Assisted Reproduction Techniques Applied to the Management of Laboratory Animal Strains
Code: 103975 ECTS Credits: 3| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2502445 Veterinary Medicine | OT | 5 | 0 |
Contact
- Name:
- Francesca Vidal Domínguez
- Email:
- Francesca.Vidal@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Manel López Béjar
- Josep Santaló Pedro
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course. However, in order to ensure the proper the achievement of the learning aims, it is recommended that students have basic knowledge about reproductive technologies and techniques related to this discipline.
It is common to use sources of information in English and it is recommended that students have a good knowledge of this language.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The aims are to provide students with updated knowledge of assisted reproduction methodologies and procedures applied in laboratory animals, as well as practical applications used for the expansion, recovery, maintenance and management of strains.
The main training objectives of the subject are:
- To know the techniques of assisted reproduction and the procedures of in vitro manipulation of gametes and embryos
- To understand the importance of the application of these technologies in the management of colonies and strains of laboratory animals
Competences
- Demonstrate generic knowledge of animals, their behaviour and the bases of their identification.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the biological characteristics of the different species that are most frequently used in experimentation.
Content
Theoretical lessons
1. Introduction. Formation of gametes, fertilization and pre-implantation embryo development: an update
2. Reproduction of laboratory animals. Reproductive cycles in males. Reproductive cycles in females. Gestation and Reproductive efficiency of different species and strains.
3. Techniques of assisted reproduction I. Superovulation. Scheduled crossings. Recovery of preimplantation embryos from the female tract.
4. Assisted reproduction techniques II. Artificial insemination.. “In vitro” oocyte maturation. Sperm recovery. “In vitro” fertilization (IVF). Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). "In vitro" embryo culture
5. Embryo transfer. Preparation of pseudopregnant females. Vasectomy of males. Embryo transfer procedures.
6. Criopreservation. Characteristics of the freezing and thawing protocols. Vitrification. Cryopreservation of sperm. Cryopreservation of oocytes. Cryopreservation of embryos. Management of gamete and embryo banks.
7. “In vitro” manipulation of preimplantation embryos. Preimplantation genetic characterization. Production of chimeras. Parthenogenesis. Pronuclear transfer. Cloning: embryonic partition and nuclear transfer
8. Practical applications for the management of laboratory animal strains
Practical lessons
Obtention and manipulation of gametes: superovulation, oocyte recovery epididymal sperm recovery.
Sperm capacitation
Obtention and “in vitro” culture of embryos.
Embryo manipulation: cloning by embryo blastomere isolation
Cryopreservation of gametes and embryos. Survival evaluation.
Surgical techniques: vasectomy, embryo transfer
Audiovisual tutorials
Unless the requirements enforced by the health authorities demand a prioritization or reduction of these contents
Methodology
The subject "Tècniques de Reproducció Assistida aplicades a la gestió d’animals de laboratori” includes theoretical and practical lessons.
Theoretical lessons
The content of the theory program will be mainly taught in the form of lectures with audiovisual support. The last topic of the program will consist in a case resolution. Presentations used by the teacher will be previously available on the UAB-Virtual Campus platform. It is highly recommended to use this material as a teaching support.
Although it is not essential to extend the content of the program, students are advised to use recommended bibliographic references to consolidate the knowledge of the subjects taught.
In addition to the attendance to the sessions, the follow-up of the subjects will imply active participation and self-learning from the student and to prepare several subjects of the program.
Laboratory training
Practical classes are designed to acquire solid knowledge of the basic methodologies used in this field and intended to be a complement of the theoretical sessions. The students will attend 13 hours of training, distributed in 5 sessions. They will work in groups of 2 students and a questionnaire will be compiled during the lab sessions.
A syllabus of the sessions will be available on the Virtual Campus platform.
During the practical sessions, students must bring their own syllabus and their own lab coat. Students must complete the laboratory safety and biosecurity tests.
Tutorships
Tutorship sessions will be scheduled on student’s requests.
The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Laboratory practical sessions | 13 | 0.52 | 1 |
| Lectures | 12 | 0.48 | 1 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorship | 2 | 0.08 | 1 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study and self learning concepts | 45 | 1.8 | 1 |
Assessment
To pass the subject a weighted final grade equal to or greater than 5 points (out of 10) it will be needed. To pass the subject, attendance to the practical sessions is mandatory
Examination of theoretical contents
The content of the theoretical part will be evaluated by a multiple-choice test. The note of this part corresponds to 50% of the final mark. The totality of the topics taught in the theoretical classes will be evaluated. A minimum score of 4 out of 10 in this examination is required to pass the course.
Evaluation of practical sessions
The note of this part corresponds to 40% of the final mark. By the end of the laboratory practice sessions, students will need to have answered a questionnaire
Attendance to practical sessions is mandatory.
Resolution of supposition cases
The note of this part corresponds to 10% of the final. The objective of the activity is that the student integrates the knowledge acquired through the resolution of a supposition case. It will consist in the elaboration of a design to solve the case. The students will have to submit a written report developed on their own (1 to 3 students).
Retake exam
There will be a retake examination for those students who have not passed the theoretical contents exam or who have not attended the previous exam. The examination methodology may be different from the one used in previous evaluations.
A minimum score of 4 out of 10 in this examination is required to pass the course.
Non evaluable
Students who have not attend the theoretical exam, or the recovery exam, will be considered as "No evaluable”
Examination review
Exam revision will be by appointment with the teachers and on the dates suggested.
Student’s assessment may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case report | 10 | 0.5 | 0.02 | 1 |
| Evaluation of laboratory sessions | 40 | 1 | 0.04 | 1 |
| Examination of theoretical sessions | 50 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1 |
Bibliography
De Jonge C, Barratt C. (Eds). The sperm cell. Cambridge University Press. New York. 2006
Gardner D.K. et al. (Eds.). Textbook of assisted Reproductive Techniques. Martin Dunitz Pub. Hampshire. 2001.
Gupta S.K. et al. (Eds.) Gamete Biology. Emerging frontiers in Fertility and Contraceptive Development. Nottingham University Press. Nottingham. 2007.
Hafez B. and Hafez E.S.E. (Eds.).Reproduction in farm animals. 7th edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. USA. 2000.
Johnson M.H. and Everitt B.J. (Eds.) Essential Reproduction. 5th Edition. Blackwell Science. Oxford. 2005.
Nagy A, Gertsenstein M, Vintersten K, Behringer R. Manipulating the mouse embryo (Third Edition). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Cold Spring Harbor,New York. 2003.
Ruberte J, Carretero A, Navarro M. Morphological mouse phenotype: anatomy, histology and imaging. Editorial Medica Panamericana, S.A., Madrid, Spain (2017)
Reprinted edition published and distributed by Elsevier, Inc. in cooperation with Editorial Medica Panamericana (2017): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780128128053.
Thibault C., Levasseur M.C., Hunter R.H.F. (Eds.) Reproduction in Mammals and Man. Ellipses, Paris. 1993.
Wolf D.P. and Zelinski-Wooten M. (Eds.). Assisted fertilization and nuclear transfer in mammals. Humana Press. New Jersey. USA. 2001.
Along the course, specific bibliography will be recommended for the preparation of sections of the syllabus by the students.
Reviews and updated papers will be recommended during the course.
Web links containing rigorous and up-to-date information will be suggested.