31 results match your criteria: "School of Sciences and Languages[Affiliation]"

This study examines the impact of oxygen tension and embryo kinetics on gene transcription dynamics in pathways crucial for embryonic preimplantation development, including lipid metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, mitochondrial function, stress response, apoptosis and transcription regulation. Bovine embryos were generated in vitro and allocated into two groups based on oxygen tension (20% or 5%) at 18 h post insemination (hpi). At 40 hpi, embryos were categorized into Fast (≥4 cells) or Slow (2 cells) groups, resulting in four experimental groups: FCL20, FCL5, SCL20 and SCL5.

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Inflammation is a natural protective reaction of the body against endogenous and exogenous damage, such as tissue injuries, trauma, and infections. Thus, when the response is adequate, inflammation becomes a defense mechanism to repair damaged tissue, whereas when the response is inadequate and persistent, the increase in inflammatory cells, cytosines, and chymosins impair tissue regeneration and promote a response harmful to the organism. One example is chronic tissue inflammation, in which a simple lesion can progress to ulcers and even necrosis.

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Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Supplementation in In Vitro Culture of Indicine Bovine Embryos: Molecular and Cellular Effects on the In Vitro Cryotolerance.

Int J Mol Sci

September 2023

Multi-User Laboratory of Phytomedicines Pharmacology, and Biotechnology (PhitoPharmaTec), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-000, Brazil.

During embryo development, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as an important site for protein biosynthesis; however, in vitro culture (IVC) can negatively affect ER homeostasis. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of the supplementation of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an ER stress inhibitor, in the IVC of bovine embryos. Two experiments were carried out: Exp.

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The oocyte is the basis of life, supporting development from a fertilized cell to an independent multicellular organism. The oocyte's competence to drive the first cell cycles postfertilization are critical to embryonic survival and subsequent successful pregnancy. Coupled with the complex processes of follicle assembly, activation, differentiation, growth, and terminal maturation, oocyte developmental competence is gradually acquired during oocyte growth and meiotic maturation.

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Biocompatible anti-aging face mask prepared with curcumin and natural rubber with antioxidant properties.

Int J Biol Macromol

July 2023

Bioengineering & Biomaterials Group, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Km 01 Araraquara-Jaú Road, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil; Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 11507 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Autonomy Research Center for STEAHM (ARCS), California State University, Northridge, CA 91324, USA. Electronic address:

Natural rubber latex (NRL) is a biopolymer widely used in biomedical applications. In this work, we propose an innovative cosmetic face mask, combining the NRL's biological properties with curcumin (CURC), which has a high level of antioxidant activity (AA) to provide anti-aging benefits. Chemical, mechanical and morphological characterizations were performed.

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Background: In several countries, the leaf juice of Agave sisalana (also known as sisal) is widely used topically, especially as an antiseptic, and orally for the treatment of different pathologies. However, in Brazil, which is the largest producer of Agave sisalana, its residue, which represents the majority of its weight, has been thrown away. For this reason, the determination of the pharmacological and toxicological potentials of sisal residue and its possible therapeutic use is seen as a way to contribute to the sustainable development and social promotion of the largest producer of sisal in Brazil, the interior of Bahia State, which is among the poorest areas in the country.

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Article Synopsis
  • Supplementation of culture media with IGF-1 has shown variable results in embryo development over the years, potentially due to differences among embryos themselves.
  • The study found that bovine embryos with different cleavage rates (fast vs. slow) reacted differently when treated with IGF-1, impacting gene expression and metabolic function.
  • Fast-cleaving embryos exhibited improved mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism, while slow-cleaving embryos showed less efficiency and increased lipid accumulation, suggesting that in vitro culture systems should be tailored based on embryo characteristics for better outcomes.
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Cambess is a plant species typical of the Cerrado, a Brazilian biome. The fruit of this species is popularly known as pequi, and its oil is used in traditional medicine. However, an important factor hindering the use of pequi oil is its low yield when extracted from the pulp of this fruit.

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Several opportunities for embryo development, stem cell maintenance, cell fate, and differentiation have emerged using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, the difficulty in comparing bovine iPSCs (biPSCs) with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) was a challenge for many years. Here, we reprogrammed fetal fibroblasts by transient expression of the four transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, collectively termed "OSKM" factors) and cultured in iPSC medium, supplemented with bFGF, bFGF2i, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), or LIF2i, and then compared these biPSC lines with bESC to evaluate the pluripotent state.

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Use of giant unilamellar lipid vesicles as antioxidant carriers in in vitro culture medium of bovine embryos.

Sci Rep

July 2022

Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology, Department of Animal Production and Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Clóvis Pestana Street, 793, Araçatuba Campus, São Paulo, 16050-680, Brazil.

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are composed of lipophilic layers and are sensitive to the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The use of GUVs as microcarriers of biological macromolecules is particularly interesting since ROS produced by gametes or embryos during in vitro culture can induce the opening of pores in the membrane of these vesicles and cause the release of their content. This study investigated the behavior of GUVs [composed of 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl)] in co-culture with in vitro produced bovine embryos, as well as their embryotoxicity and effectiveness as cysteine carriers in culture medium.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) in co-culture with -produced bovine embryos (IVPEs). The stability of five concentrations of MLVs (1.0, 1.

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Paternal effect does not affect in vitro embryo morphokinetics but modulates molecular profile.

Theriogenology

January 2022

Laboratory of Spermatozoa Biology, Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

The use of different sires influences in vitro embryo production (IVP) outcome. Paternal effects are observed from the first cleavages until after embryonic genome activation (EGA). Little is known about the mechanisms that promote in vitro fertility differences, even less about the consequences on embryo development.

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Treatment of -Matured Bovine Oocytes With Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Modulates the Oxidative Stress Signaling Pathway.

