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[hal-05368819] How the brain adapts to nature's rhythms: a year of neuroimaging in a seasonal mammal
At temperate and polar latitudes, animals and humans experience seasonal changes that impact physiology and behavior. In these habitats, the prevalence and severity of certain psychiatric disorders fluctuate seasonally. Such patterns imply that an adaptive system fine-tunes brain physiology in response to annual environmental changes, and alterations to this system may adversely affect mental health. To date, the core neuronal circuitry of the seasonal control of brain functioning is still largely unknown. To address this question, we identified brain regions sensitive to seasonal changes, using neuroimaging in the domestic sheep (Ovis aries), an animal model commonly used to study seasonality. Here, we developed MRI neuroinformatics resources (templates and atlas) dedicated to the analysis of the sheep brain and revealed that seasons broadly modify grey matter organization and volume of both cortical and subcortical regions involved in the control of homeostasis, sensory processing, learning, memory, behavior control, and social cognition. Many of these regions were not previously known to be affected by seasonal variations, highlighting that the seasonal control of brain function involves plasticity mechanisms across multiple brain sites.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Arsène Ella) 17 Nov 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05368819v1
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[hal-05305201] The transcriptome of the ovine choroid plexus is regulated by thyroid hormone but not by photoperiod
The photoperiodic control of seasonal functions requires the action of melatonin at the pars tuberalis of the pituitary and subsequent control of local thyroid hormone (TH) signaling by tanycytes lining the basolateral part of the third ventricle. Therefore, TH supply of tanycytes through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produced by the choroid plexuses (CP) is central to photoperiodism. Here, the transcriptome of the CP of the lateral ventricles was established by RNAseq in ewes maintained under three experimental conditions: ewes exposed to a short photoperiod (SP; 8.5 h of light), intact ewes submitted to an acute 3-week exposure to a long photoperiod (LP-Sham; 15.5 h of light) and ewes thyroidectomized prior to the LP exposure (LP-THX). Photoperiod impacted the expression of 1169 genes (SP vs LP-Sham) while 575 genes were sensitive to TH (LP vs LP-THX). Compared to TH-responsive genes, photoperiod-responsive genes displayed rather weak transcriptional changes. In line with this, RT-qPCR for select candidate genes validated the impact of TH, but not that of photoperiod. We demonstrate weak expression of the melatonin MT1 receptor in the CP, which provides a functional rationale for this. In conclusion, the CP appears as a permissive tissue to the expression of TH-dependent seasonality governed by tanycytes rather than being an integral component of the melatonin-dependent photoperiodic response.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Hugues Dardente) 09 Oct 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05305201v1
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[hal-05226758] Citrulline supplementation does not reverse the effects of late gestation heat stress in ewes on feto-placental development
Heat stress reduces fetal growth in late gestation in cattle, driven by shifts in placental form and function. Sheep are short-day breeders, but they are also bred off-season, allowing late summer lambing, which is associated with heat stress exposure in late pregnancy. Citrulline is known to induce nitric oxide release and vasodilatation and may not be degraded by the rumen, but its impacts on placental function are unknown. This study aimed to: 1) evaluate the effects of late gestation heat stress on placental/fetal development in ewes; and 2) evaluate if citrulline supplementation mitigates heat stress impacts. To that end, 28 pregnant ewes were randomly assigned to each treatment in environmental chambers: control (CN; n = 14, 18 degrees C) or heat stress (HT; n = 14: 28 degrees C daytime and 25 degrees C nighttime) during their last month of gestation. Within temperatures, animals received citrulline (0.5 % dry matter intake (DMI), CT) or not (NO), resulting in a 2 x 2 factorial design: CNCT, CNNO, HTCT, and HTNO (n = 7/trt). Respiration rates (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were measured once weekly and placental perfusion was estimated by quantitative power Doppler ultrasonography at the beginning and 15 days after the start of the experiment. Gestation length (GL) and lamb birth weight (BW) were recorded. Placentas were collected at spontaneous delivery (3 +/- 0.66 h postpartum). Data analysis used the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS with fixed effects of ewe, lamb sex, category, treatments, and their interaction. In ewes, HT increased RR, whereas CT decreased RT in both treatments. HT decreased GL and lamb BW tended to be lower in the HTCT group. Placental morphology did not differ among treatments, but female twins had greater cotyledon number and lower placental efficiency. In conclusion, exposure of ewes to HT during late gestation reduced GL, confirming observations in cattle, and CT tended to reduce BW in heat stress conditions. Further investigations are ongoing in placental function and transcriptomics are currently being evaluated.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Leticia Casarotto) 27 Aug 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05226758v1
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[hal-05197483] Spatio-temporal diversity and genetic architecture of pyrantel resistance in Cylicocyclus nassatus, the most abundant horse parasite
Cyathostomins are a complex of 50 intestinal parasite species infecting horses and wild equids. The massive administration of modern anthelmintic drugs has increased their relative abundance in horse helminth communities and selected drug-resistant isolates worldwide. Cylicocyclus nassatus is the most prevalent and the most abundant species. The tedious identification and isolation of these worms have hampered studies of their biology that remain largely uncharacterised. Here we have leveraged ultra-low input sequencing protocols to build a reference genome for the most prevalent horse strongyle species. Using this resource, we have established the first estimates of its genetic diversity and population structure on a gradient ranging from Ukraine (close to modern horse domestication area) to North America, while capturing a 19th-century snapshot of C. nassatus diversity in Egypt. Our results support a diverse and lowly structured global population. Modern populations displayed lower nucleotide diversity relative to the old North African isolate. We identified the first genetic candidates upon which pyrantel (an anthelmintic drug used in companion animals) selection likely applied in field populations, highlighting previously suspected genes coding for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits, and identifying new candidates showing differential expression in independently evolved Caenorhabditis elegans lines. These results offer a first resource to widen current knowledge on cyathostomin biology, unravel novel aspects of pyrantel resistance mechanisms and provide candidate genes to track pyrantel resistance in the field.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Guillaume Sallé) 02 Aug 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05197483v1
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[hal-05363076] Les cultures fourragères estivales : une ressource relais de nos prairies en été
Avec les évolutions climatiques, la croissance de l'herbe débute précocement en sortie d'hiver et a tendance à se prolonger tardivement en automne. La période estivale tend à s'allonger, avec un déficit hydrique de plus en plus fréquent, impactant la production d’herbe et entrainant la distribution d’une partie des stocks fourragers pour répondre aux besoins des animaux. Se pose alors la question du maintien d’une production de biomasse pendant la saison chaude et sèche. Les graminées dites en C4, qui se différencient des graminées en C3 par leur métabolisme biologique, sont plus adaptées aux conditions estivales rencontrées car leur rendement photosynthétique est maintenu en présence de forte luminosité et de températures élevées. Les sorghos fourragers multicoupes, les millets, les mohas ou encore le teff grass font parties de ces graminées en C4, étudiées en réseau d’essais durant les étés de 2021 et 2022 dans le cadre du projet CAP PROTEINES. Malgré deux années climatiquement contrastées, la production de biomasse intra-variétale est restée stable. Nos résultats confirment l’intérêt des espèces végétales en C4 comme alternative aux prairies. D’autres espèces ont aussi fait l’objet d’essai : les légumineuses annuelles (trèfles et vesces) et tropicales (lablab et cowpea), cependant la contribution de ces légumineuses à la production de biomasse reste faible en association avec des graminées.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Carole Gigot) 13 Nov 2025
https://hal.science/hal-05363076v1
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[hal-05069470] Comprehensive dataset on the physicochemical characteristics of agrowastes digestates from anaerobic digestion
The established database represents one of the largest and most diverse collections of digestates compositions, with a total of 806 digestates derived from two main collections: (i) 608 digestates from French agricultural anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, which include detailed physicochemical characterization, trace metal elements and organic contaminants concentrations, and potential C and N mineralization during soil incubation in controlled conditions as agronomic indicators, and (ii) 198 digestates collected from an international literature review, with physicochemical characterization and some trace metal elements concentrations. An additional dataset of process metadata was also set-up, including feedstock compositions, operational conditions and post-treatments descriptions. A preliminary description of both collections is provided using descriptive statistics. This dataset can help to better understand the variability in digestates quality based on feedstock compositions, operational conditions and post-treatments, thereby improving their agronomic benefits.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Lucille Caradec) 15 May 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05069470v1
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[hal-05100767] Emotional contagion of fear and joy from humans to horses using a combination of facial and vocal cues
