals showed greater BW, CRL and ADG than AI. Additionally, C-IVP animals had greater BW, CRL and ADG than RF-IVP up to 6 months of age. Regarding hormones, GH concentration was greater in RF-IVP compared to AI and C-IVP. In males, IGF-1 levels of RF-IVP were greater than those of AI. Instead, T4 levels of AI males were greater than C-IVP and RFIVP. Males showed greater IGF-1 and GH than females, the latter only from 1 year old. Instead, females had greater T4 concentration than males. No differences in cortisol were observed between groups or sexes. In conclusion, this study sets reference values of growth and hormone concentrations for adult pigs that are missing in literature. Although the differences observed between the experimental groups were within physiological ranges, there was a greater growth performance in the IVP groups.
Open Access
Metabolic profile and glycemic response in fully-grown sows born using assisted reproductive technologies
(Elsevier, 2024-10-02) Cánovas Bernabé, Sebastián; Heras García, Sonia; Romero Aguirregomezcorta, Jon; Quintero Moreno, Armando Arturo; Gadea Mateos, Joaquín; Coy Fuster, Pilar; Romar Andrés, Raquel; Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparada; Facultad de Veterinaria
The aim of the present work was to gain insight into the metabolism of pigs derived from assisted reproductive technologies during their adulthood. Approximately 4h after feeding, a blood sample was taken from 3.5 year old sows born by artificial insemination (AI group, n = 7) and transfer of in vitro produced embryos (IVP group, n = 11) to determine the physiological concentrations of the main biomarkers of carbohydrates (glucose and lactate), proteins (albumin, creatinine and urea) and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides). Four weeks later, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 1.75g glucose/kg body weight) was performed after an overnight fast and 1h of water withdrawal. Blood samples were obtained prior (T = 0 min; fasting conditions) and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 min after glucose intake. At each time point, glycemia was measured immediately using glucometer test strips, and serum was collected to determine the above metabolites along with insulin and glucagon. After OGTT, the area under the curve (AUC) between sampling times and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA) indices were calculated. Under physiological conditions, the concentration of metabolites studied was similar between AI and IVP sows. In both groups, fasting decreased cholesterol and increased triglycerides and urea (P < 0.001). However, creatinine and lactate were similar in both groups under physiological and fasting conditions. The expected increase in albuminemia and decrease in glycaemia after fasting was only observed in IVP sows. OGTT revealed a different glucose curve pattern (monophasic in AI and biphasic in IVP group), a lower mean concentration of cholesterol, glucose, lactate, triglycerides in IVP compared to AI pigs (P < 0.01), and a higher mean concentration of albumin, creatinine and insulin in IVP compared to AI group (P < 0.05). On the contrary, no differences were found between groups for mean serum glucagon and urea levels, nor for glucose homeostasis indices HOMA-IR and HOMA-%B. The AUC differed between groups at several time points with larger AUC for creatinine, and smaller AUC for glucose, glucagon, and triglycerides, in IVP pigs than in AI pigs at 180–210 min (P < 0.05). In conclusion, under physiological conditions the metabolic profile of fully-grown AI and IVP sows is similar and within normal ranges. Glucose challenge revealed differences in metabolic and insulin responses between groups but with normal glucose tolerance in both cases.
Open Access
Long-term study of physical, haematological, and biochemical parameters in cattle with different embryo origins
(MDPI, 2025-06-14) Serrano-Albal, María; Romero Aguirregomezcorta, Jon; Cánovas Bernabé, Sebastián; Heras García, Sonia; Gadea Mateos, Joaquín; Coy Fuster, Pilar; Romar Andrés, Raquel; Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparada; Facultad de Veterinaria
Assisted reproductive technologies are vital in cattle breeding to improve genetic selection and productivity. While early-life differences between artificially inseminated (AI) and in vitro-produced (IVP) cattle have been studied, long-term physiological, haematological, and biochemical effects remain unclear. This observational study assessed AI and IVP cattle from 1.5 to 5 years of age to determine if early differences persist. IVP cattle were produced after the transfer of the embryo produced by supplementing (RF-IVP group) or not supplementing (C-IVP) the embryo culture with oviductal and uterine fluids. Physical evaluations showed body mass index increased until 3.5 years, while temperature and respiratory rate declined with age, with no significant differences between AI and IVP groups. Haematological analysis revealed age-related changes, including decreased red and white blood cell counts and increased mean corpuscular volume and haemoglobin. AI cattle had higher white blood cell counts than IVP groups. Sex significantly influenced many haematological variables. Biochemical analysis showed age-related increases in total protein, creatinine, and urea, and decreases in glucose and alkaline phosphatase. AI cattle had lower cholesterol and creatinine than IVP groups. Despite group differences, all values remained within normal ranges. Sex affected albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatine kinase. This study provides the first long-term haematological and biochemical reference values for cattle from different reproductive methods, showing that age is the main influencing factor and supporting IVP cattle as a viable alternative to AI in breeding programs.