Time-lapse imaging and software to monitor and predict embryonic health and viability

用于监测和预测胚胎健康和活力的延时成像和软件

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00267
• 负责人: Madan, Pavneesh
• 金额: $ 9.51万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693431
• 关键词: Time; lapse; imaging; software; monitor

Canadian cattle industry generates over $ 40 billion annually, through direct and indirect revenue. While the Canadian dairy industry is a key driver of our national economy and represents one of the largest agri-food industries in the country, Canada's export of red meat and livestock is the highest in the world. To maintain this competitive edge, improvements in the reproductive biotechnologies are imperative as they ensure faster multiplication of germplasm as well as higher productivity. ******The biggest question facing bovine embryologists today is, which embryo should I transfer back into a cow or which embryo should be assigned for preservation so that it is robust enough to face the hardship and rigours of cryopreservation? Unfortunately, there is still no definite answer for this question. Conventional methods of embryo selection are still dependent on morphological evaluation and this procedure is still related to higher levels of early embryonic failures and productivity losses in cattle. Invasive methods of embryo selection like embryo biopsy, embryo karyotyping etc. have been evaluated but their effect on improving the selection process is still highly debated. ******A new method of embryo selection, which combines assessment of morphology with cleavage kinetics has been recently developed and this method banks on assessing the timing of specific events such as pronuclear formation, syngamy, early cleavage events, cell cycle intervals, synchronicity of cell division and initiation of blastocyst formation through a non-invasive approach. This is done by culturing embryos in a personalized chamber with its own time-lapse imaging system so that timing of each morphogenetic event (cleavage, morula formation, blastocyst formation) can be monitored, documented and timing between these events (inter-cleavage intervals) can be analysed for each embryo. Application of this technique in human labs has yielded very promising results however, such a technique has not been applied for evaluation of bovine embryos as yet. We intend to be the first lab in the world to use this apparatus for bovine embryo evaluation and test if we can select embryos for their developmental competence, viability and health. The aim of this proposal therefore is to improve the current understanding of time-lapse monitoring in a bovine IVF laboratory and to discuss the evidence regarding morpho-kinetics as a predictive method for blastocyst formation, embryo viability and developmental competence in bovine. **

加拿大养牛业每年通过直接和间接收入产生超过400亿美元。虽然加拿大乳制品行业是我国国民经济的关键驱动力，也是该国最大的农业食品行业之一，但加拿大的红肉和牲畜出口量是世界上最高的。为了保持这种竞争优势，必须改进生殖生物技术，因为它们确保种质的更快繁殖和更高的生产力。 ** 今天牛胚胎学家面临的最大问题是，我应该把哪个胚胎移植回奶牛体内，或者哪个胚胎应该被分配保存，以便它足够强壮，能够面对冷冻保存的困难和严酷？不幸的是，这个问题仍然没有明确的答案。传统的胚胎选择方法仍然依赖于形态学评价，并且该程序仍然与较高水平的早期胚胎失败和牛的生产力损失有关。已经评估了胚胎选择的侵入性方法，如胚胎活检，胚胎核型分析等，但它们对改善选择过程的作用仍然存在高度争议。** 最近开发了一种新的胚胎选择方法，该方法将形态学评估与卵裂动力学相结合，该方法通过非侵入性方法评估特定事件的时间，例如原核形成，融合，早期卵裂事件，细胞周期间隔，细胞分裂的同步性和囊胚形成的起始。这是通过在具有自己的延时成像系统的个性化腔室中培养胚胎来完成的，以便可以监测、记录每个形态发生事件（卵裂、桑椹胚形成、胚泡形成）的时间，并且可以分析每个胚胎的这些事件（卵裂间隔）之间的时间。该技术在人类实验室中的应用已经取得了非常有希望的结果，然而，这种技术尚未应用于牛胚胎的评估。我们打算成为世界上第一个使用这种设备进行牛胚胎评估和测试的实验室，如果我们可以选择胚胎的发育能力，生存能力和健康状况。因此，本建议的目的是提高目前的理解，在牛体外受精实验室的时间推移监测和讨论的证据有关的形态动力学作为一种预测方法，在牛的囊胚形成，胚胎活力和发育能力。**