Front Cell Dev Biol

February 2021

Multi-user Laboratory of Phytomedicines Pharmacology, and Biotechnology (PhitoPharmaTec), Institute of Biosciences, Department of Pharmacology, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil.

In several species, oocyte and embryo competence are improved by the addition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitors to maturation (IVM) medium and/or culture (IVC) medium. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three concentrations of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA; 50, 200, and 1,000 μM), a chemical chaperone for relieving ER stress, during IVM of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) for 24 h. Treated oocytes were analyzed for nuclear maturation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial activity, and abundance of target transcripts.

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Transcriptional profiling of embryo cryotolerance.

Mol Reprod Dev

December 2020

Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.

The cryosurvival of embryos is a complex process involving dynamic and integrated morphological, functional, and molecular changes. Here, we evaluated the transcriptional profiling of bovine embryos possessing high and low cryotolerance (HC and LC, respectively) by assessing the resumption of development. Embryos were produced in vitro (N = 1137) and cryopreserved (N = 894).

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Previous studies have discussed the importance of an optimal range of metabolic activity during preimplantation development. To avoid factors than can trigger an undesirable trajectory, it is important to learn how nutrients and metabolites interact to help launching the correct developmental program of the embryo, and how much the in vitro culture system can impair this process. Here, using the bovine model, we describe a factorial experimental design used to investigate the biochemical and molecular signature of embryos in response to different combinations of morphological features-i.

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Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Metabolites as Mediators of DNA Methylation Reprogramming in Bovine Preimplantation Embryos.

Int J Mol Sci

September 2020

Laboratory of Embryonic Metabolism and Epigenetics, Center of Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, 09210-580 São Paulo, Brazil.

In many cell types, epigenetic changes are partially regulated by the availability of metabolites involved in the activity of chromatin-modifying enzymes. Even so, the association between metabolism and the typical epigenetic reprogramming that occurs during preimplantation embryo development remains poorly understood. In this work, we explore the link between energy metabolism, more specifically the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and epigenetic regulation in bovine preimplantation embryos.

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Autophagy is a pro-survival adaptive response to heat shock in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes.

Sci Rep

August 2020

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Bioscience, São Paulo State University (UNESP), District of Rubião Junior S/N, Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618970, Brazil.

Autophagy is a physiological mechanism that can be activated under stress conditions. However, the role of autophagy during oocyte maturation has been poorly investigated. Therefore, this study characterized the role of autophagy on developmental competence and gene expression of bovine oocytes exposed to heat shock (HS).

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Reproductive efficiency plays a major role in the long-term sustainability of livestock industries and can be improved through genetic and genomic selection. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters (heritability and genetic correlation) and identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with anti-Müllerian hormone levels (AMH) and antral follicle populations measured after estrous synchronization (AFP) in Nellore cattle. The datasets included phenotypic records for 1099 and 289 Nellore females for AFP and AMH, respectively, high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes for 944 animals, and 4129 individuals in the pedigree.

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Based on growing demand for assisted reproduction technology, improved predictive models are required to optimize in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmatic sperm injection strategies, prioritizing single embryo transfer. There are still several obstacles to overcome for the purpose of improving assisted reproductive success, such as intra- and inter-observer subjectivity in embryonic selection, high occurrence of multiple pregnancies, maternal and neonatal complications. Here, we compare studies that used several variables that impact the success of assisted reproduction, such as blastocyst morphology and morphokinetic aspects of embryo development as well as characteristics of the patients submitted to assisted reproduction, in order to predict embryo quality, implantation or live birth.

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Bona fide gene expression analysis of samples from the bovine reproductive system by microfluidic platform.

Anal Biochem

May 2020

Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo State (Unesp), Campus of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences and Languages, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Campus of Assis, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Sample types such as those from reproductive systems often yield scarce material, which limits RT-qPCR analysis to only a few targets. Recently developed high-throughput systems can potentially change this scenario, however, the nanoliter scale of such platforms requires extra processing, e.g.

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In this study, we developed an online graphical and intuitive interface connected to a server aiming to facilitate professional access worldwide to those facing problems with bovine blastocysts classification. The interface Blasto3Q, where 3Q refers to the three qualities of the blastocyst grading, contains a description of 24 variables that were extracted from the image of the blastocyst and analyzed by three Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) that classify the same loaded image. The same embryo (i.

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Purpose: Oocyte maturation is a complex process involving nuclear and cytoplasmic modulations, during which oocytes acquire their ability to become fertilized and support embryonic development. The oocyte is apparently "primed" for maturation during its development in the dominant follicle. As bovine oocytes immediately resume meiosis when cultured, it was hypothesized that delaying resumption of meiosis with cyclic nucleotide modulators before in vitro maturation (IVM) would allow the oocytes to acquire improved developmental competence.

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Follicular environment as a predictive tool for embryo development and kinetics in cattle.

Reprod Fertil Dev

March 2019

Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centre of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, Av dos Estados, 5005, CEP 09210190, Santo André, SP, Brazil.

Follicular fluid composition and the transcription pattern of granulosa cells were analysed to better comprehend associations between embryo development and morphokinetics. Bovine follicles were punctured and their respective follicular fluid and granulosa cells were collected. Cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from these follicles were matured and fertilised invitro.

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The earliest stages of embryo development are deeply influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), byproducts of the mitochondrial oxygen metabolism that play a key role as messengers in normal cell signal transduction and cell cycling. Despite its positive roles, the imbalance caused by the excess of ROS and an inefficient antioxidant system leads to oxidative stress, with negative consequences to the cell such as DNA damage, metabolic changes, mitochondrial stress and cell death. In the present work, crocetin - a natural antioxidant - was added to the culture media of bovine embryos to evaluate the efficiency of its antioxidant capability during embryo culture.

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