Emotional contagion, the emotional state-matching of two individuals, has been documented in various species. Recent findings suggest emotional contagion could also take place between humans and domestic mammals. However, the range of targeted animal species and human emotions that have been studied is still limited, and the methodology to investigate emotional contagion in this context is not fully established. This study examined emotional contagion of fear and joy from humans to horses by measuring physiological (heart rate, infrared thermography) and behavioral responses (posture, laterality bias, facial expressions) to videos of human fear, joy, or neutral emotions. Horses (n = 45) exhibited higher heart rates and ear movements during the fear and joy videos compared to the neutral ones, suggesting heightened arousal. During fear videos, they showed a greater increase in eye temperature than during joy or neutral videos, and maintained an alert posture for longer than during neutral videos, expressing specific facial expressions including inner brow raising and blowing. During joy videos, they showed a higher right eye preference (indicating a higher left-hemisphere bias) than during neutral videos, suggesting a more positive emotional valence. These findings suggest that human facial and vocal cues of fear and joy trigger emotional contagion in horses, which may influence the human-horse relationship.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Plotine Jardat) 06 Jun 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05100767v1
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[hal-05094889] Characterisation of facial expressions and behaviours of horses in response to positive and negative emotional anticipation using network analysis
The welfare of an animal is closely linked to their emotional experiences, making it essential to identify reliable indicators of these emotions. This study aimed to identify behaviours and facial movements in horses experiencing contrasting emotional valence, triggered by the anticipation of a positive condition (going to pasture) or a negative condition (going alone to a novel environment). Twenty horses were daily trained to wait in a starting box before being exposed to these two conditions. After one week of positive training or negative training, we analysed horses’ behaviours, cortisol variations, and facial movements while they waited in their starting box. First, we confirmed that the two conditions induced contrasting emotional valence, as evidenced by the shorter time taken to approach in the positive condition compared to the negative, and by the higher maximal heart rate and cortisol variation in the negative condition. Then using the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) and network analysis (NetFACS) we revealed distinct behaviours and facial expression profiles. In positive anticipation, the horses exhibited a greater range of behaviours, including shaking their heads from side to side, stepping back, sniffing, and pawing at the ground. Additionally, two distinct facial expression profiles were identified as specific to positive and negative anticipation. In positive anticipation, the horses displayed a higher neck, accompanied by a greater frequency of half-blinks and mouth movements. Conversely, in negative anticipation, the horses exhibited a medium neck, with ears backward accompanied by more flattened ears and expressed more nostril movements. The findings highlight the importance of these indicators in characterising horses’ emotions and emphasise their significance for assessing equine welfare.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Romane Phelipon) 03 Jun 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05094889v1
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[hal-05058912] CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing to assess the role of RF-amide−related peptide 3 in ovine seasonal breeding
Seasonal breeding is an adaptive strategy that ensures the birth of the offspring during the best time of year and allows energy saving in times of food scarcity and adverse environmental conditions. At temperate and polar latitudes, photoperiod is the main synchroniser of seasonal functions, which exerts its action through melatonin. Within the pars tuberalis of the anterior pituitary, melatonin triggers a series of events that lead to enhanced local triiodothyronine (T3) production in the medio-basal hypothalamus specifically under long days and ultimately drive the appropriate GnRH output at the median eminence. How T3 governs GnRH output is mostly unknown but neuronal populations that respectively produce KISS1 and RFRP3 appear to be involved. However, while the role of KISS1 as a major GnRH secretagogue is undisputed, the function of RFRP3 in the control of (seasonal) breeding remains enigmatic, with conflicting results hinting at elusive mechanisms. Therefore, we launched an extensive series of experiments in sheep, aimed at invalidating the NPVF gene, which encodes RFRP3, using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.<p>Here, we report on the generation of six sheep for which the NPVF gene has been successfully edited. Four of these animals bear at least one allele expected to behave as a null and constitute founders for distinct ovine lines. These founder sheep will now enter a standard breeding scheme in order to obtain male and female homozygotes for distinct mutations. These animals are expected to provide a clear delineation of the function of RFRP3 in seasonal breeding.</p>
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Christophe Richard) 07 May 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05058912v1
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[hal-05084755] L’importance d’une relation positive entre l’entraîneur et le mouton pour réaliser un protocole d’entraînement individuel
En tant qu'espèce grégaire, le mouton supporte très difficilement d'être isolé de ses congénères et peut exprimer des signes de détresse en présence d'êtres humains, deux phénomènes à considérer dans les protocoles expérimentaux. Dans le cadre d'un projet de recherche visant à étudier le fonctionnement cérébral par imagerie par résonance magnétique fonctionnelle (IRMf), nous avons développé un protocole d'entraînement avec un groupe de moutons dans le but d'acquérir des images sans anesthésie et sans contention physique. Pour cela, il a été nécessaire de travailler quotidiennement avec les animaux et d'établir une relation positive avec eux. Progressivement, les animaux ont exprimé un attrait vis-à-vis des entraîneurs conduisant à une relation de confiance leur permettant de réussir chacune des étapes de l'entraînement nécessaires à l'acquisition des IRMf sans anesthésie. À l'issue de cet entraînement, chaque animal a participé aux sessions d'acquisition de manière volontaire, sans contention, en coopération avec les entraîneurs. Cet exploit nous permet pour la première fois d'étudier le fonctionnement cérébral d'ovin non anesthésié de manière fiable, éthique et raffinée, et par conséquent répondant aux attentes des 3 R. Plus généralement, il nous semble essentiel de témoigner de l'importance d'une relation positive dans notre contexte expérimental. Nous encourageons la communauté scientifique à créer une relation positive avec les animaux lorsque le contexte expérimental le permet.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Camille Pluchot) 26 May 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05084755v1
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[hal-05061959] Farm-scale mapping of compost and digestate spreadings from Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1
According to few recent studies, exogenous organic matters (EOM) can be detectable on either emerging vegetation or bare soil using optical and radar remote sensing techniques. Nevertheless, these image processing approaches considered one single EOM, one season and/or year only and were limited to one surface condition prior to spreading. So far no method addressed the simultaneously tracking of both liquid and solid EOM applications using satellite imagery, for different years, seasons and surface conditions. Relying on Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, this study aimed to track applications of both composted manure and liquid digestate over three seasons of successive years (late winter of 2019; spring of 2020 and 2021) in agricultural fields on a farm scale with distinct surface conditions (grassland, winter crop, bare soil). Within-field reference areas were delineated based on both the observed amendment practices, crops and soil map and randomly selected with replacement to train/ validate SVM with several iterations. Various feature sets composed of bands, signals and specific spectral indices from either Sentinel-2 and/or Sentinel-1 data served to compute SVM in a bootstrapping approach in order to produce a series of map results, to assess the final mode class and the uncertainty of map results. Classification performance was higher for pre- and post-application image pairs compared to post-application images alone and slightly improved when adding Sentinel-1 data. While the areal percentage of the highest uncertainty class covered less of 10% of the mapped area regardless of the year, the best models showed accuracies higher than 93% in 2020 and 2021. In 2019, the overall accuracy did not reach more than 79%, probably due to rainfall events and considerable time lags between the image pairs. This study underscores, not only the potential of Sentinel-2 and 1 for monitoring EOM applications, but also the requirement of better understanding the spectral behaviour of the EOM spreadings, in line with a thorough characterization of the sequence of crop technical management.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Maxence Dodin) 09 May 2025
https://hal.science/hal-05061959v1
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[hal-05033805] Analysis of the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of a network of zero-pesticide cropping systems (Rés0Pest) after 10 years of experimentation
Reducing dependence on pesticides in agricultural systems is a priority due to their proven negative impacts on agroecosystems and human health. We present here the results of a ten years of experimental network (2013-2022), assessing the sustainability 1 of eight pesticide-free cropping systems in field and mixed cropping, in different pedoclimatic and socio-economic contexts in France. The contribution to sustainable development of the eight systems tested ranges from "medium to high" to "very high". Environmental sustainability is "very high" for all systems. Profitability varies widely from "very low" to "very high", in a context where no specific economic reward was considered for pesticide-free cropping systems preserving the environment and human health. No deterioration in the production capacity or sanitary quality of the crops was observed over the long term, and we show that it is possible to produce without pesticides if there is added value for harvest sold. These results confirm that crop diversification and cultivation practices are effective levers for ensuring the sustainability of cropping systems.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Vincent Cellier) 14 Apr 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05033805v1
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[hal-04885356] CRISPR/Cas9-editing of PRNP in Alpine goats
Misfolding of the cellular PrP (PrP c ) protein causes prion disease, leading to neurodegenerative disorders in numerous mammalian species, including goats. A lack of PrP c induces complete resistance to prion disease. The aim of this work was to engineer Alpine goats carrying knockout (KO) alleles of PRNP, the PrP c -encoding gene, using CRISPR/ Cas9-ribonucleoproteins and single-stranded donor oligonucleotides. The targeted region preceded the PRNP Ter mutation previously described in Norwegian goats. Genome editors were injected under the zona pellucida prior to the electroporation of 565 Alpine goat embryos/oocytes. A total of 122 two-cell-stage embryos were transferred to 46 hormonally synchronized recipient goats. Six of the goats remained pregnant and naturally gave birth to 10 offspring. Among the 10 newborns, eight founder animals carrying PRNP genome-edited alleles were obtained. Eight different mutated alleles were observed, including five inducing KO mutations. Three founders carried only genomeedited alleles and were phenotypically indistinguishable from their wild-type counterparts. Among them, one male carrying a one base pair insertion leading to a KO allele is currently used to rapidly extend a PRNP-KO line of Alpine goats for future characterization. In addition to KO alleles, a PRNP del6 genetic variant has been identified in one-third of founder animals. This new variant will be tested for its potential properties with respect to prion disease. Future studies will also evaluate the effects of genetic background on other characters associated with PRNP KO, as previously described in the Norwegian breed or other species.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Aurélie Allais-Bonnet) 14 Jan 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04885356v1
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[hal-04883839] Multiparameter growth-performance monitoring of Holstein dairy heifers fed on moderate- or high-energy feeding plans from birth to puberty
Today, dairy cattle farmers are seeking to optimize expenditure and productivity throughout the lives of their animals by focusing on efficiency at all levels. One strategy for bringing forward the start of a dairy cow’s profitability phase is to advance the onset of puberty and reduce the animal’s age at their first calving. Thus, one objective of this study was to feed two groups of Holstein dairy heifers the same diet but in different quantities, with the aim of generating a growth differential of at least 200 g/day between the two groups. Thirty-eight heifer calves were followed from birth through puberty using body morphometric measurements and quantitative data collected by automatic feeders, which enabled the monitoring of both feed intake and growth for individual heifers. Routine ultrasonography was used to examine changes in the muscle and adipose tissue compartments, and x-ray tomography was used to monitor bone mineralization and rumen development. At 12 weeks of age, heifers in the optimized feeding (OPT) group had greater cortical bone thickness in the tibia compared with the control (CON) group. At 18 weeks of age, OPT heifers also had more trabecular cancellous bone. In contrast, the ruminal volumes of the heifers in the CON group were greater than those of the OPT heifers at 12 weeks. The OPT heifers had greater indices of general, skeletal, and muscular development at 9 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. Among the circulating plasma indicators measured in this study, non-esterified fatty acids were highest in the CON calves at 6 and 12 months of age and at the onset of puberty, whereas IGF1 was highest in the OPT calves at all ages. The age at puberty of the OPT calves was 8.4 ± 0.6 months compared with 11.2 ± 1.1 months for the CON calves. The OPT heifers had an average daily weight gain of 1018 g/day from birth to the onset of puberty, which enabled them to achieve increased body fattening and to reach puberty 3 months earlier compared with the CON heifers; the average daily weight gain of the CON heifers was 780 g/day over the same period. Taken together, this study defines new reference values for a multitude of morphometric indicators, thereby enabling precise monitoring of the growth of Holstein heifers from birth to puberty.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Clément Colas) 13 Jan 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04883839v1
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[hal-04669211] Saliva and plasma metabolome changes during anoestrus, the oestrous cycle and early gestation in the mare: a pilot study
Successful reproductive management of domestic mammals depends primarily upon timely identification of oestrous cycle stages. There is a need to develop an alternative non-invasive, welfare-friendly, accurate and reliable method to identify reproductive cycle stages. This is of particular interest for horse breeders, because horses are high-value farm animals that require careful management and individual monitoring. Saliva sampling is non-invasive, painless and welfare-friendly. Thus, we performed a metabolomic analysis of equine saliva during different reproductive stages to identify changes in the salivary metabolome during anoestrus, the oestrous cycle and early gestation. We compared the saliva and plasma metabolomes to investigate the relationship between the two fluids according to the physiological stage. We collected saliva and plasma samples from six mares during seasonal anoestrus, during the follicular phase 3 days, 2 days and 1 day before ovulation and the day when ovulation was detected, during the luteal phase 6 days after ovulation, and during early gestation 18 days after ovulation and insemination. Metabolome analysis was performed by proton-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We identified 58 and 51 metabolites in saliva and plasma, respectively. The levels of four metabolites or groups of metabolites in saliva and five metabolites or groups of metabolites in plasma showed significant modifications during the 4 days until ovulation, ie 3 days prior to and on the day of ovulation. The levels of 11 metabolites or groups of metabolites in saliva and 17 metabolites or groups of metabolites in plasma were significantly different between the seasonal anoestrus and the ovarian cyclicity period. The physiological mechanisms involved in the onset of ovarian cyclicity and in ovulation induced modifications of the metabolome both in plasma and saliva. The metabolites whose salivary levels changed during the reproductive cycle could be potential salivary biomarkers to detect the reproductive stage in a welfare friendly production system. In particular, we propose creatine and alanine as candidate salivary biomarkers of ovulation and of the onset of ovarian cyclicity, respectively. However, extensive validation of their reliability is required. Our study contributes to extend to domestic mammals the use of saliva as a non-invasive alternative diagnostic fluid for reproduction in a welfare-friendly production system.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Ghylène Goudet) 03 Sep 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04669211v1
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[hal-04741220] Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a platform for vaccination against bovine mastitis
Mastitis is a major issue for the dairy industry. Despite multiple attempts, the efficacy of available mastitis vaccines is limited and this has been attributed to their incapacity to trigger robust cell-mediated immunity. Yeasts have recently been identified as promising antigen vectors capable of inducing T-cell responses, surpassing the antibody-biased mechanisms elicited by conventional adjuvanted vaccines. In this study, we combine in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo approaches to evaluate the potential of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a platform for novel vaccines against bovine mastitis. We demonstrate that S. cerevisiae is safe for intramuscular and intramammary immunisation in dairy cows. Vaccination resulted in a significant increase of IFNγ and IL-17 responses against the yeast platform but not against the vaccine antigen. These observations highlight that strategies to counterbalance the immunodominance of S. cerevisiae antigens are necessary for the development of successful vaccine candidates.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Célya Danzelle) 17 Oct 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04741220v1
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[hal-04720133] Evaluation of plant commercial feed additives for equine cyathostomin control
The increasing emergence of anthelmintic-resistant parasitic isolates prompts us to reassess the management of intestinal strongylosis in horses. Additionally, societal demand is shifting toward reducing the use of chemical treatments, aligning with environmentally-friendly practices and the exploration of natural alternatives. In this context, we provide an initial view of the antiparasitic activity and the effect on immune circulating blood cells of three commercialized plant-based feed additives in ponies. Three treatments, based either on mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) or curcumin (Curcuma longa) were administrated to 18 (six per treatment) Welsh female ponies naturally infected with cyathostomins to mimic their practical use in farming conditions. Another group of six untreated ponies was used as a control. Fecal egg count (FEC), the larval development percentage and the number of red blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils were measured the first and the last day of each treatment, and compared with those characterizing the control group. None of the three treatments showed a significant effect on the studied parameters. Moreover, the efficacy of treatments, measured from the FEC reduction compared to the control group, was weak (≤ 38.6 %). Therefore, these results do not support the practical use of these additives in equine farming, even if the determination of Cohen's d values associated with the three treatments revealed some incidences on FEC and blood immune cell counts, as well as on larval development for mugwort.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (J. Malsa) 03 Oct 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04720133v1
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[hal-04677329] Horses can learn to identify joy and sadness against other basic emotions from human facial expressions
Recently, horses and other domestic mammals have been shown to perceive and react to human emotional signals, with most studies focusing on joy and anger. In this study, we tested whether horses can learn to identify human joyful and sad expressions against other emotions. We used a touchscreen-based automated device that presented pairs of human portraits and distributed pellets when the horse touched the rewarded face. Six horses were trained to touch the sad face and 5 the joyful face. By the end of training, horses' performances at the group level were significantly higher than chance level, with higher scores for horses trained with the sad face. At the individual level, evidence of task learning varied among horses, which could be explained by individual variations in horses' ability to identify different human facial expressions or attention issues during the tests. In a generalization test, we introduced portraits of different humans than those presented during training. Horses trained with the joyful face performed better than chance, demonstrating generalization. Conversely, horses trained with the sad face did not. Horses also showed differences in learning performance according to the nonrewarded emotion, providing insights into horses' cognitive processing of facial expressions.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Plotine Jardat) 26 Aug 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04677329v1
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[hal-04626332] Sheep (Ovis aries) training protocol for voluntary awake and unrestrained structural brain MRI acquisitions
