Culture media optimization for oocytes from peri-pubertal heifers

The use of oocytes from peri-pubertal heifers represents an important reproductive management asset, assisting with the rapid multiplication of high merit genetic material and the reduction of generation interval. However, oocytes from peri-pubertal heifers have reduced developmental capability leading to embryos of lower quality. Furthermore, the in vitro culture conditions for the embryo production were not originally developed for oocytes collected from such young animals. Therefore, problems such as inadequate oocyte maturation (cytoplasmic, nuclear and molecular) have been observed. The hypothesis of this study is that optimization of In vitro maturation (IVM) conditions will improve oocytes quality from peri-pubertal heifers enhancing overall embryo production and embryo quality. IVM media will be supplemented using various molecules known to have an effect on energy and lipid metabolism, molecules targeting different cellular components such as the mitochondria or the endoplasmic reticulum. The morphological and molecular phenotype of the embryos produced from peri-pubertal heifers’ oocytes will be analysed. The epigenetic profile of the embryos produced under those optimized culture conditions will also be assayed in order to minimize epigenetic perturbation. The overall goal of the project is to optimize IVM conditions for oocytes collected from peri-pubertal heifers to produce high quality embryo.

Faculty Supervisor:

Marc-André Sirard

Student:

Partner:

L'Alliance Boviteq Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université Laval

Program: