Expression Profile of Angiogenic and RANTES Genes and Serum Biochemical Changes in Holstein Dairy Cows with Retained Fetal Membranes in Egypt

The changes in the expression profile of the angiogenic genes and serum biomarkers were investigated in the cows with the retained placenta after normal parturition. Retained fetal membranes (RFM) is considered one of the main reproductive disorders in dairy cattle. A total of 16 cows were allocated into two groups: group 1 (n = 8) the cows that have a normal loosed placenta, and group 2 (n = 8). The cows that have retained fetal membranes for more than 24 h after parturition. Blood with EDTA was collected from the tail vein for studying the expression of angiogenic proteins including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor1 (VEGFR1), and RANTES genes. Serum was collected at a one-week interval before/after parturition for the study of biochemical changes. The VEGF expression decreased ten folds in cows with retained than normally dropped placentae (p ˂ 0.0001). The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor2 (VEGFR2) showed a threefold increase in cows with normal loosed than retained placentae (p˂0.01). The RANTES was increased in cows with retained rather than normal placentae by about 7 folds (p˂0.01). Phosphorus and total proteins were significantly lower (p˂0.05) in RFM cows one week after parturition. The serum albumin, TG, HDL, and cholesterol were significantly lower (p˂0.05) in RFM before, at, and after parturition. CPK was significantly higher in RFM before, at, and after parturition (p˂0.05). Increased values of MDA and decreased values of CAT, SOD, and R-GSH were detected in the blood of cows suffering from RFM (p˂0.05). In conclusion, the translation of VEGF and its receptor and RANTES mRNA at the time of parturition in dairy cows could be proxy biomarkers for the prediction of retained fetal membranes (RFM). In the same line, the activity of total proteins, serum albumin, TG, HDL, cholesterol, and CPK would be useful in the prediction of the RFM in dairy cows.