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique that requires the participant to be completely motionless. To date, MRI in awake and unrestrained animals has only been achieved with humans and dogs. For other species, alternative techniques such as anesthesia, restraint and/or sedation have been necessary. Anatomical and functional MRI studies with sheep have only been conducted under general anesthesia. This ensures the absence of movement and allows relatively long MRI experiments but it removes the non-invasive nature of the MRI technique (i.e., IV injections, intubation). Anesthesia can also be detrimental to health, disrupt neurovascular coupling, and does not permit the study of higher-level cognition. Here, we present a proof-of-concept that sheep can be trained to perform a series of tasks, enabling them to voluntarily participate in MRI sessions without anesthesia or restraint. We describe a step-by-step training protocol based on positive reinforcement (food and praise) that could be used as a basis for future neuroimaging research in sheep. This protocol details the two successive phases required for sheep to successfully achieve MRI acquisitions of their brain. By providing structural brain MRI images from six out of ten sheep, we demonstrate the feasibility of our training protocol. This innovative training protocol paves the way for the possibility of conducting animal welfare-friendly functional MRI studies with sheep to investigate ovine cognition.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Camille Pluchot) 26 Jun 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04626332v1
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[hal-04637011] Oral exposure to bisphenol S is associated with alterations in the oviduct proteome of an ovine model, with aggravated effects in overfed females
Background Bisphenol S (BPS) is a substitute for bisphenol A in plastic manufacturing and, as a potential endocrine disruptor, may alter the physiology of the oviduct, in which fertilization and early embryo development take place in mammals. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a daily dietary exposure to BPS combined with a contrasted diet on the oviduct fluid proteome using an ovine model. Results Eighty adult cyclic ewes were allotted to four groups (20/group): overfed (OF) consuming 50 µg/kg/day of BPS in their diet, underfed (UF) consuming 50 µg/kg/day of BPS, and non-exposed controls in each diet group. After three months, the mean body condition score, plasma levels of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids were significantly higher in OF than in UF females. The proteins in collected OF samples (50 µg) were analyzed by nanoliquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). Overall, 1563 proteins were identified, among which 848 were quantified. Principal component analysis of the data revealed a clear discrimination of samples according to the diet and a segregation between BPS-exposed and non-exposed females in overfed ewes. Hierarchical clustering of differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) identified two clusters of 101 and 78 DAPs according to the diet. Pairwise comparisons between groups revealed a stronger effect of BPS in OF than in UF females (70 vs. 24 DAPs) and a stronger effect of the diet in BPS-exposed than non-exposed females (56 vs. 36 DAPs). Functional analysis of DAPs showed an enrichment in metabolic processes, immune system, cell response to stress, and reproductive processes. Conclusions This work highlights for the first time the important impact of BPS on the oviduct proteome, with larger effects seen in OF than UF females. These results, together with previous ones, raise health concerns for everyone and call for a greater regulation of BPS in the food industry.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Coline Mahé) 31 Oct 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04637011v1
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[hal-04465124] Chicory (Cichorium intybus) reduces cyathostomin egg excretion and larval development in grazing horses
Abstract: Cyathostomins are the most prevalent parasitic nematodes of grazing horses. They are responsible for colic and diarrhea in their hosts. After several decades of exposure to synthetic anthelmintics, they have evolved to become resistant to most compounds. In addition, the drug-associated environmental side-effects question their use in the field. Alternative control strategies, like bioactive forages, are needed to face these challenges. Among these, chicory (Cichorium intybus, Puna II cultivar (cv.)) is known to convey anthelmintic compounds and may control cyathostomins in grazing horses. To challenge this hypothesis, we measured fecal egg counts and the rate of larval development in 20 naturally infected young saddle horses (2-year-old) grazing either (i) a pasture sown with chicory (n = 10) or (ii) a mesophile grassland (n = 10) at the same stocking rate (2.4 livestock unit (LU)/ ha). The grazing period lasted 45 days to prevent horse reinfection. Horses in the chicory group mostly grazed chicory (89% of the bites), while those of the control group grazed mainly grasses (73%). Cyathostomins egg excretion decreased in both groups throughout the experiment. Accounting for this trajectory, the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) measured in individuals grazing chicory relative to control individuals increased from 72.9% at day 16 to 85.5% at the end of the study. In addition, larval development in feces from horses grazed on chicory was reduced by more than 60% from d31 compared to control individuals. Using a metabarcoding approach, we also evidenced a significant decrease in cyathostomin species abundance in horses grazing chicory. Chicory extract enriched in sesquiterpenes lactones was tested on two cyathostomins isolates. The estimated IC 50 was high (1 and 3.4 mg/ml) and varied according to the pyrantel sensitivity status of the worm isolate. We conclude that the grazing of chicory (cv. Puna II) by horses is a promising strategy for reducing cyathostomin egg excretion and larval development that may contribute to lower the reliance on synthetic anthelmintics. The underpinning modes of action remain to be explored further. Graphical Abstract: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S2211320724000046-ga1.jpg
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Joshua Malsa) 19 Feb 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04465124v1
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[hal-04667716] Photoperiod, but not progesterone, has a strong impact upon the transcriptome of the medio-basal hypothalamus in female goats and ewes
Photoperiod is the main environmental driver of seasonal responses in organisms living at temperate and polar latitudes. Other external cues such as food and temperature, and internal cues including hormones, intervene to fine-tune phasing of physiological functions to the solar year. In mammals, the medio-basal hypothalamus (MBH) is the key integrator of these cues, which orchestrates a wide array of seasonal functions, including breeding. Here, using RNAseq and RT-qPCR, we demonstrate that molecular components of the photoperiodic response previously identified in ewes are broadly conserved in does (female goats, Capra hircus), with a common core of similar to 50 genes. This core group can be defined as the "MBH seasonal trancriptome", which includes key players of the pars tuberalis-tanycytes neuroendocrine retrograde pathway that governs intra-MBH photoperiodic switches of triiodothyronine (T3) production (Tshb, Eya3, Dio2 and SlcO1c1), the two histone methyltransferases Suv39H2 and Ezh2 and the secreted protein Vmo1. Prior data in ewes revealed that T3 and estradiol (E2), both key hormones for the proper timing of seasonal breeding, differentially impact the MBH seasonal transcriptome, and identified cellular and molecular targets through which these hormones might act. In contrast, information regarding the potential impact of progesterone (P4) upon the MBH transcriptome was nonexistent. Here, we demonstrate that P4 has no discernible transcriptional impact in either does or ewes. Taken together, our data show that does and ewes possess a common core set of photoperiod-responsive genes in the MBH and conclusively demonstrate that P4 is not a key regulator of the MBH transcriptome.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Hugues Dardente) 26 Aug 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04667716v1
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[hal-04512687] The NMDA receptor modulator zelquistinel durably relieves behavioral deficits in three mouse models of autism spectrum disorder
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficient social communication and interaction together with restricted, stereotyped behaviors. Currently approved treatments relieve comorbidities rather than core symptoms. Since excitation/inhibition balance and synaptic plasticity are disrupted in ASD, molecules targeting excitatory synaptic transmission appear as highly promising candidates to treat this pathology. Among glutamatergic receptors, the NMDA receptor has received particular attention through the last decade to develop novel allosteric modulators. Here, we show that positive NMDA receptor modulation by zelquistinel, a spirocyclic β-lactam platform chemical, relieves core symptoms in two genetic and one environmental mouse models of ASD. A single oral dose of zelquistinel rescued, in a dose-response manner, social deficits and stereotypic behavior in Shank3Δex13-16−/− mice while chronic intraperitoneal administration promoted a long-lasting relief of such autistic-like features in these mice. Subchronic oral mid-dose zelquistinel treatment demonstrated durable effects in Shank3Δex13-16−/−, Fmr1−/− and in utero valproate-exposed mice. Carry-over effects were best maintained in the Fmr1 null mouse model, with social parameters being still fully recovered two weeks after treatment withdrawal. Among recently developed NMDA receptor subunit modulators, zelquistinel displays a promising therapeutic potential to relieve core symptoms in ASD patients, with oral bioavailability and long-lasting effects boding well for clinical applications. Efficacy in three mouse models with different etiologies supports high translational value. Further, this compound represents an innovative pharmacological tool to investigate plasticity mechanisms underlying behavioral deficits in animal models of ASD
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Mathieu Fonteneau) 20 Mar 2024
https://hal.science/hal-04512687v1
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[hal-04790961] Metabolic status is a key factor influencing proteomic changes in ewe granulosa cells induced by chronic BPS exposure
<b>Background:</b> Bisphenol S (BPS) is the main substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known plasticiser and endocrine disruptor. BPS disrupts ovarian function in several species. Moreover, a few studies have reported that the effects of BPS might be modulated by the metabolic status, and none have characterised the granulosa cell (GC) proteome after chronic BPS exposure. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to decipher the mechanisms of action of chronic BPS exposure on the proteome of ewe GCs while considering the interaction between a deliberate contrasted metabolism and reproductive function. <b>Methods:</b> Forty ewes were split into two groups with contrasted diets: restricted (R, n = 20) and well-fed (WF, n = 20). The R and WF ewes were subdivided according to the dose of BPS administered through the diet (0-50 µg/kg/ day), forming four groups: R0, R50, WF0 and WF50. After 3-month BPS daily exposure, GCs were recovered during the pre-ovulatory stage and proteins were analysed by nano-liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. <b>Results:</b> Chronic exposure to BPS affected the GC proteome differently according to the ewe metabolic status. Fifty-nine out of 958 quantified proteins were differentially abundant between groups and are mainly involved in carbohydrate and lipid pathways. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) identified four clusters of 34, 6, 5 and 14 proteins according to the BPS exposure and diet interaction. Pairwise comparisons between groups also revealed a strong effect of BPS exposure and diet interaction. Functional analysis of DAPs highlighted that BPS upregulated β-glucuronidase (GUSB; p = 0.002), a protein especially able to deconjugate bisphenol glucuronides (BP-g). Moreover, among unexposed ewes, GUSB was detected only in well-fed ewes. <b>Discussion:</b> Conjugation of glucuronides inhibits the oestrogenic activity of bisphenols. Upregulation of GUSB in ewes dosed with BPS would prolong the oestrogenic effects of BPS by deconjugating BPS-g into free BPS. In addition,
