Validation of fetal microchimerism after pregnancy in the ovine using qPCR

Abstract Fetal microchimerism has been detected in maternal tissues of humans and rodents during after pregnancy. Studies focusing on fetal DNA transfer to domestic animals are limited, especially sheep. ram was observed the circulation pregnancy, but it is not known if this chimerism persists soft parturition. The objectives exploratory study were to: 1) determine male detectable mature ewes parturition so, detection repeatability differed with lifetime offspring sex ratio 2) present yearling (primiparous) shortly Eight (open, non-lactating) 8 (primiparous, periparturient) Rambouillet used. Mature (5- 7-yr old) had given birth primarily 82% males (n = 4) or 71% female over a lifetime. Yearling birthed either singleton lambs. extracted from 10 11 different ewes, respectively. Real-time PCR (qPCR) used identify presence SRY gene each tissue sample. Male brain liver one open ewe that two six females her In younger gave lamb, thyroid pancreas second ewe. ovary lamb. Based these data, we suggest possible sheep may remain pregnancy ended. associated offspring. collected greater found be due having enough time for clearance occur. Future studies warranted further XY its potential role ovine physiology.