Role of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway on the trophectoderm differentiation of in vitro produced bovine embryos

• Grant number: 24/10409-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Demarchi Goissis
• Grantee: Mirela Soares Vilioti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/06051-8 - Effects of metabolic modulations on the initial cell differentiation of bovine embryos, AP.R

Abstract

Reproductive biotechnologies have been increasingly used in cattle breeding. Among such biotechnologies, we can highlight the in vitro production of embryos (IVP), which contributes to a higher genetic gain in a short period of time. However, one of the obstacles is the reduced pregnancy rate when compared to the use of in vivo produced embryos. The first cellular differentiation event that occurs in embryos is responsible for differentiating the cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE). The disproportion between MCI and TE is suggested as one of the causes that trigger embryonic loss. In mice, studies indicate that differentiation occurs through the action of the Hippo pathway, influenced by glucose metabolism through the pentose-phosphate pathway and the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). In bovine embryos, the mechanisms are still being elucidated, but recent data suggests that it occurs differently than in mouse embryos. Thus, we hypothesized that the HBP pathway acts positively on TE differentiation in bovine embryos. To test the hypothesis, the HBP pathway will be inhibited by azaserine (a glutamine analogue) and the embryos in morula stage will be subjected to PCR to verify the gene expression of genes related to cellular differentiation and related to the HBP pathway. The results of the experiment may contribute to the modulation of embryonic cell differentiation, aiming to improve pregnancy rates with the use of IVP.