Author(s): MALARD, P. F.; PEIXER, M. A. S.; GRAZIA, J. G.; BRUNEL, H. dos S. S.; FERES, L. F.; VILLARROEL, C. L.; SIQUEIRA, L. G. B.; DODE, M. A. N.; POGUE, R.; VIANA, J. H. M.; CARVALHO, J. L.

Summary: Valuable female cattle are continuously subject to follicular puncture (ovum pick-up - OPU). This technique is commonly used for in-vitro embryo production, but may result in ovarian lesion. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) ameliorate the function of injured tissues, but their use to treat ovarian lesions in cattle has not been established. We investigated whether a local injection of MSC would reduce the negative efects of repeated OPU under acute and chronic scenarios in bovines. First, we performed four OPU sessions and injected 2.5×106 MSCs immediately after the 4th OPU procedure (n=5). The treated organs (right ovary) were compared to their saline-treated counterparts (left), and presented superior production of oocytes and embryos in the three following OPU sessions (P<0.05). Then, cows with progressive fertility loss went through three OPU sessions. Animals received MSC, saline, or MSC+FSH in both ovaries after the frst OPU. In the two following OPU sessions, the MSC and MSC +FSH - treated groups failed to present any signifcant alteration in the number of oocytes and embryos compared to saline-treated animals. Thus, MSC have benefcial efects on the fertility of OPUlesioned cows, but not in cows with cystic ovarian disease and chronic ovarian lesions.

Publication year: 2020

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Dairy Cattle

Keywords: Biotecnologia, Bovino, Fertilidade Animal, Fertility, Fertilização in-vitro, MSC, Mesenchymal stem cells, OPU, Ovum pick-up