Effects of co-culture with multipotent endometrial stromal cells during in vitro production of bovine embryos

• Grant number: 18/10340-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda da Cruz Landim
• Grantee: Gabriel Corrêa de Camargo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In vitro production (PIVE) of Bovine embryos generally use Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) supplementation in their culture media. Although the serun contains essential nutrients and growth factors for the embryo, studies show that prolonged exposure to can greatly affect embryo morphology and biochemistry, as well as being related to the fetus' weight gain at birth. In an attempt to replace serum and increase the production rate and embryo quality, an alternative for in vitro embryo production is the co-culture with somatic cells. In this sense, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), produce a wide range of secreted factors that may help the improvement of PIVE protocols, enhancing the fertility of animals of economic interest. So, in the present experiment bovine embryos will be produced in vitro will in co-cultured with mesenchymal stem cells obtained from endometrial tissue. The hypothesis is that the growth factors secreted by the CTMs will stimulate the embryonic development and lead to the production of better quality embryos.