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Marie-Emilie Lebachelier de la Riviere) 19 Nov 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04790961v1
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[hal-04480740] Validation of a serum ELISA test for cyathostomin infection in equines
Cyathostomins are ubiquitous equine nematodes. Infection can result in larval cyathostominosis due to mass larval emergence. Although faecal egg count (FEC) tests provide estimates of egg shedding, these correlate poorly with burden and provide no information on mucosal/luminal larvae. Previous studies describe a serum IgG(T)-based ELISA (CT3) that exhibits utility for detection of mucosal/luminal cyathostomins. Here, this ELISA is optimised/validated for commercial application using sera from horses for which burden data were available. Optimisation included addition of total IgG-based calibrators to provide standard curves for quantification of antigen-specific IgG(T) used to generate a CT3-specific 'serum score' for each horse. Validation dataset results were then used to assess the optimised test's performance and select serum score cutoff values for diagnosis of burdens above 1000, 5000 and 10,000 cyathostomins. The test demonstrated excellent performance (Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve values > 0.9) in diagnosing infection, with > 90% sensitivity and > 70% specificity at the selected serum score cutoff values. CT3-specific serum IgG(T) profiles in equines in different settings were assessed to provide information for commercial test use. These studies demonstrated maternal transfer of CT3-specific IgG(T) in colostrum to newborns, levels of which declined before increasing as foals consumed contaminated pasture. Studies in geographically distinct populations demonstrated that the proportion of horses that reported as test positive at a 14.37 CT3 serum score (1000-cyathostomin threshold) was associated with parasite transmission risk. Based on the results, inclusion criteria for commercial use were developed. Logistic regression models were developed to predict probabilities that burdens of individuals are above defined thresholds based on the reported serum score. The models performed at a similar level to the serum score cutoff approach. In conclusion, the CT3 test provides an option for veterinarians to obtain evidence of low cyathostomin burdens that do not require anthelmintic treatment and to support diagnosis of infection.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Kirsty L Lightbody) 27 Feb 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04480740v1
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[hal-04533050] Genetic background of body reserves in laying hens through backfat thickness phenotyping
In this study, we pursued three primary objectives: firstly to test and validate the phenotyping of backfat thickness as an indicator of the overall fatness of laying hens; secondly, to estimate genetic parameters for this trait; thirdly, to study the phenotypic and genetic relationships between this trait and other traits related to production and body composition. To address these questions, hens from two lines under divergent selection for residual feed intake, were phenotyped for body weight, body composition traits (backfat, total fat volume, and blood adipokines levels), and egg number. Linear mixed models enabled to estimate variance components and calculate genetic parameters. The two lines largely differed in body fatness: the efficient line had larger backfat and lower chemerin levels compared to the inefficient line. However, there were no significantly differences between the two lines concerning body weight, total fat volume, other blood adipokines levels (adiponectin, ghrelin, and visfatin), and egg production. The genetic parameter estimation revealed moderate heritability (0.38 and 0.42) for backfat and body weight, high heritability (higher than 0.80) for blood adipokines levels and low heritability (0.24 and 0.27) for egg production and total fat volume. The backfat and total fat volume were genetically highly and positively correlated (0.91). The body weight and total fat volume were also highly positively correlated (0.67). However, backfat and body weight were moderately positively correlated (0.39). The genetic correlation between backfat and egg number was moderate and negative. In conclusion, backfat could provide additional genetic information to that of the body weight as a selection criterion for body reserves. However, its correlation with laying performance should be taken into account to avoid undesired responses to selection
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Nicolas Bédère) 30 Apr 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04533050v1
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[hal-04787329] Analyse de la durabilité socio-économique et environnementale d'un réseau de systèmes de culture zéro-pesticides (Rés0Pest) après 10 ans d'expérimentation
Réduire la dépendance aux pesticides des systèmes agricoles est une priorité en raison de leurs impacts négatifs démontrés sur la santé des agroécosystèmes et la santé humaine. Nous présentons les résultats de dix ans d'expérimentation (2013-2022), évaluant la durabilité 1 de huit systèmes de culture sans pesticides en grande culture et en polyculture-élevage, dans différents contextes pédoclimatiques et socio-économiques en France. La contribution au développement durable des huit systèmes testés varie de « Moyenne à élevée » à « Très élevée ». La durabilité environnementale est « Très élevée » pour tous les systèmes. La rentabilité montre de fortes différences entre les systèmes, allant de « Très faible » à « Très élevée », dans un contexte où aucune valorisation économique particulière des récoltes produites sans pesticides n'a été prise en compte. Aucune dégradation de la capacité productive ou de la qualité sanitaire des récoltes n'a été observée à long terme et on montre qu'il est possible de se passer des pesticides si la préservation de l'environnement et de la santé humaine est compensée par une plusvalue dans le prix de vente des récoltes obtenues. Ces résultats confirment que la diversification des cultures et des pratiques culturales sont des leviers efficaces pour assurer la durabilité des systèmes de culture.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Vincent Cellier) 15 Apr 2025
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04787329v2
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[hal-04069771] Horses cross-modally recognize women and men
Abstract Several studies have shown that horses have the ability to cross-modally recognize humans by associating their voice with their physical appearance. However, it remains unclear whether horses are able to differentiate humans according to different criteria, such as the fact that they are women or men. Horses might recognize some human characteristics, such as sex, and use these characteristics to classify them into different categories. The aim of this study was to explore whether domesticated horses are able to cross-modally recognize women and men according to visual and auditory cues, using a preferential looking paradigm. We simultaneously presented two videos of women and men’s faces, while playing a recording of a human voice belonging to one of these two categories through a loudspeaker. The results showed that the horses looked significantly more towards the congruent video than towards the incongruent video, suggesting that they are able to associate women’s voices with women’s faces and men’s voices with men’s faces. Further investigation is necessary to determine the mechanism underlying this recognition, as it might be interesting to determine which characteristics horses use to categorize humans. These results suggest a novel perspective that could allow us to better understand how horses perceive humans.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Chloé Gouyet) 14 Apr 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04069771v1
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[hal-04312304] Early castration in horses does not impact osteoarticular metabolism
The castration of stallions is traditionally performed after puberty, at around the age of 2 years old. No studies have focused on the effects of early castration on osteoarticular metabolism. Thus, we aimed to compare early castration (3 days after birth) with traditional castration (18 months of age) in horses. Testosterone and estradiol levels were monitored from birth to 33 months in both groups. We quantified the levels of biomarkers of cartilage and bone anabolism (CPII and N-MID) and catabolism (CTX-I and CTX-II), as well as of osteoarthritis (HA and COMP) and inflammation (IL-6 and PGE2). We observed a lack of parallelism between testosterone and estradiol synthesis after birth and during puberty in both groups. The extra-gonadal synthesis of steroids was observed around the 28-month mark, regardless of the castration age. We found the expression of estrogen receptor (ESR1) in cartilage and bone, whereas androgen receptor (AR) expression appeared to be restricted to bone. Nevertheless, with respect to osteoarticular metabolism, steroid hormone deprivation resulting from early castration had no discernable impact on the levels of biomarkers related to bone and cartilage metabolism, nor on those associated with OA and inflammation. Consequently, our research demonstrated that early castration does not disrupt bone and cartilage homeostasis.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Marion Rouge) 14 Dec 2023
https://hal.science/hal-04312304v1
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[hal-04192779] Transcriptomic signature related to poor welfare of sport horses
Highlights: • The same housing conditions influence behavioural indicators differently according to horses. • Aggressiveness is the behavioural indicator the most correlated to gene expression. • Aggressiveness was associated with molecular pathways related to inflammation. • Stereotypies were correlated to gene expression when combined to faecal microbiota. • Aggressiveness and stereotypies in horses covary with physiological alterations. Abstract: The improvement of horse welfare through housing conditions has become a real issue in recent years and have highlighted the detrimental effect of individual housing of horses on their health and behaviour. In this new study, we analysed the blood transcriptome of 45 sport horses housed individually that were previously examined for their behaviour and gut microbiota. We performed differential and regression analyses of gene expression, followed by downstream bioinformatic analyses, to unveil the molecular pathways related to the behavioural changes associated with welfare impairment in these sport horses. We found that aggressiveness towards humans was the behavioural indicator the most correlated to blood gene expression and that the pathways involved belonged mainly to systemic inflammation. In contrast, the correlations between genes, alert postures and unresponsiveness towards the environment were weak. When blood gene expression profiling was combined with faecal microbiota of a sub-population of horses, stereotypies came out as the most correlated to blood gene expression. This study shows that aggressiveness towards humans and stereotypies are behavioural indicators that covary with physiological alterations. Further studies are needed regarding the biological correlates of unresponsiveness to the environment and alert postures.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (A. Foury) 31 Aug 2023
