Influence of metabolic status and diet on early pregnant equine histotroph proteome: Preliminary Findings

Abstract Insulin resistance (IR) is characterized by an increase in biomarkers of systemic inflammation and susceptibility to laminitis in horses. Impacts on reproduction include a lengthened inter-ovulatory period in horses. Dietary omega-3 (docosahaexanoic acid; DHA) promotes anti-inflammatory processes, has been implicated in health benefits, and can reduce cytokine secretion. This preliminary study investigated the impact of IR as well as the influence of dietary supplementation (DHA) on the uterine fluid proteome in early pregnant horses. Mares were artificially inseminated; uterine fluid and embryos were collected d 12.5 post-ovulation. Uterine fluid was pooled for metabolic and diet categories (n=8; n=2 per metabolic and dietary status), concentrated, and the proteome was analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry (iTRAQ). Five proteins met differential abundance criteria (±1.5-fold change, P