Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Only 50% of eggswill result in a successful pregnancy for couples utilizing in vitro fertilization (IVF), therefore, there is a critical need to identify methods to improve IVF efficiency to address infertility challenges in humans and other mammals. Cows share similar underlying fertility issues with women, such as a low reserve of eggs as they age, making them an excellent model species for infertility research. This study will test the hypothesis that melatonin (MEL) supplementation directly to cows and to bovine eggs after collection will improve embryodevelopment and IVF efficiency.In our first study, we will identify cows with a high and low reserve of eggs and then give half of each group a MEL supplement before we collect eggs to determine whether supplementation can improve the quality and survival of these eggs for the IVF process. For the second study, we will utilize cows with a high and low egg reserve, collect eggs from them and then supplement half of the eggs from each group with MEL during the IVF process, to determine if supplementation after collection can improve development and success.We expect to find that supplementing cows directly will improve the quality of eggs that are collected, specifically for cows that have a low egg reserve when compared to cows not supplemented with MEL. We also expect that when eggs are collected and then supplemented with MEL during the IVF process, more of the eggs will develop and grow successfully compared to eggs not supplemented with MEL.This research will not only increase our understanding of how MEL interacts with eggs and influences embryodevelopment but will also develop a new tool that can be utilized in both human and animal medicine to increase pregnancy establishment and improve the IVF process.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The long-term, overarching goals of this project are to:1) Examine the mechanism of action of melatonin on oocyte development in vivo and embryo development in vitro to improve pregnancy establishment and maintenance in cattle2) Disseminate fundamental knowledge of oocyte and embryo development to the scientific community and translate practical reproductive management techniques to dairy producers
Project Methods
Methods: This project will combinean in-vitro embryo production model with an in-vivo cow model to explore the role of melatonin in oocyte development and quality in-vivo and the role of melatonin in-vitro on embryo production for cows with a low follicular reserve. For the in-vivo model, high and low follicular reserve cows will be supplemented with melatonin, prior to ovum collection. Ovum will then be graded and evaluated for quality. For the in-vitro model, ovum will be collected from high and low follicular reserve cows and those ova will be matured, fertilized and cultured in-vitro with supplemental melatonin. Effects on embryo development will be evaluated. Chief analyses will include RNA-sequencing, reactive oxygen species assay, cleavage and blastocyst development rates, cell numbers and visual quality grading. All data will be analyzed with SAS 9.4 statistical analysis software and significant differences will be detected at P < 0.10.Efforts: Delivery of science-based knowledge will be conducted via undergraduate and graduate classes in reproduction and dairy science and development of novel extension workshops for dairy producers.Evaluation: The success of this project will be evaluated based on:1) the influence that scientific publications from this work has on increasing our understanding of bovine embryology and pregnancy loss in cattle2) the impact that producer publicationshas on changing perceptions and actions of dairy producers3) the ability of extension workshops to draw attendance from dairy producers and dairy producer implementation of reproductive technologies