Comparison between conventional and the simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM) systems of maturation in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes

• Grant number: 13/12960-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: December 06, 2013
• End date: March 05, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Fábio Gouveia Nogueira
• Grantee: Mariana Fernandes Machado
• Supervisor: Robert B. Gilchrist
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Adelaide, Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/10737-8 - COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CONVENTIONAL IN VITRO MATURATION AND THE SIMULATION OF OOCYTE PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURATION (SPOM) IN BOVINE CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEX, BP.PD

Abstract

The SPOM system (simulated physiological oocyte maturation) consists of a prolonged period of maturation while the delayed nuclear maturation by addition of agents which maintains cAMP at high concentrations in the oocyte. The success of SPOM in mouse embryos and cattle in vitro production led to more detailed research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this system which constitute hypothesis of the present proposal. However, the different steps and reagents added during the maturation involving in this system, require in-depth training to adapt to the conditions of each laboratory to determines its perfect functioning. Therefore, this proposal aims to validate the technique SPOM to the conditions of our laboratory from the training of the system in the lab where it was developed. Moreover, the functionality of SPOM will be assessed by nuclear maturation of the oocyte and quantification of gap junctions in cumulus cells. And at the end of IVP blastocysts rates and embryo quality will also be evaluated. (AU)