About the Authors

Carla A. Piccinato

Current address: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Affiliation Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Guilherme J. M. Rosa

Affiliation Department of Animal Sciences, and Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Alhaji U. N’Jai

Affiliation Department of Pathobiological Sciences and Molecular & Environmental Toxicology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Colin R. Jefcoate

Affiliations Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America, Department of Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Milo C. Wiltbank

wiltbank@wisc.edu

Affiliations Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Competing Interests

The work was partially funded by the Pfizer Global Academic Consortium for Improving Dairy Cattle Fertility. Pfizer organized this consortium to provide funding for basic research, initiated by academic scientists, which would have relevance to future improvements in dairy cattle fertility. There was no commercial or practical application that was necessary and although Pfizer provided the original funding, there was no expectation or requirement that they receive anything from the research. They have not evaluated or approved of the research that is contained in this manuscript and they have not evaluated or read this manuscript. Therefore, the authors clearly declare that this funding does not alter their adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. In addition, one of the authors currently works in a commercial company (Procter and Gamble) besides still holding an affiliate faculty position at the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Wisconsin-Madison. All aspects of the work were completed prior to him taking up the job at the commercial company. The authors also declare that this affiliation does not alter their adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: MCW CAP. Performed the experiments: CAP. Analyzed the data: GJMR AUN MCW. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: GJMR AUN MCW. Wrote the paper: CAP MCW CRJ. Contributed with bioinformatic annotation and analysis: GJMR AUN CAP.