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Pasquariello R, Bogliolo L, Di Filippo F, Leoni GG, Nieddu S, Podda A, Brevini TAL, Gandolfi F. Use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to shorten the generational interval in ruminants: current status and perspectives. Theriogenology 2024; 225:16-32. [PMID: 38788626 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The challenges posed by climate change and increasing world population are stimulating renewed efforts for improving the sustainability of animal production. To meet such challenges, the contribution of genomic selection approaches, in combination with assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), to spreading and preserving animal genetics is essential. The largest increase in genetic gain can be achieved by shortening the generation interval. This review provides an overview of the current status and progress of advanced ARTs that could be applied to reduce the generation time in both female and male of domestic ruminants. In females, the use of juvenile in vitro embryo transfer (JIVET) enables to generate offspring after the transfer of in vitro produced embryos derived from oocytes of prepubertal genetically superior donors reducing the generational interval and acceleration genetic gain. The current challenge is increasing in vitro embryo production (IVEP) from prepubertal derived oocytes which is still low and variable. The two main factors limiting IVEP success are the intrinsic quality of prepubertal oocytes and the culture systems for in vitro maturation (IVM). In males, advancements in ARTs are providing new strategies to in vitro propagate spermatogonia and differentiate them into mature sperm or even to recapitulate the whole process of spermatogenesis from embryonic stem cells. Moreover, the successful use of immature cells, such as round spermatids, for intracytoplasmic injection (ROSI) and IVEP could allow to complete the entire process in few months. However, these approaches have been successfully applied to human and mouse whereas only a few studies have been published in ruminants and results are still controversial. This is also dependent on the efficiency of ROSI that is limited by the current isolation and selection protocols of round spermatids. In conclusion, the current efforts for improving these reproductive methodologies could lead toward a significant reduction of the generational interval in livestock animals that could have a considerable impact on agriculture sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolando Pasquariello
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Luisa Bogliolo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Filippo
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Nieddu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Andrea Podda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Tiziana A L Brevini
- Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
| | - Fulvio Gandolfi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
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Martins CF, Silva AEDF, Dode MN, Rumpf R, Cumpa HCB, Silva CG, Pivato I. Morphological characterization and conservation of bovine spermatogenic cells by refrigeration at 4°C and freezing using different cryoprotective molecules. Cryobiology 2015; 71:47-53. [PMID: 26049113 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were study a practical method to characterize bovine spermatogenic cells and test the efficiency cells conservation by refrigeration at 4°C and cryopreservation in different solutions using two cooling curves. Cellular identification was performing by analysis of shape, size and morphology, associated with nucleus positioning and nuclear-cytoplasm ratio (NCR). Cellular samples were kept at 4°C for a period of 96 h in refrigeration solution and every 24h plasma membrane and DNA integrity were evaluated. Cryopreservation of cells was carried out using solutions containing 10% Dimethyl sulfoxide, 5% Dimethylformamide, 7% Glycerol and 7% Ethylene glycol, using a controlled and non-controlled cooling curve. Results of cellular characterization demonstrated that spermatocytes II presented a cylindrical shape, NCR of 1:1.5 and diameter ranging from 14.5 to 17.5 μm. Round spermatids presented diameter ranging from 7.6 to 13.4 μm, acrosomal cap and NCR of 1:2. Elongation and elongated spermatids showed to marked divergence in shape. There was a daily significant loss of viability of cooled cells until third day of storage, however they presented 72.77±5.16% viability after 4 days of storage at 4°C. There was no difference among the cryoprotectant solutions and cooling curves. In conclusion we demonstrated that association of microscopes and staining was a practical method to identify bovine spermatogenic cells. Furthermore, refrigeration at 4°C is an important strategy to preserve over 70% of viable cells after 4 days and cryopreservation, regardless of cryoprotectant solution or cooling curve used, can maintain over 50% of cells viable.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Martins
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Center for Technology Transference of Zebu Dairy Cows-CTZL, Embrapa Cerrados, DF 180, Km 18, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
| | | | - M N Dode
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
| | - R Rumpf
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
| | - H C B Cumpa
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Center for Technology Transference of Zebu Dairy Cows-CTZL, Embrapa Cerrados, DF 180, Km 18, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
| | - C G Silva
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Center for Technology Transference of Zebu Dairy Cows-CTZL, Embrapa Cerrados, DF 180, Km 18, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil; University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
| | - I Pivato
- University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
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