TRANSCRIPTIONAL AND EPIGENETIC REGULATION OF EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT BY GM-CSF

We are developing approaches to improve fertility in lactating dairy cows. Poor fertility is one major limiting factor in producing high quality milk efficiently and at a reasonable cost for the consumer. Our previous experiments have taught us that GM-CSF produced by the uterus of the cow can increase the odds that an embryo can complete development to term. An outcome of this research will be an understanding of the mechanisms required for pregnancy that are enhanced by GM-CSF. The long-term impact of this outcome will be development of new management approaches for preventing embryonic loss in dairy cows.