Administration of Beta-Nerve Growth Factor during the Preovulatory Stage Improves Endocrine and Luteal Function in Dairy Heifers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Certain proteins present in semen regulate the reproductive physiology of females. Beta-nerve growth factor (NGF), which is abundantly expressed in the semen of camelids, has a potent ovulatory and luteotrophic effect in llamas after systemic injection. Here, we investigated the effects of intramuscular NGF during the preovulatory stage on endocrine parameters and pregnancy rates after artificial insemination in dairy heifers. Heifers injected with NGF showed enhancement of hormones related to ovulation and gestation maintenance. We also detected the enhancement of genes related to uterine receptivity and higher pregnancy rates. We conclude that the improvement in reproductive hormones related to gestation is possibly linked to the higher pregnancy rate detected here. More research is needed to ensure the NGF effects remain on commercial exploitation farms. ABSTRACT: The neurotrophin beta-nerve growth factor (NGF), which is present in the semen of different mammals, elicits potent ovulatory and luteotrophic actions in llamas following systemic administration. Here, we determine if purified NGF given intramuscularly (IM) during the preovulatory stage affects the corpus luteum (CL), hormone production, endometrial gene expression, and pregnancy rate of dairy heifers. Holstein-Friesian heifers were estrus-synchronized using estradiol benzoate (EB) plus an intravaginal progesterone (P4) device (DIB). After eight days, the device was removed and cloprostenol was given IM; the next day (day 9), heifers received EB IM plus one of the following: (i) 1 mg of NGF (NGF D9 group), (ii) 1 mg of NGF 32 h after EB (NGF D10 group), or (iii) phosphate buffer saline (control group). To measure pregnancy rates, heifers were treated similarly, then artificially inseminated with sexed semen 48–52 h after DIB removal, then an ultrasound was conducted 30 days after insemination. The females given NGF along with EB (NGF D9) showed significantly higher luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations, larger CL vascular areas, and higher plasma P4 concentrations than the NGF D10 and control animals. Downregulation of the P4 receptor (PGR), and upregulation of both lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and Solute Carrier Family 6 member 14 (SLC6A14) endometrial genes, were detected in NGF D9 heifers. Furthermore, these heifers had a 10% higher pregnancy rate than the control group. We conclude that the higher P4 output, in response to the early NGF administration, led to the enhanced gene expression of transcripts related to uterine receptivity that may result in enhanced pregnancy rates.