Improvement of beef cattle cow’s pregnancy rate using an effective dose of Galectin-1

Galectins are mentioned in the literature as multifunctional molecules that participate in several biological processes such as adhesion, cell proliferation, and cycle, apoptosis, RNA processing, inflammatory process control, and reproductive physiological mechanisms. Galectin-1 has been referred to as a mediator involved in the prevention of early embryonic mortality in mammals. Exogenous GAL-1 (eGAL-1) can be found in Tolerana®. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether eGAL-1 can increase the pregnancy rate when used in an AI procedure (in a complementary artificial insemination procedure, using a second AI gun). The pregnancy rate was determined by the pregnancy condition through an ultrasound exam performed 25 to 35 days after the fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) of breeding cows (n=3,469 beef cows). The efficacy of GAL-1 was evaluated by comparing the pregnancy rate of the two groups (Treatment and Control Groups) in 107 contemporary groups (YG) established by the created statistical model. Based on the obtained results, it can be confirmed that the correct administration of a single dose of eGAL-1 can increase the probability of obtaining pregnancy in beef cows by up to 8.68% (p < 0.0001). The recommendation of the use of eGAL-1 during the FTAI procedure was reasonable in the beef cattle AI routine. On average, the complete procedure, using eGAL-1, took about 10 ± 5 seconds more time than the conventional procedure.

before the pregnancy diagnosis.

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The criteria for defining the BSC used were based on the descriptions by Machado  The breeding cows were kept in management batches on the farms. Each batch 284 was submitted to FTAI after estrus synchronization protocols were performed. These 285 synchronization protocols were decided by each farm, as described in Table 01. We did 286 not interfere in these protocols and within each batch, there were no changes in the  The procedure in the treated group TG was to inseminate the breeding cows using 308 a conventional semen applicator, followed by the administration of the eGAL-1 dose 309 using a second applicator (identical to the semen), which represents that breeding cows  were at an advantage compared to the TG, as they received only "one act" to transverse 322 the cervical rings during the procedure, and that it is also known that this "act " can 323 negatively affect the pregnancy rate.

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Obtainment of the pregnancy rate in the groups 325 The experimental results of pregnancy rates obtained in the breeding cows of the 326 TG and CG groups obtained by ultrasonography (28 to 35 days after FTAI), and the 327 increase in the rate obtained using the eGAL-1 was calculated based on statistical 328 methodology considering dams, which maintained a BSC between 3.5 and 2.5, divided 329 into 2 experimental groups (TG and CG) compared within the same contemporary groups formed, as described below. The diagnosis was performed by a technician with 331 experience in ultrasonography and without knowledge of the division of dams into TG 332 and CG groups.   previously.

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The PROC GENMOD is modeling the probability that Pre='2' = pregnant, using The pregnancy rate obtained in these 107 YG was determined considering the 360 diagnosis of pregnancy by ultrasound between 28 and 35 days after the FTAI procedure.    the whole procedure, when we administrate de eGAL-1, spent only 10 ± 5 seconds more 435 than the conventional procedure -ten seconds as a price to get 8.68% more chance to 436 pregnant a dam, is reasonable in the animal production systems.

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The form of eGAL-1 administration is not foolproof to improve the pregnancy 438 rate in beef cattle but showed that can help. eGAL-1 means Tolerana® administration and 439 it is an innovative technology and its efficacy experimentation model was executed Tolerana® means 10% plus on the cost of the FTAI program per dam. More details of the 498 economic impact of using eGAL-1 on the pregnancy rates rise in FTAI programs will be 499 discussed in another paper.

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The data presented in this study corroborate with several authors, as described 501 below, and support the innovative hypothesis and the new product presented.

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From the mid-1970s onwards, several findings of animal lectins and β-galactoside 512 ligands have been described. Barondes et al. (1994a) proposed the creation of the galectin 513 family to group these proteins. "Electrolectin" was the first member of that family, 514 isolated from tissues of electric fish (Teichberg et al., 1975). Even the first β-galactoside-515 binding lectins derived from mammals were described and were later defined as galectin- can be associated with a significant biological diversity since these glycostructures can 519 encode various biological information decoded by lectins (Sharon and Lis, 1989).

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Therefore, the carbohydrates recognition by lectins is a biochemical phenomenon 521 associated with several physiological and/or pathological processes such as cell 522 fertilization, embryogenesis, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, immune