Project description:Conceptus implantation to the uterine endometrium is required for pregnancy establishment, during which non-invasive trophoblasts attach and adhere to the uterine endometrium or invasive trophoblasts invade into the uterine stroma, followed by placental formation in most mammalian species. During peri-implantation period, conceptuses must communicate with the uterine endometrium if they are to survive and proceed to attachment to the uterine epithelium. Despite numerous studies performed on the bovine species, molecular mechanisms associated with their attachment processes, particularly the initial attachment to the endometrial epithelium, have not been well characterized.
Project description:In vitro maturation (IVM) of the oocytes is a routine method in bovine embryo production. The competence of bovine oocytes to develop into embryo after IVM and in vitro fertilization (IVF) is lower as compared to in vivo preovulatory oocytes. Cumulus cells (CC) that enclose an oocyte are involved in the acquisition of oocyte quality during maturation. Using transcriptomic approach we compared cumulus cells gene expression during IVM with that in vivo preovulatory period.