https://hal.science/hal-04192779v1
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[hal-04189398] Sentinel-2 satellite images for monitoring cattle slurry and digestate spreading on emerging wheat crop: a field spectroscopy experiment
This study is aimed to evaluate the utility of Sentinel-2 imagery for monitoring exogenous organic matter (EOM) applied on winter wheat crop, using two spatial scales: proximal and satellite. From proximal sensing, multi-temporal spectral field measurements were taken on experimental fields consisting of three treatments (cattle slurry, liquid and raw digestates) and a control throughout 46 days. From Sentinel-2 satellites, images were analysed before and after EOM application. For both sensing scales, EOM and vegetation indices were used. On any scale of observation, the digestates spread on emerging wheat were easily detectable in late winter, in contrast to spring spreading events which were hindered by the developed vegetation. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering from the EOM indices divided by EVI achieved to discriminate digestates at early and medium stages of vegetation growth. Our findings did not apply for cattle slurry, presumably because of both lower organic and dry matter contents. HIGHLIGHTS • Digestates spread on emerging wheat are detectable in late winter. • Developed vegetation constrains the detection of spring spreading events. • Spectral measurements did not separate the field with cattle slurry and the control. • The visible to near infrared bands are the most impacted after digestate spreading.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Maxence Dodin) 28 Aug 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04189398v1
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[hal-04078317] Comparison of two molecular barcodes for the study of equine strongylid communities with amplicon sequencing
Basic knowledge on the biology and epidemiology of equine strongylid species still needs to be improved to contribute to the design of better parasite control strategies. Nemabiome metabarcoding is a convenient tool to quantify and identify species in bulk samples that could overcome the hurdle that cyathostomin morphological identification represents. To date, this approach has relied on the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) of the ribosomal RNA gene, with a limited investigation of its predictive performance for cyathostomin communities. Using DNA pools of single cyathostomin worms, this study aimed to provide the first elements to compare performances of the ITS-2 and a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode newly developed in this study. Barcode predictive abilities were compared across various mock community compositions of two, five and 11 individuals from distinct species. The amplification bias of each barcode was estimated. Results were also compared between various types of biological samples, i.e ., eggs, infective larvae or adults. Bioinformatic parameters were chosen to yield the closest representation of the cyathostomin community for each barcode, underscoring the need for communities of known composition for metabarcoding purposes. Overall, the proposed COI barcode was suboptimal relative to the ITS-2 rDNA region, because of PCR amplification biases, reduced sensitivity and higher divergence from the expected community composition. Metabarcoding yielded consistent community composition across the three sample types. However, imperfect correlations were found between relative abundances from infective larvae and other life-stages for Cylicostephanus species using the ITS-2 barcode. While the results remain limited by the considered biological material, they suggest that additional improvements are needed for both the ITS-2 and COI barcodes.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Élise Courtot) 22 Apr 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04078317v1
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[hal-04011829] Horses discriminate human body odors between fear and joy contexts in a habituation-discrimination protocol
Animals are widely believed to sense human emotions through smell. Chemoreception is the most primitive and ubiquitous sense, and brain regions responsible for processing smells are among the oldest structures in mammalian evolution. Thus, chemosignals might be involved in interspecies communication. The communication of emotions is essential for social interactions, but very few studies have clearly shown that animals can sense human emotions through smell. We used a habituation-discrimination protocol to test whether horses can discriminate between human odors produced while feeling fear vs. joy. Horses were presented with sweat odors of humans who reported feeling fear or joy while watching a horror movie or a comedy, respectively. A first odor was presented twice in successive trials (habituation), and then, the same odor and a novel odor were presented simultaneously (discrimination). The two odors were from the same human in the fear or joy condition; the experimenter and the observer were blinded to the condition. Horses sniffed the novel odor longer than the repeated odor, indicating they discriminated between human odors produced in fear and joy contexts. Moreover, differences in habituation speed and asymmetric nostril use according to odor suggest differences in the emotional processing of the two odors.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Plotine Jardat) 02 Mar 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04011829v1
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[hal-03767875] Species interactions, stability, and resilience of the gut microbiota - Helminth assemblage in horses
Highlights: • High cyathostomins egg counts relate to richer and more dynamic gut microbiota. • High shedding upregulates genes involved in B-cell activation and IgA synthesis. • Clostridia promotes ecosystem stability and host tolerance toward cyathostomins. • Parasite removal shifts the gut microbiota interaction network toward unstable states. Summary: The nature and strength of interactions entertained among helminths and their host gut microbiota remain largely unexplored. Using 40 naturally infected Welsh ponies, we tracked the gut microbiota-cyathostomin temporal dynamics during parasite community removal and reassembly, and the associated host immune response. Infected ponies harboured 14 species of cyathostomins, overwhelmed by the abundance of Cylicocyclus nassatus. Parasite carriers exhibited gut environment modifications, higher Shannon entropy and orderly rearrangements of prokaryotic assemblages, with protective Clostridia species contributing to the successional nemabiome-microbiota crosstalk. Yet, the gut ecosystem was remarkably stable, and the host systemic response defined enrichment for B-cell activation and IgA production without corresponding changes in parasite burdens. Therefore, Clostridia microbial protection likely reduced fluctuating dynamics between the microbiota-parasite-host triad and favoured parasite tolerance. The system stability was disrupted by pyrantel treatment and parasite removal, with dire early consequences on the gut environment, microbiota diversity, and cytokine networks while highlighting the detrimental effect of cyathostomin burdens on Enterococcus spp. Both ecological communities were highly resilient to disturbance and recovered their pre-treatment compositions but for Cylicostephanus longibursatus in the parasite community. However, gut microbiotas failed to restore their original stability and shifted towards an interacting unstable state, with transient coexistence between Clostridia and core bacterial taxa, e.g. Fibrobacter and Prevotella, evoking their crucial role as stabilising forces for this new equilibrium. These observations highlight how anthelmintic treatment alters the gut microbiota stability and open new perspectives for adding nutritional intervention to current parasite management strategies in the field.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Michel Boisseau) 28 Mar 2023
https://hal.science/hal-03767875v2
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[hal-04151044] Characterization of Myeloperoxidase in the Healthy Equine Endometrium
Myeloperoxidase (MPO), as a marker of neutrophil activation, has been associated with equine endometritis. However, in absence of inflammation, MPO is constantly detected in the uterine lumen of estrous mares. The aim of this study was to characterize MPO in the uterus of mares under physiological conditions as a first step to better understand the role of this enzyme in equine reproduction. Total and active MPO concentrations were determined, by ELISA and SIEFED assay, respectively, in low-volume lavages from mares in estrus (n = 26), diestrus (n = 18) and anestrus (n = 8) in absence of endometritis. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 21 endometrial biopsies randomly selected: estrus (n = 11), diestrus (n = 6) and anestrus (n = 4). MPO, although mostly enzymatically inactive, was present in highly variable concentrations in uterine lavages in all studied phases, with elevated concentrations in estrus and anestrus, while in diestrus, concentrations were much lower. Intracytoplasmic immunoexpression of MPO was detected in the endometrial epithelial cells, neutrophils and glandular secretions. Maximal expression was observed during estrus in mid and basal glands with a predominant intracytoplasmic apical reinforcement. In diestrus, immunopositive glands were sporadic. In anestrus, only the luminal epithelium showed residual MPO immunostaining. These results confirm a constant presence of MPO in the uterine lumen of mares in absence of inflammation, probably as part of the uterine mucosal immune system, and suggest that endometrial cells are a source of uterine MPO under physiological cyclic conditions.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Sonia Parrilla Hernández) 04 Jul 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04151044v1
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[hal-03744960] Early castration in foals: Consequences on physical and behavioural development
