Lipidomic, gene expression and cryotolerance assessment on bovine embryos cultivated with lipossomes

• Grant number: 24/12714-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Fábio Gouveia Nogueira
• Grantee: Alexandre Mendes de Almeida Junior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11747-6 - Remote or presential: the importance of communication in the reproductive processes, AP.TEM

Abstract

In cattle, the in vitro embryo production (IVEP) represents a crucial biotechnology for the reproduction and genetic improvement of herds, given the global economic importance of livestock. However, despite the growing interest and investment in this field, IVEP still faces significant challenges, such as the low production rate and the quality of embryos, which are still distinct from those derived in vivo. The objective of this research project is to investigate the interaction processes of synthetic lipid vesicles, which can act as carriers of signaling molecules and hormones, present in the maternal environment, for embryonic development. Thus, three models of vesicles with different sizes (large or small) and lamellar configuration (single or multilamellar) will be studied. After standardization of formation and evaluation of their stability under embryonic incubation conditions (0, 24 and 48 hours, by dynamic light scattering), the vesicles will be co-cultured with embryos from D5 onwards (days post-insemination, being the day of IVF or D0). The blastocyst and hatching rates (D7 to D9) will be a morphological indication of eventual toxicity, as well as the analysis of gene expression in samples from the control and treated groups. Different lipid compositions (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphoinositide and cholesterol) and concentrations (2, 4 and 6 mmol/L) will be tested for each type of vesicle. Finally, lipidomic (MRM profiling), cryotolerance (vitrification and subsequent heating to detect expansion and hatching rates) and gene expression analyzes (Biomark HD platform, with a broad gene panel) will be carried out on embryos produced with the most promising vesicles. The findings will not only provide valuable insights into the interaction between vesicles and embryos but will also guide future research and practical applications in assisted reproduction in cattle - such as changing lipids in their composition or incorporating proteins (or non-lipid signaling molecules) into the vesicles.