A research team at Texas A&M University is investigating the potential link between paternal factors and early pregnancy loss through a new National Institutes of Health-funded study. The project, totaling $1.65 million, focuses on understanding how non-genetic changes in sperm may influence fertility and embryo development.
Lacey Luense, an assistant professor in epigenetics within the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, is leading the effort alongside Ky Pohler, administrator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Animal Reproductive Biotechnology Center. The researchers aim to uncover the causes of unexplained pregnancy loss by examining paternal epigenetic contributions delivered to the embryo.
Luense noted that while maternal issues such as chromosomal abnormalities or uterine environment problems are known factors, the causes of many early losses remain unexplained. The study utilizes cattle models because approximately 50% of bovine pregnancies end prematurely, providing a parallel to human infertility rates where over 50% of conceptions do not result in birth.
The team will analyze sperm from bulls with high and low fertility to investigate the role of the paternal epigenome. A specific focus is placed on histones, the proteins around which DNA wraps. Previous studies have indicated a clinical correlation between abnormal sperm histones and pregnancy loss, but the underlying reasons for this occurrence are not fully understood.
Luense stated that the research seeks to understand how these non-genetic changes affect gene expression, fertility, and long-term health. The team will determine how these epigenetic markers alter DNA structure and packaging in cattle embryos. This work is intended to provide insights into human infertility and miscarriage, as direct experimentation with human embryos is not feasible.
