Susanne E. Ulbrich


Last Name

Ulbrich

First Name

Susanne E.

ORCID

0000-0003-0355-3869

Organisational unit

03999 - Ulbrich, Susanne / Ulbrich, Susanne

Search Results

Publications 1 - 10 of 137
  • More than food: milk extracellular vesicles to assess animal health
    Item type: Presentation
    Silvestrelli, Giulia; Ulbrich, Susanne E.; Saenz-de-Juano, Mara D. (2021)
  • Presence of embryos increases uterine blood flow and affects endometrial gene expression in Holstein cows on day seven post-insemination
    Item type: Journal Article
    Scarlet, Dragos; Ulbrich, Susanne E.; Steufmehl, Michael; et al. (2025)
    Reproductive Biology
    Superovulation treatment leads to characteristic changes in uterine perfusion during the first three weeks of pregnancy in cattle, but the origin of these changes is unknown. We investigated embryo-induced effects on uterine blood flow volume (uBFV) and pulsatility index (uPI), as well as on steroid hormone concentrations during the first seven days after conception, together with endometrial gene expression at the time of embryo flushing, in Holstein Friesian cows. Animals (n = 8) underwent (a) artificial insemination (AI), (b) superovulation followed by artificial insemination (SOV-AI), and (c) superovulation followed by sham AI (SOV-control) in a Latin square design. Doppler ultrasound examinations and blood collections were performed 12 h before AI, as well as on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post AI. Embryo flushing followed by endometrial biopsy collection was also performed on day 7 post AI. While uBFV was higher after SOV-AI compared to AI on days −0.5, 3, 5 and 7 post AI (P < 0.05), uPI was not affected (P > 0.05). Progesterone and total estrogen concentrations were increased following superovulation at all timepoints (P < 0.05) but were not affected by the presence of embryos (P > 0.05). Compared to AI treatment, SOV-AI was associated with increased KDR and decreased NOS3 endometrial mRNA expression (both P < 0.05) on day 7 post AI. Taken together, our results demonstrate changes in uterine blood flow during the first seven days after AI, and in endometrial gene expression in response to the presence of embryos at this time.
  • Initiation of Conceptus Elongation Coincides with an Endometrium Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF2) Protein Increase in Heifers
    Item type: Journal Article
    Chiumia, Daniel; Schulke, Katy; Groebner, Anna E.; et al. (2020)
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) play an important role during embryo development. To date, the role of FGF and the respective receptors (FGFR) during the preimplantation phase in cattle are not fully characterized. We examined FGF1, FGF2, FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3 in cyclic and early pregnant heifers at Days 12, 15, and 18 after insemination (Day 0). Endometrial FGF1 mRNA transcript abundance in heifers varied significantly with respect to the day after insemination, the pregnancy status, and their interaction. The expression was higher in nonpregnant than in pregnant heifers at Day 18. The conceptus transcripts abundance of FGFR2 and FGFR3 were significantly lower at Day 15 than 18. In the endometrium, FGF1 protein abundance significantly decreased from Day 12 onwards and FGF2 protein abundance showed a minor, but a significant increase at Day 15 in comparison to Days 12 and 18. We concluded that the decrease in FGF1 mRNA expression in pregnant heifers at Day 18 points towards a potential contribution of FGF1 in the preimplantation process. Additionally, successful embryo elongation might require a spatiotemporal FGF2 protein increase in the endometrium.
  • Novel role for conceptus signals in mRNA expression regulation by DNA methylation in porcine endometrium during early pregnancy
    Item type: Journal Article
    Kaczynski, Piotr; van der Weijden, Vera; Goryszewska-Szczurek, Ewelina; et al. (2023)
    Biology of Reproduction
    During early pregnancy, porcine conceptuses (the embryos with associated membranes) secrete estradiol-17β (E2)—their major signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy—and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Both hormones induce prominent changes of the endometrial transcriptome in vivo. Studies on endometrial pathologies have shown that E2 affects gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms related to DNA methylation. Herein, we determined the effects of E2 and PGE2 alone, and a combined E2 + PGE2 treatment administered into the uterine lumen in vivo on the expression and activity of DNA-methyltransferases (DNMTs) and on CpG methylation patterns of selected genes in porcine endometrium. To compare the effect of treatment with the physiological effect of pregnancy, endometria from day 12 pregnant/cyclic gilts were included. Both E2 and PGE2 significantly reduced the expression of DNMTs. Likewise, the expressions of DNMT1 and DNMT3A were decreased on day 12 of pregnancy compared to the estrous cycle. DNMT activity increased in endometrial samples following E2 treatment and in gilts on day 12 of pregnancy. Treatment with E2 alone and/or simultaneously with PGE2 altered endometrial DNA methylation of CpG sites of ADAMTS20, ADH1C, BGN, PSAT1, and WNT5A. Different CpG methylation patterns of ADAMTS20, BGN, DMBT1, RASSF1, and WNT5A were found in the endometrium on day 12 of pregnancy compared to day 12 of the estrous cycle. Significant correlations were detected between CpG methylation and gene expression for ADAMTS20, ADH1C, BGN, DMBT1, PSAT1, and WNT5A. Our results indicate that CpG methylation induced by embryonic signals may contribute to regulating endometrial gene expression during pregnancy establishment.
