TNF-alpha on the viability of cumulus-oophorus complexes

• Grant number: 22/08984-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Mateus José Sudano
• Grantee: Adriano Cavalcanti Cardoso
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/21496-8 - Pathways for embryo-derived pregnancy, AP.JP

Abstract

Originally mainly identified for their immunoregulatory activities, cytokines are recognized as key regulators in cell differentiation processes. Thus, several studies have been developed with the aim of elucidating the activities of these proteins in numerous procedures, including folliculogenesis and ovulation processes. However, given the pleiotropic nature of cytokines, the characterization of their functions becomes a laborious process. In view of this difficulty, this project aims to investigate the effects that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-±) plays on the quality of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes during their maturation process. For this, considering the duality exerted by TNF-± through its concentration, oocytes will be submitted to different doses of the cytokine and developmental moments in two experiments. Subsequently, the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes, the expansion of cumulus cells, and the nuclear fragmentation of oocytes and cumulus cells will be evaluated. For statistical analysis, the data obtained will be submitted to the GLIMMIX procedure and evaluated through analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the least squares method, considering P<0.05.(AU)