EFFECT OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX CULTURE ON THE ENDOCYTOSIS OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES BY OVIDUCTAL CELLS

• Grant number: 24/06765-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 05, 2024
• End date: November 04, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Coelho da Silveira
• Grantee: Ana Maria Linhares Cavalcanti
• Supervisor: Marcia de Almeida Monteiro Melo Ferraz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/08030-8 - ANALYSIS OF THE EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES ENDOCYTOSIS PROCESS IN OVARIAN FOLLICLE CELLS, BP.IC

Abstract

The livestock industry in Brazil holds a prominent global position, with a significant focus on improving efficiency. Reproductive biotechnologies, especially in vitro embryo production, have gained attention for enhancing productivity. Co-culturing with bovine oviductal epithelial cells has shown promise, as they interact with embryos and oviductal fluid, containing extracellular vesicles crucial for cell communication and gene expression modulation. An ideal oviductal cell culture should mimic in vivo conditions to support fluid dynamics. 3D culture methods maintain epithelial cell characteristics and support in vitro fertilization. Despite advancements, gaps persist in understanding EV-cell interactions and the impact of culturing methods on efficiency, thus, this study aims to assess how the use of extracellular matrix in the 3D cell culture system influences the secretion and uptake of extracellular vesicles by oviductal cells when compared to 3D culture without the matrix. For this, 3D cultured bovine oviduct cells with or without extracellular matrix will be supplemented with PKH26-labeled extracellular vesicles, and the effect of different concentrations of extracellular vesicles on their uptake will be evaluated. The research project will be conducted at the Reproductive Biology Laboratory of the Gene Center at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), and with this work is expected to understand one of the gaps in reproductive biology, better comprehending the participation of extracellular vesicles in intrafollicular communication through the analysis of their effects on bovine oviduct cells.