  • Endometriosis-associated infertility alters the microRNA signatures of cumulus cells with a particularly pronounced effect in oocytes that failed fertilization
    Item type: Journal Article
    Almiñana, Carmen; Makieva, Sofia; Bauersachs, Stefan; et al. (2025)
    Biological Research
    Background: Endometriosis (E) is multifactorial disease affecting around 10% of women worldwide. The association between E and infertility is clinically well recognized. For E patients to achieve a successful pregnancy, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are considered as a treatment option. However, the impact of E on oocyte quality, its potential to be fertilized as well as pregnancy rates, is still under debate and with very few molecular clues explaining the clinical data. Alterations in protein-coding RNAs in cumulus cells (CCs), cells surrounding the oocytes and contributing to oocyte maturation, have been reported in E patients. But there is a lack of information regarding microRNAs (miRNAs), which control protein translation. Thus, we aimed: (1) to identify altered miRNA expression in CCs of E patients versus patients without the disease (control, C); and (2) to unveil if in E patients, CCs from fertilized oocytes display a different miRNA profile versus oocytes that failed fertilization. Small RNA-sequencing was performed on CCs from patients undergoing ART. Results: A total of 85 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in E versus C patients (FDR < 0.05). In E patients, 25 DE miRNAs were found between fertilized oocytes and oocytes that failed fertilization, while 13 DE miRNAs in C patients (FDR < 0.05). Comparisons among DE miRNAs highlighted three notable miRNA sets: Set (1) 35 DE miRNAs specific to E; Set (2) 27 DE miRNAs affected by both E and the potential to be fertilized; and Set (3) 6 DE miRNAs characteristic of a competent oocyte successfully fertilized despite the disease. Target gene analysis of DE miRNAs unveiled genes involved in oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation pathway, embryo development, mitochondria and spindle alterations, calcium signaling, and oxidative stress. Conclusion: This study identified for the first time an altered miRNA signature in CCs of E patients, pointing towards compromised oocyte competence. Besides, in E patients, a characteristic CCs miRNA footprint for oocytes that can be successfully fertilized despite the disease has been revealed. The study charts new territory for non-invasive diagnosis and personalized treatments based on miRNAs to improve oocyte competence in E patients under ART treatments.
  • High-density 3D pose estimation for pigs: enhancing anatomical precision for social behavior analysis
    Item type: Other Conference Item
    Winters, Carmen; Ulbrich, Susanne E.; Goumon, Sébastien (2025)
    EAAP Book of Abstracts ~ Book of Abstracts of the 1st EAAP Conference on Artificial Intelligence 4 Animal Science
  • Reframing salivary oxytocin as a biomarker: a bibliometric analysis of research trends, theoretical frameworks and future directions
    Item type: Other Conference Item
    Winters, Carmen; Ulbrich, Susanne E.; Goumon, Sébastien (2025)
    EAAP Book of Abstracts ~ Book of Abstracts of the 76th Annual Meeting of The European Federation of Animal Science
  • Refining the kinetics of salivary oxytocin in three biologically relevant processes in pigs
    Item type: Conference Poster
    Winters, Carmen; Hankele, Anna-Katharina; Ulbrich, Susanne E.; et al. (2025)
  • Early Infection Dynamics of Dichelobacter nodosus During an Ovine Experimental Footrot In Contact Infection
    Item type: Journal Article
    Kuhnert, Peter; Cippà, Valentina; Härdi-Landerer, Maria Christina; et al. (2019)
    Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde
  • Identification and characterisation of social interactions using accelerometers in cattle
    Item type: Conference Poster
    Goumon, Sébastien; Messmer, Konradin; Ulbrich, Susanne E. (2023)
    Background Knowledge of social structure (i.e. agonistic and affiliative relationships) of groups of farm animals allows to ensure good welfare thereby reducing aggression and injuries and promoting socio-positive behaviour (e.g. stress buffering). While monitoring of social interactions can be achieved by relying on visual live observations or video recordings, it remains very time-consuming, labour intensive, and subject to human error. Precision Livestock Farming technologies may be a suitable solution. These include RFID tags, computer vision and sensor technologies such as proximity or acceleration sensors. All of them show challenges in identifying social interactions, especially under extensive housing conditions. Acceleration sensors provide promising results in detecting social behaviours in farm animals. However, research remains limited, and no accelerometer-based monitoring system has been validated or commercialised yet. Aim This study aimed at assessing whether the type and laterality of social interactions could be differentiated using accelerometers in cattle
Publications 1 - 10 of 137