EFFECT OF ORAL UREA ADMINISTRATION ON THE TRANSCRIPTOME OF THE EQUINE EMBRYO

The effects of a high BUN on blastocoele fluid urea concentrations and analyzed the transcriptome of day-14 equine embryos based upon RNA sequencing. Overall design: When a 25 ± 3 mm follicle was detected, mares were randomly allocated to a urea (n=9) or control treatment (n=10). The urea treatment consisted of an oral supplementation of urea (0.4 g/kg of body weight), mixed with sweet feed and molasses. The control treatment was sweet feed and molasses alone. Blood samples were collected every other day for BUN analysis, one hour after feeding. Mares were artificially inseminated in the presence of a 35-mm follicle and ovulation was detected (D0). Ultrasonographic exams for pregnancy detection started at D11, and embryo collection was done at D14 (n=5 urea-treated embryos; n=7 control embryos). RNA was extracted from embryos for RNA sequencing.