Broadcast Date: September 22nd, 2016
Time: 17:00 CEST, 11:00 am ET, 8:00 am PT

The adult mammalian ovary contains thousands of oocytes, yet only very few will be ovulated and able to support embryonic development until birth. Why are so many oocytes eliminated? What makes an oocyte of good or bad quality? With approximately 15% of couples of reproductive age needing assisted reproductive technologies to conceive and one-third of female oncology patients at risk of developing premature ovarian failure, scientists are searching for improved methods to quickly and accurately assess a patient’s current fertility status. In recent years, researchers have begun to look at an array of DNA and/or protein biomarkers that will provide them with important insight into proper oocyte development, and ultimately improve the fertility outlook for individuals who have had previous struggles.

Join us for this exciting GEN webinar as Professor Maurizio Zuccotti discusses recent findings about the biochemical pathways regulating the growth of mammalian oocytes, and the cytological and molecular markers that could help to identify those that are competent to sustain development.

Who Should Attend

  • Reproductive and developmental biologists
  • Cell biologists
  • Clinicians working in the field of artificial reproductive technology
  • Scientists curious about fertility and oocyte development

You Will Learn

  • How qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry of single-cell oocytes are used to study specific gene or protein expression.
  • About transcriptomic analysis of oocytes using microarrays.
  • The application of systematic measurements for cytoplasmic movements with a technology that combines bright-field time-lapse microscopy with image-based analysis.
  • The use of an artificial neural network to automate the recognition of developmentally competent or incompetent oocytes.
  • How water quality may impact experimental results, specifically as it pertains to oocyte and embryo research.

Produced with support from:

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Panelists

Prof. Maurizio Zuccotti,
Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo
University of Parma and University of Pavia, Italy

Estelle Riché, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Lab Water Application Group
Millipore SAS, France