Background The impact of very early castration of foals has not yet been studied despite the many positive effects observed in dogs and cats. Objectives The objective of the study was to compare castration at 3 days and 18 months and assess their subsequent morphological and behavioural development. Study design This was a randomised, blinded clinical study. Methods Twenty-two Welsh ponies underwent either early (3-day old, EC group, n = 11) or traditional (18-month old, TC group, n = 11) castration. Animals were followed up to 3 years of age. All ponies were castrated using a primary closure technique under general anaesthesia. Weight and morphometric measurements were monitored monthly from birth until 8 months of age in both groups. Then, measurements were taken every 3 months until 2 years of age and then every 6 months until 3 years of age. Temperament tests were performed on all animals when they were 1- and 3-years old. Results No differences were observed between the EC and TC groups in terms of physical development from birth until 40 months of age or in terms of temperament and behaviour at either 1 or 3 years of age. Main limitations The study included only one breed (Welsh ponies) and only 22 animals that were castrated before 2 years of age, precluding comparison with castration performed at older ages. Conclusions We demonstrate that early castration at 3 days does not interfere with morphological or behavioural development.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Juliette Cognie) 03 Aug 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03744960v1
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[hal-04213124] Horses discriminate between human facial and vocal expressions of sadness and joy
Communication of emotions plays a key role in intraspecific social interactions and likely in interspecific interactions. Several studies have shown that animals perceive human joy and anger, but few studies have examined other human emotions, such as sadness. In this study, we conducted a cross-modal experiment, in which we showed 28 horses two soundless videos simultaneously, one showing a sad, and one a joyful human face. These were accompanied by either a sad or joyful voice. The number of horses whose first look to the video that was incongruent with the voice was longer than their first look to the congruent video was higher than chance, suggesting that horses could form cross-modal representations of human joy and sadness. Moreover, horses were more attentive to the videos of joy and looked at them for longer, more frequently, and more rapidly than the videos of sadness. Their heart rates tended to increase when they heard joy and to decrease when they heard sadness. These results show that horses are able to discriminate facial and vocal expressions of joy and sadness and may form cross-modal representations of these emotions; they also are more attracted to joyful faces than to sad faces and seem to be more aroused by a joyful voice than a sad voice. Further studies are needed to better understand how horses perceive the range of human emotions, and we propose that future experiments include neutral stimuli as well as emotions with different arousal levels but a same valence.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Plotine Jardat) 21 Sep 2023
https://hal.science/hal-04213124v1
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[hal-04620508] Simplification de la méthode de préparation des embryons équins avant cryoconservation par vitrification
La cryoconservation d’embryons associée au transfert d’embryons est une biotechnologie de la reproduction très utile pour la filière équine. Jusqu’à présent, la technique conventionnelle utilisée nécessitait l’achat d’un matériel coûteux et un long apprentissage technique. Outre un microscope et deux micromanipulateurs, deux sortes de micropipettes reliées à des seringues à vis étaient nécessaires, une pour maintenir l’embryon sous aspiration d’air et une, sous huile. Ces contraintes rendaient cette technique difficilement utilisable sur le terrain par les centres de collectes et de transferts de la filière équine. À INRAE Nouzilly, nous avons développé une technique dont le principe est basé sur l’introduction à main levée d’une micropipette à travers la capsule de l’embryon, sous loupe. Elle est suivie du retrait du liquide blastocœlique, toujours à main levée, sous loupe, via cette micropipette, dite d’aspiration, sous huile, tenue par l’opérateur et reliée à une seringue à vis. Cette technique a fait l’objet d’une déclaration d’invention et d’innovation. Nous avons montré qu’elle pouvait être facilement prise en main par un technicien de laboratoire novice en micro manipulation d’embryons et qu’elle permettait d’obtenir d’aussi bons résultats de survie embryonnaire in vitro que la technique conventionnelle. Ces deux atouts permettent d’envisager une utilisation aisée et efficace par les centres de collectes/transferts d’embryons équins et la filière équine en général.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Fabrice Reigner) 21 Jun 2024
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04620508v1
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[hal-03751952] Horses form cross-modal representations of adults and children
Recently, research on domestic mammals' sociocognitive skills toward humans has been prolific, allowing us to better understand the human-animal relationship. For example, horses have been shown to distinguish human beings on the basis of photographs and voices and to have cross-modal mental representations of individual humans and human emotions. This leads to questions such as the extent to which horses can differentiate human attributes such as age. Here, we tested whether horses discriminate human adults from children. In a cross-modal paradigm, we presented 31 female horses with two simultaneous muted videos of a child and an adult saying the same neutral sentence, accompanied by the sound of an adult's or child's voice speaking the sentence. The horses looked significantly longer at the videos that were incongruent with the heard voice than at the congruent videos. We conclude that horses can match adults' and children's faces and voices cross-modally. Moreover, their heart rates increased during children's vocalizations but not during adults'. This suggests that in addition to having mental representations of adults and children, horses have a stronger emotional response to children's voices than adults' voices.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Plotine Jardat) 16 Aug 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03751952v1
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[hal-03627949] Unveiling how vitrification affects the porcine blastocyst: clues from a transcriptomic study
Background: Currently, there is a high demand for efficient pig embryo cryopreservation procedures in the porcine industry as well as for genetic diversity preservation and research purposes. To date, vitrification (VIT) is the most efficient method for pig embryo cryopreservation. Despite a high number of embryos survives in vitro after vitrification/warming procedures, the in vivo embryo survival rates after embryo transfer are variable among laboratories. So far, most studies have focused on cryoprotective agents and devices, while the VIT effects on porcine embryonic gene expression remained unclear. The few studies performed were based on vitrified/warmed embryos that were cultured in vitro (IVC) to allow them to re-expand. Thus, the specific alterations of VIT, IVC, and the cumulative effect of both remained unknown. To unveil the VIT-specific embryonic alterations, gene expression in VIT versus (vs.) IVC embryos was analyzed. Additionally, changes derived from both VIT and IVC vs. control embryos (CO) were analyzed to confirm the VIT embryonic alterations. Three groups of in vivo embryos at the blastocyst stage were analyzed by RNA-sequencing: (1) VIT embryos (vitrified/warmed and cultured in vitro), (2) IVC embryos and (3) CO embryos. Results: RNA-sequencing revealed three clearly different mRNA profiles for VIT, IVC and CO embryos. Comparative analysis of mRNA profiles between VIT and IVC identified 321, differentially expressed genes (DEG) (FDR < 0.006). In VIT vs. CO and IVC vs. CO, 1901 and 1519 DEG were found, respectively, with an overlap of 1045 genes. VIT-specific functional alterations were associated to response to osmotic stress, response to hormones, and developmental growth. While alterations in response to hypoxia and mitophagy were related to the sum of VIT and IVC effects. Conclusions: Our findings revealed new insights into the VIT procedure-specific alterations of embryonic gene expression by first comparing differences in VIT vs. IVC embryos and second by an integrative transcriptome analysis including in vivo control embryos. The identified VIT alterations might reflect the transcriptional signature of the embryo cryodamage but also the embryo healing process overcoming the VIT impacts. Selected validated genes were pointed as potential biomarkers that may help to improve vitrification.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Carmen Almiñana) 01 Apr 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03627949v1
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[hal-03626271] Pet-directed speech improves horses’ attention toward humans
In a recent experiment, we showed that horses are sensitive to pet-directed speech (PDS), a kind of speech used to talk to companion animals that is characterized by high pitch and wide pitch variations. When talked to in PDS rather than adult-directed speech (ADS), horses reacted more favorably during grooming and in a pointing task. However, the mechanism behind their response remains unclear: does PDS draw horses’ attention and arouse them, or does it make their emotional state more positive? In this study, we used an innovative paradigm in which female horses watched videos of humans speaking in PDS or ADS to better understand this phenomenon. Horses reacted differently to the videos of PDS and ADS: they were significantly more attentive and their heart rates increased significantly more during PDS than during ADS. We found no difference in the expressions of negative or positive emotional states during PDS and ADS videos. Thus, we confirm that horses’ perception of humans can be studied by means of video projections, and we conclude that PDS attracts attention and has an arousing effect in horses, with consequences on the use of PDS in daily interactions with them.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Plotine Jardat) 31 Mar 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03626271v1
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[hal-03862471] Treating mares with the long-acting kisspeptin analog C6 increases circulating gonadotropins but does not trigger ovulation
The role of the neuropeptide kisspeptin (Kp) in mammalian reproduction is well established. Nevertheless, species-specific differences exist. In the horse, administration of the shortest endogenous Kp isoform, Kp10, is unable to trigger ovulation even though it increases plasma gonadotropins concentrations. To check if this issue would be dependent on Kp10 short half-life, we tested two degradation-resistant Kp analogs. The first analog was based on the equine Kp10 sequence (eC6), the second on the ovine Kp10 sequence (oC6). During the non-breeding season, a dose of 150 nmol/mare of either molecule had no significant effect on LH concentration, while oC6 provided a better stimulation of FSH than eC6 (p = 0.01). Furthermore, oC6 was more effective when injected intravenously than intramuscularly. Due to its best pharmacodynamics profile, oC6 (150 nmol/mare) was probed for ovulation induction during the breeding season. The molecule was injected during the preovulatory phase when the follicle diameter ranged from 34 to 37 mm and a uterine oedema was observed. oC6 consistently increased the total amount of gonadotropins released (FSH, p = 0.01 and LH, p = 0.02). However, as shown by transrectal ultrasonography and plasma progesterone levels, oC6 did not anticipate ovulation compared to the control group. Our results provide further evidence of the peculiar reproductive endocrinology of the mare but leave open questions regarding the exact role of Kp in the control of ovulation and breeding in the mare, which we attempt to identify and discuss.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Flavie Derouin Tochon) 21 Nov 2022
