Embryo Transfer

Summary

Dr. Neil Schreek and his team at UT AgResearch have developed a breakthrough in cattle reproduction through embryo transfers. By using a receptor antagonist, AL 8810, they protect embryos from prostaglandin F2 alpha, improving pregnancy rates and preventing pregnancy loss. This innovation, licensed to Embryo Armor LLC, offers cattle farmers a way to enhance genetic potential, potentially increasing the number of calves born per cow annually from one to as many as ten.

Takeaways

• 🧪 Dr. Neil Schrick, a researcher at UT AgResearch, has performed thousands of embryo transfers in cattle and focuses on improving reproductive health in herds.
• 🐄 Embryos, some over two decades old, are stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at the Johnson Animal Research Teaching Unit.
• 🔬 Dr. Schrick and his team are studying ways to improve pregnancy rates and prevent pregnancy loss during embryo transfer, a common issue in the field.
• 🌱 The team is investigating the use of two types of hormone, prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin F2 alpha, in the process of embryo transfer.
• 🛡️ They have identified a receptor antagonist, AL 8810, which can protect the embryo from harmful prostaglandin F2 alpha, acting as a 'bubble wrap' for the developing fetus.
• 🏫 The technology was developed and validated at the UT Agriculture campus and the East Tennessee Plateau and Highland Rim AG Research Centers.
• 📝 Dr. Schrick and his team worked with UT's Research Foundation to patent the receptor antagonist AL 8810.
• 🏢 The private company Embryo Armor LLC has licensed the technology from the UT Research Foundation, making it more accessible to cattle farmers.
• 📈 The development of this technology could significantly increase the reproductive rates of cattle, potentially leading to five to ten calves per year instead of one.
• 👨‍🎓 Students from Dr. Schrick's reproductive technologies class observe and learn to perform embryo transfers, gaining hands-on experience in the field.
• 🌐 The research aims to benefit cattle farmers globally, from small producers with a few cows to large operations with thousands.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of storing embryos in liquid nitrogen tanks?

The main purpose is to preserve the embryos for long-term storage, allowing cattle farmers to use them for embryo transfers to improve reproductive rates and genetics in their herds.

What is Dr. Neil Schrick's role in the process of embryo transfers?

Dr. Neil Schrick performs thousands of embryo transfers with cattle and is concerned with the reproductive health of herds. He also educates students on the procedure through his reproductive technologies class.

Why are students from Dr. Schrick's class observing and learning to perform pregnancy checks on cows?

Observing and performing pregnancy checks provides hands-on experience and practical knowledge to the students, which is essential for understanding and applying reproductive technologies in real-world scenarios.

What is the issue with embryo transfers that Dr. Schrick and his team have been studying?

The issue is the considerable loss and lower pregnancy rates associated with embryo transfers compared to other breeding methods, such as artificial insemination with a boar.

How do embryo transfers boost reproductive rates and overall genetics?

Embryo transfers allow for the multiplication of genetically superior cattle by transferring embryos into multiple recipient females, thus increasing the number of offspring from top genetics.

What are the two types of hormones that UT Agri researchers are working with in relation to embryo transfers?

The researchers are working with Prostaglandin E1 and Prostaglandin F2 alpha, focusing on the protective effects of the former and the harmful effects of the latter on embryos.

Why is Prostaglandin F2 alpha considered harmful to the embryo during the transfer process?

Prostaglandin F2 alpha can attack the embryo, causing pregnancy loss. The researchers aim to prevent this by using a receptor antagonist to protect the embryo.

What is AL 8810, and how does it function in the context of embryo transfers?

AL 8810 is a receptor antagonist to Prostaglandin F2 alpha. It binds to the hormone, creating a protective barrier around the embryo, similar to bubble wrap, during the transfer process.

How did the technology involving AL 8810 move from the lab to practical application?

The technology started in labs at the UT Agriculture campus, was validated with testing at the East Tennessee Plateau and Highland Rim AG Research Centers, and then patented through UT's Research Foundation.

What is the role of Embryo Armor LLC in the development and application of the AL 8810 technology?

Embryo Armor LLC purchased the license for the receptor antagonist AL 8810 from the UT Research Foundation, making it easier for cattle farmers to benefit from this technology.

How does the development of the AL 8810 technology impact cattle farmers and the cattle industry?

The technology allows for more successful embryo transfers, leading to increased pregnancy rates and the potential for cattle to give birth to more calves per year, thus enhancing the genetic potential and productivity of the herds.