Research

We have conducted studies using a variety of models in animals (primarily sheep, swine, and cattle) focused on understanding how the following factors/stressors influence fertility (the ability to conceive and establish a pregnancy) as well as fetal and postnatal growth and development, and therefore health and productivity of the offspring:

Animal Models:

  • Maternal nutritional intake around the time of conception; during various stages of pregnancy, and after delivery
  • Specific nutrients in the maternal diet, such as selenium, and supplementation of protein, vitamins, minerals, energy, and one-carbon metabolites
  • Maternal activity/exercise
  • Maternal exposure to steroid hormones (e.g., corticoids, estrogens)
  • Maternal age (e.g., adolescent or aged pregnancies)
  • Maternal or fetal genotype
  • Singleton vs. multiple fetuses/offspring
  • Sex of the fetus/offspring
  • Assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization and cloning
  • Paternal dietary ingredients
  • Paternal plane of nutrition

     

    Current and Past Research Projects of the CNP (PIs and Co-PIs listed) 

    1. Reynolds LP (Co-PD, NDSU) and Conley AJ (Co-PD, UC-Davis) ; and Collaborators, Pawel Borowicz, Carl Dahlen (NDSU), Heather Knych (UC-Davis), Dean Myers (Univ. of Oklahoma) and Michael Rogawski (UC-Davis), “Role of placental and fetal pregnanes and their metabolites in parturition and extra uterine survival,” Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, $500,000. (2021 - 2024).
    2. Reynolds LP (PD, NDSU), Pawel Borowicz (Collaborator, NDSU), Fulbright Specialist Award entitled “Quantitative Imaging to Evaluate Growth and Development,” with the purpose to “Provide training and education, as well as consultation, to faculty, staff, and graduate students on state-of-the-art imaging, microscopy, and quantitative image analysis of tissues from embryos, fetuses, and offspring, which has broad applicability to the research and educational focuses within the Department of Physiology at the University of Murcia,” $9,500. (June-July, 2022).
    3. Reynolds LP (PI, NDSU)along with Caton, Joel (Co-Principal), Dahlen, Carl (Collaborator), Borowicz, Pawel (Collaborator), “What determines fertility in sheep?,” North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, $16,647.00. (2021-2022).
    4. Dahlen. C.R., S. Amat and K.C. Swanson. 2023. Impacts of Limit Feeding High-Concentration Diets to Beef Heifers throughout Gestation. ND Corn Council. $50,852.
    5. McLean, K.J., C.R. Dahlen, and A. Snider. 2023. The Effects of Nutritional Plane in Bulls on Female Response to Seminal Plasma, Spermatozoa, or the Entire Ejaculate, USDA-NIFA, AFRI. $300,000.
    6. Dahlen, C.R., A.C.B Menezes, and K.C. Swanson. 2022. Multigenerational Impacts of Maternal Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Gestation in Beef Cattle. USDA-NIFA, AFRI. $300,000.
    7. Diniz, W.S.J., C.R. Dahlen, and A.K. Ward. 2022. Transgenerational Impacts of Maternal Nutrition on Fetal Epigenetic Programming, USDA-NIFA, AFRI. $300,000.
    8. Amat, S. C.R. Dahlen, and K.C. Swanson. 2022. Role of the Maternal Methanogenic Archaea and Bacterial Microbiota in Programming the Offspring Methane Emissions in Beef Cattle. USDA-AFRI. $650,000.
    9. Dahlen, C.R. and K.A. Bochantin. 2022. Impact of bull nutritional management on early embryo development and transcript abundance. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $15,570.
    10. Dahlen, C.R. 2022. Effects of trace mineral supplementation during gestation on immune status in beef calves. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, $17,282.
    11. Schauer, C.S., C.R. Dahlen, and K.A. Bochantin. 2022. Impacts of divergent nutrition in rams on female offspring growth, glucose metabolism, and reproductive performance. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $19,468.
    12. Dahlen, C.R., J.S. Caton, and A.K. Ward. 2021. Multigenerational Impacts of Maternal Nutrition During Early Gestation in Beef Cattle, USDA-NIFA, AFRI. $200,000.
    13. Dahlen, C.R. 2021. Impact of providing beef heifers with mineral supplementation during gestation on offspring growth and health. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $17,037.
