28/ MAY 2022 THE RIDER Research on Equine Pregnancy The value of long-term studies is well under-
stood by researcher, Dr. Keith Betteridge who has been involved with Ontario Veterinary College equine reproduction studies since 1986. Since graduating as a veterinarian from Bristol
University, England, in 1959, Betteridge has seen re- production technology evolve with the introduction of ultrasound in the 1980s and, most recently, RNA sequencing which has been utilized to better under- stand how the equine embryo develops. It is amazing that samples from embryonic
losses in early studies (2008) are proving useful in studies decades later (2021). “Long-term studies gave us an opportunity to really follow those embryos,” says Betteridge. “The ‘lemons’ from the lost preg-
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https://youtu.be/5RV1Pzz_YTM “Pregnancy was always looked at as though the
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embryo was just a passenger in the uterus,” explains Betteridge. “It has gradually emerged since the 1960’s that the embryo is a very active participant in pregnancy. If the embryo is not communicating with the mare, the pregnancy won’t develop. Understand- ing the two sides of the conversation between the em- bryo and the mare is absolutely vital to understanding how pregnancy will develop normally and how, when an embryo is lost, the pregnancy will fail.” RNA sequencing has provided new methods of
finding out which genes are active in the lining of the uterus at a particular time. The ‘dialogue’ from the mare’s side has been examined and future studies will hopefully reveal the ‘conversation’ from the embry- onic side. With continued research we are gradually build-
ing up information that will help the horse breeder re- duce the number of pregnancies that are lost.
nancies in early studies turned into lemonade as new techniques came along which we could use to further investigate those samples.” In a fascinating video interview Betteridge takes
you on a journey through studies on equine reproduc- tion. He also describes how the equine embryo is truly unique with its unusual coating (called a cap- sule) which allows the embryo to move around in the uterus. With ultrasound, an embryo can be detected as early as 9 days in. Betteridge explains that approx- imately 17% of equine pregnancies fail and 70% of those losses will occur in the first six weeks of preg- nancy.
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