The course is divided into three training units:
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND GERMPLASM CONSERVATION IN ANIMAL AND HUMAN
Topics:
-Overview on the anatomy of male and female reproductive system.
-Reproductive endocrinology: Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Gonadotropins, steroid hormones.
-Reproductive physiology: folliculogenesis, oogenesis, ovulation. Spermatogenesis.
-Preimplantation embryo development. Reproductive cycle: estrus cycles, menstrual cycle.
-Hormonal control of ovarian cycle: synchronization and superovulation, artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET).
-Setting up an ART Laboratory: equipment and materials.
-Ovum pick up. Ex-vivo oocyte retrieval. Oocyte selection. Setting up in vitro maturation systems (IVM).
-Collection and evaluation of semen. Setting up in vitro fertilization (IVF, FIVET) systems. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
-Evaluation of embryo cleavage and embryo quality. Setting up embryo culture (IVC) systems.
-Oocyte and embryo manipulation: embryo splitting, cloning by nuclear transfer.
-Cryopreservation of gametes, embryos and ovarian tissue. Freezing and vitrification methods.
MOLECULAR EMBRYOLOGY AND PREIMPLANTATION DIAGNOSIS
Topics:
-Molecular aspects of mammalian gametogenesis, fertilization and preimplantation embryo development.
-Impriting and epigenetic regulation of gene expression.
-Overview of potential molecular effects of in vitro reproductive biotechnologies.
-Principal techniques of preimplantation embryo diagnosis.
TRANGENESIS AND BIOREACTORS
Topics:
-Different systems for the production of transgenic animals.
-Gene insertion and evaluation of the expression gene level after gene transfer.
-Gene targeting and quantification of organ specific gene expression.
-Creation of transgenic animals for different application in veterinary and biomedical area.