    14. Dahlen, C.R., A.C.B. Menezes, K.C. Swanson, and K.K. Sedivec. 2021. Impacts of feeding a corn-based supplement on beef heifers, their offspring, and grand-daughters. ND Corn Council, $49,983.
    15. Amat, S. C.R. Dahlen, A.K. Ward. 2021. Using Intrauterine-delivered Next Generation Probiotics to Improve Pregnancy Rates in Cattle. ND EPSCOR. $15,000.
    16. Diniz, W.J.S., A.K. Ward, and C.R. Dahlen. 2021. Effects of pre-breeding maternal micronutrient supplementation on epigenome regulation and developmental programming in beef cattle. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $14,967.
    17. Schauer, C.S., C.R. Dahlen, and F. Baumgaertner. 2020. Effect of Paternal Divergent Nutrition Before Breeding on Semen Characteristics, Pregnancy Rate, Ram Lamb Growth and Reproductive Performance and Carcass Traits. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $16,368.
    18. Dahlen, C.R. and A.K. Ward. 2020. Impact of Bull Nutritional Management on Sperm Transcripts and IVF Embryo Characteristics. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $17,713.
    19. Dahlen, C.R., F. Baumgaertner, J.S, Caton, and K.K. Sedivec. 2020. Impacts of Feeding Corn-Based Supplement on Beef Heifers and their Offspring. ND Corn Council. $49,150.
    20. Dahlen, C.R. and A.K. Ward. 2020. Impact of Bull Nutritional Management on Sperm Transcript Abundance and IVF Embryo Characteristics. ND State Board of Agricultural Research and Education. $17,713.
    21. Reynolds, L.P., P.P. Borowicz, J.S. Caton, and C.R. Dahlen. 2020. Pilot project- A Novel Intravaginal Device to Reverse Atrophic Vaginitis. National University of Ireland- Galway. $42,132.
    22. Dahlen, C.R., J.S. Caton, and K.L. McCarthy. 2020. Evaluation of Mineral and Supplement Effects on Fetal Development. Purina Mills. $145,000.
    23. Ward, Alison (Project Director), Caton, Joel (Co-PD), Dahlen, Carl (Co-PD) and Crouse, Matt (Co-PD), Borowicz PP (Co-Investigator), Reynolds LP (Co-I) “Maternal Nutrition, Epigenetic Modifiers, and Programming of Fetal Organ Development in Beef Cattle,” National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal, $500,000. (2020 - 2025).
    24. Dahlen, C.R., J.S. Caton, and B.W. Neville. 2019. Effects of Distillers Grains and Sulfur on Reproductive Attributes of Yearling Angus Bulls. ND Corn Council. $44,706.
    25. Reynolds LP (Principal), Borowicz PP (Co-Investigator), Caton JS (Co-I), Dahlen CR (Co-I), Ward AK (Co-I), Conley A (Collaborator), Coy P (Collaborator), Cushman R (Collaborator), “Strategies to Improve Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes in Ruminant Livestock,” USDA Hatch Project, salary support for PI and Co-Is and operating funds, February 2019-January 2024
    26. Reynolds LP (Principal), Borowicz, Pawel (Co-Principal), Caton, Joel (Co-Principal), Dahlen, Carl (Co-Principal), Ward, Alison (Co-Principal), “Does maternal nutrition alter gene expression in placenta of beef heifers?,” North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, $28,106.00. (2019 - 2020).
    27. Reynolds LP, Fulbright Senior Scholar Award to teach and establish research at University of Murcia, Spain (Animal Physiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine), $12,871. (September-December, 2017).
    28. Stokka, Gerald (Principal), Reynolds LP (Co-Principal), Swanson, Kendall (Co-Principal), Bauer, Marc (Co-Principal), Berg, Eric (Co-Principal), Dahlen, Carl (Co-Principal), Ward, Alison (Co-Principal), Vonnahme, Kimberly (Co-Principal), "Impact of winter feeding strategies during gestation on productivity and carcass outcomes in beef cattle: calf health through weaning,” North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, $18,000.00. (2016 - 2017).
    29. Vonnahme, Kimberly (Principal), Reynolds LP (Co-Principal), Swanson, Kendall (Co-Principal), Stokka, Gerald (Co-Principal), Bauer, Marc (Co-Principal), Berg, Eric (Co-Principal), Dahlen, Carl (Co-Principal), Ward, Alison (Co-Principal), "Impact of winter feeding strategies during gestation on productivity and carcass outcomes in beef cattle: Uterine blood flow to the developing calf,” North Dakota State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, $16,400.00. (2016 - 2017).