https://hal.science/hal-03862471v1
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[hal-03841907] Saliva and plasma steroidome in mare during reproductive stages: A GC-MS/MS study
Precision livestock farming using omics approach to acquire precise and real-time data can help farmers in individual animal management and decision making. Since steroid hormones play a key role for the regulation of reproductive functions, reproduction management could be improved by characterizing the steroidome during reproductive stages. Moreover, saliva collection is a non-invasive, painless, inexpensive and easy sampling method. Thus, this prospective study proposes a steroidomic analysis in mare saliva during reproductive stages, that could help to identify potential biomarkers to accurately detect their reproductive stage in a welfare friendly production system, for real-time decision making at the individual animal level. Correlation between saliva and plasma steroidome was also investigated. Saliva and blood samples from 6 mares were collected in anestrus, in the follicular phase 3 days, 2 days and 1 day before ovulation and the day when ovulation was detected, in the luteal phase 6 days after ovulation and in gestation 18 days after ovulation and insemination. Steroidome analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). We characterized 25 and 36 steroids in saliva and plasma respectively. Pregnenolone concentrations in saliva during gestation were significantly higher than during anestrus or follicular phase and tended to be higher than during luteal phase. Most of the 5α-reduced metabolites of progesterone showed higher salivary concentrations during the luteal phase 6 days post-ovulation and during gestation 18 days post-ovulation compared to anestrus and follicular phase. These steroids could be potential salivary biomarkers of the reproductive stage of the mare. Further studies with a greater number of animals are in progress to confirm the reliability of these potential candidate biomarkers and to develop field-friendly assays.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Ghylène Goudet) 07 Nov 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03841907v1
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[hal-03839676] Weaned horses, especially females, still prefer their dam after five months of separation
Under natural conditions, foals stop nursing from their dam at approximately-9 months old, but their bond persists until 1.5-2.5 years of age. In contrast, in horse breeding, foals are generally artificially weaned and totally separated from their dam at 5-7 months. However, it is not known whether the bond between the dam and her foal is maintained after artificial weaning. The aim of this study was (1) to assess whether foals still recognise and prefer their dam over other familiar mares several months after weaning and (2) to evaluate whether the preference for the dam is more pronounced in fillies or colts. Fifteen fillies and 19 colts were weaned at the age of 7 months old (complete separation from the mother). At the age of one year (i.e., 5 months after the separation), they underwent a test evaluating their preference for their dam or a familiar mare from their natal group. Significantly more foals first approached their dam; they also sniffed and tended to look more often at her. This finding indicates that artificially weaned horses remember and still exhibit a preference for their dam, suggesting that the bond persists even after 5 months of separation. Moreover, fillies exhibited a stronger preference for both mares than colts: they looked at them more frequently, sniffed them for a longer duration and spent more time in proximity to both mares than colts. This suggests that fillies generally have an even stronger attachment to their dam as well as to other mares from their natal group. This study calls into question the practice of artificial weaning at 5-7 months of age. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Léa Lansade) 14 Apr 2023
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03839676v1
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[hal-03790164] Impact of food restriction on the medio‐basal hypothalamus of intact ewes as revealed by a large‐scale transcriptomics study
In mammals, the medio-basal hypothalamus (MBH) integrates photoperiodic and food-related cues to ensure timely phasing of physiological functions, including seasonal reproduction. The current human epidemics of obesity and associated reproductive disorders exemplifies the tight link between metabolism and reproduction. Yet, how food-related cues impact breeding at the level of the MBH remains unclear. In this respect, the sheep, which is a large diurnal mammal with a marked dual photoperiodic/metabolic control of seasonal breeding, is a relevant model. Here, we present a large-scale study in ewes (n = 120), which investigated the impact of food restriction (FRes) on the MBH transcriptome using unbiased RNAseq, followed by RT-qPCR. Few genes (~100) were impacted by FRes and the transcriptional impact was very modest (&lt;2-fold increase or &lt; 50% decrease for most genes). As anticipated, FRes increased expression of Npy/AgRP/LepR and decreased expression of Pomc/Cartpt, while Kiss1 expression was not impacted. Of particular interest, Eya3, Nmu and Dio2, genes involved in photoperiodic decoding within the MBH, were also affected by FRes. Finally, we also identified a handful of genes not known to be regulated by food-related cues (e.g., RNase6, HspA6, Arrdc2). In conclusion, our transcriptomics study provides insights into the impact of metabolism on the MBH in sheep, which may be relevant to human, and identifies possible molecular links between metabolism and (seasonal) reproduction.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Hugues Dardente) 28 Sep 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03790164v1
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[hal-05536400] Identification of duck fat livers that have been freeze-thrown
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ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (M. Bourin) 04 Mar 2026
https://hal.science/hal-05536400v1
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[hal-03812187] Chronic dietary exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide results in total or partial reversibility of plasma oxidative stress, cecal microbiota abundance and short-chain fatty acid composition in broiler hens
Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are massively used in agriculture. However, few studies have investigated the effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on avian species although they are largely exposed via their food. Here, we investigated the potential reversibility of the effects of chronic dietary exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides in broiler hens. For 42 days, we exposed 32-week-old hens to glyphosate-based herbicides via their food (47 mg/kg/day glyphosate equivalent, glyphosate-based herbicides, n = 75) corresponding to half glyphosate’s no-observed-adverse-effect-level in birds. We compared their performance to that of 75 control animals (CT). Both groups (glyphosate-based herbicides and control animals) were then fed for 28 additional days without glyphosate-based herbicides exposure (Ex-glyphosate-based herbicides and Ex-control animals). Glyphosate-based herbicides temporarily increased the plasma glyphosate and AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) concentrations. Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid mostly accumulated in the liver and to a lesser extent in the leg muscle and abdominal adipose tissue. Glyphosate-based herbicides also temporarily increased the gizzard weight and plasma oxidative stress monitored by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Glyphosate-based herbicides temporarily decreased the cecal concentrations of propionate, isobutyrate and propionate but acetate and valerate were durably reduced. The cecal microbiome was also durably affected since glyphosate-based herbicides inhibited Barnesiella and favored Alloprevotella . Body weight, fattening, food intake and feeding behavior as well as plasma lipid and uric acid were unaffected by glyphosate-based herbicides. Taken together, our results show possible disturbances of the cecal microbiota associated with plasma oxidative stress and accumulation of glyphosate in metabolic tissues in response to dietary glyphosate-based herbicides exposure in broiler hens. Luckily, glyphosate-based herbicides at this concentration does not hamper growth and most of the effects on the phenotypes are reversible.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Mathias Fréville) 31 Oct 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03812187v1
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[hal-03744252] A quick, cheap and viable technique to cryopreserve Welsh pony embryos
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ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Florence Guignot) 02 Aug 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03744252v1
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[hal-03744221] Use of Xylocaine to facilitate embryo transfer to Welsh pony recipient
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ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (F Reigner) 02 Aug 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03744221v1
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[hal-03681100] Bisphenol S alters the steroidome in the preovulatory follicle, oviduct fluid and plasma in ewes with contrasted metabolic status
Bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer and endocrine disruptor, has been substituted by bisphenol S (BPS), a structural analogue that had already shown adverse effects on granulosa cell steroidogenesis. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of chronic exposure to BPS, a possible endocrine disruptor, on steroid hormones in the ovary, oviduct and plasma using the ewe as a model. Given the interaction between steroidogenesis and the metabolic status, the BPS effect was tested according to two diet groups. Eighty adult ewes were allotted to restricted (R) and well-fed (WF) groups, that were further subdivided into two subgroups. Ewes were exposed to 50 µg BPS/kg/day in their diet (R50 and WF50 groups) or were unexposed controls (R0 and WF0 groups). After at least 3 months of BPS exposure, preovulatory follicular fluid, oviduct fluid and plasma were collected and steroid hormones were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). A deleterious effect of restricted diet on the volume of oviduct fluid and numbers of pre-ovulatory follicles was observed. Exposure to BPS impaired estradiol concentrations in both follicular and oviduct fluids of well-fed ewes and progesterone, estradiol and estrone concentrations in plasma of restricted ewes. In addition, a significant interaction between metabolic status and BPS exposure was observed for seven steroids, including estradiol. In conclusion, BPS acts in ewes as an endocrine disruptor with differential actions according to metabolic status.
ano.nymous@ccsd.cnrs.fr.invalid (Ophélie Téteau) 30 May 2022
https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03681100v1
