In vivo and in vitro interactions among seminal plasma, sperm, oviductal cell and oocyte in domestic animals CALL 2024

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: 

  1. Besenfelder U., Havlicek V., Kuzmany A., Brem G. (2010) Endoscopic approaches to manage in vitro and in vivo embryo development: Use of the bovine oviduct. Theriogenology 73:768–776.
  2. Saint-Dizier M., Schoen J., Chen S., Banliat C., Mermillod P. (2020) Composing the Early Embryonic Microenvironment: Physiology and Regulation of Oviductal Secretions. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 223.
  3. Avile M., Gutierrez-Adan A., Coy P. (2010). Oviductal secretions: will they be key factors for the future ARTs?. Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol.16, No.12 pp. 896–906.
  4. Lazzari G., Colleoni S., Lagutina I., Crotti G., Turini P., Tessaro I., Brunetti D., Duchi R., Galli C. (2010). Short-term and long-term effects of embryo culture in the surrogate sheep oviduct versus in vitro culture for different domestic species. Theriogenology 73, 748–757.
  5. Mahé C., Zlotkowska A. M., Reynaud K., Tsikis G., Mermillod P., Druart X., Schoen J., Saint-Dizier M. (2021). Sperm migration, selection, survival, and fertilizing ability in the mammalian oviduct. Biology of Reproduction, 105(2), 317–331.

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