Evaluation the mechanism of luteolysis through angiogenic factors present in pregnant and non-pregnant canine corpora lutea

• Grant number: 18/00861-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: April 17, 2018
• End date: June 16, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Maria Denise Lopes
• Grantee: Anderson Alves Ribeiro
• Supervisor: Bruce Daniel Murphy
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Montréal, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/15767-3 - Characterization of angiogenic factors present in corpora lutea of pregnant and non-pregnant dogs, BP.MS

Abstract

In canine species, gestational and non-gestational corpora lutea (CL) have similar features. When compared to other domestic species commonly studied, the luteal regression period is considered prolonged in both CLs, a fact that makes the comprehension of the luteolytic mechanism extremely challenging in this species. In this study, the angiogenic factors present in gestational and cyclic corpora lutea will be analyzed to evaluate the differences between these reproductive phases. The main angiogenic factors present in the CL were selected, in order to investigate the variation in expression of genes related to the luteolysis process at the end of cyclical and gestational diestrus. In preparation, we have monitored estrous cycles and performed ovariohysterectomy in canine females during cyclic (control group, n = 20) and gestational (experimental group, n = 20) diestrus. The CLs were collected in groups between days 7-11, 21-25, 40-44 and 61-64 after pre-ovulatory LH signal. We have already validated by qRT-PCR some angiogenic receptors involved in canine luteolysis mechanism: VEGFA, endothelin, IGF2, IGFBP6, THBS2 and TGFBI and most of them were differentially expressed between the proposed groups. Lastly, we propose to accomplish the validation of these angiogenic targets through immunofluorescence at the CRRA (Animal Reproduction Research Center), under supervision of Professor Bruce Murphy. (AU)