Dynamics of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors gene expression in in vitro-produced bovine embryos

• Grant number: 25/09176-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Demarchi Goissis
• Grantee: Thaís Maria Alves
• 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

The increase in the number of high genetic value cattle in the national territory depends on the use of reproductive biotechnologies. In vitro embryo production (IVP) allows for a greater number of embryos to be obtained from the same cow compared to in vivo production; however, in vitro-derived embryos exhibit a lower pregnancy rate. During embryonic development, differentiation and formation of the trophectoderm (TE) and the inner cell mass (ICM) occur, giving rise to the placenta and the embryo, respectively. An imbalance between these cell types may be one of the causes of the lower success rate of IVP embryos. In mice, the Hippo pathway, together with the mTOR pathway, participates in TE differentiation. The mTOR pathway is activated by the lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which acts via G protein-coupled receptors (S1PR). In preliminary studies with bovine embryos, treatment with S1P induced different gene expression responses depending on the timing of treatment. Thus, this project aims to test the hypothesis that the expression of S1P receptors in bovines is dynamic during early development and is negatively regulated by treatment with S1P itself. The objective of this study is to evaluate the gene expression of S1PRs through qRT-PCR in S1P-treated and untreated embryos during in vitro culture on days 4, 6, and 8 of development. Therefore, the project aims to contribute to the basic knowledge of developmental biology, providing insights for modulating cell differentiation in in vitro-produced bovine embryos.