Nuclear morphometry of embryonic competence and cryotolerance

• Grant number: 23/11436-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Mateus José Sudano
• Grantee: Luan Henrique da Silva
• 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

This present work aims to analyze and investigate the potential relationships between the technique of cryopreservation in in vitro produced bovine embryos and the cellular and nuclear damage inflicted on the embryos, such as nuclear condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and apoptosis. The investigations will be conducted through image analysis, utilizing the nuclear morphometry technique. The embryos to be analyzed will originate from previously conducted trials, which underwent either cryopreservation or were kept fresh. The images to be analyzed are derived from the TUNEL technique (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling), which enables the precise evaluation of cellular characteristics such as nuclear fragmentation and apoptosis. In this way, it is expected that these analyses will contribute to improvements in the techniques and methods for selecting in vitro produced bovine embryos currently in use.