The effects of palmitic acid on the morphology, quality, viability, and epigenetic modifications of bovine preantral ovarian follicles

• Grant number: 25/03737-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 30, 2025
• End date: December 29, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Coelho da Silveira
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Swartele Rodrigues
• Supervisor: Anna Carolina Denicol
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of California, Davis (UC Davis), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/16444-7 - Influence of palmitic acid on the content of Extracellular Vesicles in uterine epithelial cells and its consequences in the in vitro culture of bovine embryos, BP.IC

Abstract

High-producing dairy cows often undergo a process of Negative Energy Balance (NEB). During this period, the animals experience intense mobilization of body reserves to maintain milk production and meet the energy demands of this process. During this mobilization of body reserves, the animal experiences an increase in metabolites such as non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), with palmitic acid (PA) being one of the most significant factors affecting fertility. Regarding PA, it is known that elevated concentrations can negatively impact the physiology of dairy cows, affecting cell viability, endometrial function, and oocyte maturation. However, the effects of PA on bovine preantral ovarian follicles, particularly concerning their morphology, quality, and viability, are still poorly understood. It is important to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, which may impair folliculogenesis and potentially cause alterations in epigenetic markers involved in the regulation of important cellular functions.The research project will be conducted at the Denicol Laboratory in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). This study aims to further understand the PA on preantral follicles and how detrimental it could be to cow fertility.