Effect of TUDCA on meiosis progression, reactive oxygen species concentration and gene expression on in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes

• Grant number: 16/16951-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Fábio Gouveia Nogueira
• Grantee: Aline Gonçalves Sawa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/50533-2 - GIFT: genomic improvement of fertilization traits in Danish and Brazilian cattle, AP.TEM

Abstract

The in vitro production (IVP) of embryos highlights as a relevant biotechnological tool in matters of reproduction and genetic improvement of herds and also sustains a large productive chain of great national and international economic importance. However, this technique still holds a restrictive step to its optimization, that is, the in vitro maturation (IVM). This step has a low efficacy when compared to in vivo maturation due to its meiosis spontaneous resumption and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, initiated by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs). Therefore, ER stress inhibitors drugs, such as salubrinal and the tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) were tested with the purpose to improve the quality and/or viability of the embryo mainly during in vitro culture. In order to maximize IVM, the proposed project aims to test the different TUDCA concentrations in IVM, which may be potentially beneficial to bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) will be maturated in IVM medium (control group) and different concentrations of TUDCA (20, 50 and 75 ¼M) and 200 nM of salubrinal as a control will be added. During IVM, the following parameters will be evaluated: meiosis progression, ROSs concentration and gene expression profile by microfluidic dynamic array (79 oocyte and cumulus cells biomarkers).