The research investigates the integration of in vivo and in vitro methodologies to identify the optimal developmental timing of interactions among oviductal cells, oocytes, seminal plasma and sperm in domestic animals. These comparative studies consider ruminants, ovulatory induced species (camelids and felids) and small animals (dog). The main objective is discovering the causes of high embryo loss rates during the early oviductal stage of maternal-embryo communication following the application of assisted reproductive technologies (artificial insemination, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, ovum pick-up and in vitro production). In vivo approach is optimized using an innovative clinical integrated model that encompasses ultrasonography B-mode and color-doppler, thermography, semen analysis, seminal plasma composition and the assessment of follicular and oviductal fluids. Additionally, semen filtering and sperm freezing procedures, with or without exposure to oviductal-follicular fluids and surrogate oviducts, are optimized. The In vitro approach considers the comparative characterization (proteomics) of primary oviductal cell cultures post-exposure to various natural fluids and the sperm. Timing of these interactions and consequential results of the fertilization are the main expected information coming from the integration of these holistic and reductionistic approaches.
Five publications related to the Research Topic for the candidate interview:
Contact person
Prof. Calogero Stelletta
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (https://www.maps.unipd.it/)
University of Padova
tel.: +39-049-8272949
e-mail: calogero.stelletta@unipd.it