A5041986950- Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Ovarian function and disorders
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy Cows
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Renal and related cancers
- Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Animal health and immunology
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
University of Antwerp
2016-2025
Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre
2024
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille
2024
Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen
2015
Ghent University
2003-2013
Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde
2011
Elevated concentrations of serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), associated with maternal disorders such as obesity and type II diabetes, alter the ovarian follicular micro-environment have been subfertility arising from reduced oocyte developmental competence. We asked whether elevated NEFA during maturation affect development physiology zygotes formed oocytes, using cow a model. The were grown to blastocysts, which evaluated for their quality in terms cell number, apoptosis, expression...
STUDY QUESTIONIs the metabolic composition of follicular fluid women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART) related to serum and BMI is it associated with oocyte embryo quality?
Elevated plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations are associated with negative energy balance and metabolic disorders such as obesity type II diabetes. Such increased NEFA induce changes in the microenvironment of ovarian follicle, which can compromise oocyte competence. Exposing oocytes to elevated during maturation affects gene expression phenotype subsequent embryo, notably prompting a disrupted oxidative metabolism. We hypothesized that these embryo consequence modified...
BACKGROUNDIncreased global industrial activity has exposed humans to a wide variety of chemical substances some which, called ‘endocrine-disrupting chemicals’ (EDCs) or ‘endocrine disruptors’, can disrupt the endocrine system in body. The ovarian follicle is very fragile micro-environment where interactions between hormones, growth factors, oocyte and its surrounding somatic cells are essential generate fully competent oocyte. In vitro experiments suggest that EDCs disturb this finely tuned...
It has been well documented that the maturing oocyte is very vulnerable to changes in its micro-environment, follicular fluid (FF). Recent research focused on different components within this FF, like hormones, growth factors and metabolites, how their concentrations are altered by diet metabolic health of mother. proposed fatty acids (FAs) potential influence maturation subsequent embryo development. However, a thorough study specific FF FA composition per lipid fraction may be affected BMI...
Metabolic stress associated with negative energy balance in high producing dairy cattle and obesity women is a risk factor for decreased fertility. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are involved this pathogenesis as they jeopardize oocyte embryo development. Growing evidence indicates that maternal metabolic disorders can disturb epigenetic programming, such DNA methylation, the offspring. Oocyte maturation early development coincide methylation changes both sensitive to adverse...
BACKGROUNDObesity is associated with female reproductive abnormalities. Hyperlipidaemia might alter the embryonic micro-environment and potentially result in reduced fertility. We aimed to induce hyperlipidaemia nutritionally investigate consequences of hyperlipidaemic culture conditions on bovine vitro embryo development, quality gene expression patterns.
Since the development of in vitro embryo production cattle, different supplements have been added to culture media support development, with serum being most popular. However, addition during can induce high birthweights and low viability calves (Large Offspring Syndrome). Analysis global gene expression bovine embryos produced under conditions provide valuable information optimize for production. We used RNA sequencing examine effect production, either serum-containing or serum-free media,...
In cattle, conceptus development after elongation relies on well-characterized, paracrine interactions with the hosting maternal reproductive tract. However, it was unrecognized previously that pre-hatching, pre-implantation bovine embryo also engages in biochemical signalling uterus. Our recent work showed modified endometrial transcriptome vivo. Here, we hypothesized modulates composition of uterine luminal fluid (ULF) most cranial portion horn ipsilateral to corpus luteum. Endometrial...
Abstract STUDY QUESTION Can we use a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant (Mitoquinone) during in vitro embryo culture to rescue developmental competence of oocytes matured under lipotoxic conditions, exhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress? SUMMARY ANSWER Supplementation media with Mitoquinone reduced stress prevented uncoupling embryos derived from metabolically compromised vitro, leading higher blastocyst rates lower blastomeric apoptosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Maternal...
Unsatisfactory reproductive performance in dairy cows, such as reduced conception rates, addition to an increased incidence of early embryonic mortality, is reported worldwide and has been associated with a period negative energy balance (NEB) post partum. Typically, NEB biochemical changes high non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) low glucose concentrations. The concentrations these other metabolites the follicular fluid (FF) high-yielding cows during were determined...