    30. Dahlen, C.R., N. Negrin-Pereira, B.W. Neville. 2016. Impact of Injectable Trace Mineral Supplements in Embryo Transfer Programs. Multimin, USA. $175,000.
    31. Ominski, Kim (Principal), Bauer, Marc (Co-Principal), Dahlen, Carl (Co-Principal), Reynolds LP (Co-Principle), Swanson, Kendall (Co-Principal), Stokka, Gerald (Co-Principal), Vonnahme, Kimberly (Co-Principal)Ward, Alison (Co-Principal), "Impact of Winter Feeding and Vaccination Strategies on Carcass Outcomes in Beef Cattle", National Sciences and Engineering Council; Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives, Inc. Manitoba Beef Producers, $67,085.00. (2015 - 2017).
    32. Caton, Joel (Principal), Dahlen, Carl (Co-Principal), Reynolds LP (Co-Investigator), McLean, Kyle (Other: Graduate Student), Borowicz, Pawel (Senior Personnel), Neville, Brian (Senior Personnel), "Role of Endogenous Retroviruses and Nutritional Management in Placental Syncytium Formation during Early Gestation,” National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal, $150,000. (2015 - 2017).
    33. Ominski K (Principal), Reynolds LP (Co-Investigator), Vonnahme K (Co-I), “Impact of cow-calf feeding and vaccination strategies on carcass outcomes in beef cattle.” Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, $261,000, 2015-17.
    34. Reynolds LP (Co-Investigator), PHS Grant NIH R25 HD 080632, “Frontiers in Reproduction;” $1,153,401 total direct costs; July 2014-June 2019
    35. Reynolds LP and Conley AJ, Academic Scholarship Fund, Society for Reproduction and Fertility, “Steroids in regulation of parturition, fetal maturation, and placental expulsion in cows;” £10,000 (approx. $16,000); November 2014-January 2016
    36. Reynolds LP and Grazul-Bilska AT, PHS Grant R03HD076073, “Steroid receptors in placental tissue and vasculature during early pregnancy;” $100,000 total direct costs, April 2014-March 2016
    37. Reynolds LP, Caton JS, USDA Hatch Project, “Regulation of Fertility in Ruminant Livestock;” salary support for PIs and operating funds, December 2013-September 2018
    38. Reynolds LP and Conley AJ, USDA-AFRI Grant, “Role of placental, fetal adrenal and fetal neural steroids in parturition and extra-uterine survival;” $131,396 total direct costs, September 2013-August 2015
    39. Reynolds LP, Redmer DA, Wallace JM, PHS Grant R01HD045784-05S2, “Administrative Supplement” (Parent Grant, NICHD 45784-01-05 "Nutrition, fetal growth, and placental angiogenesis"); $197,514 total direct costs, August 2010-July 2012
    40. O’Rourke ST, PHS Grant NHLBI R03-HD061532-01-02, “Undernutrition in Pregnancy and Developmental Programming of Vascular Function”; $100,000 total direct costs, September 2009-August 2013
    41. Reynolds LP, Redmer DA, Wallace JM, PHS Grant R01HD045784-05S1, “Summer Research Experience” (Parent Grant, NICHD 45784-01-05 "Nutrition, fetal growth, and placental angiogenesis"; $4,302 total direct costs, June 2009-October 2009
    42. Reynolds LP and Grazul-Bilska AT, USDA, NRI Grant 2007-01215, “Epigenetics of placental angiogenesis in cloned and monoparental sheep fetuses”; $315,000 total direct costs, September 2007-August 2011
    43. Reynolds LP, Myatt L, Hay W, USDA, NRI Conference Grant – Aspen Perinatal Biology Symposium, “Interaction of Maternal, Placental and Fetal Systems in Perinatal Development”; $10,000 total direct costs, July 2007-August 2008
    44. Reynolds LP, Redmer DA, USDA Hatch Project, “Angiogenesis and Reproduction in Livestock;” salary support for PIs and operating funds, January 2007-September 2012
    45. Reynolds LP, Redmer DA, Wallace JM, PHS Grant NICHD 45784-01-05 "Nutrition, fetal growth, and placental angiogenesis"; $1,210,000 total direct costs; April 2005-March 2011
    46. Reynolds LP, Magness RR, Hay W, USDA, NRI Conference Grant – FASEB Summer Research Conference “Molecular & Cellular Signaling in the Perinatal Cardiovascular System”; $10,000 total direct costs, August 2004-July 2005
    47. Reynolds LP, Redmer DA, PHS Grant NHLBI 64141-01-04 "The major angiogenic factors in placental angiogenesis"; $425,000 total direct costs; February 2001-January 2005
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