ROLE OF PREOVULATORY FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENTAL STATUS IN CATTLE FERTILITY VIA FOLLICULAR FLUID MEDIATED IMPACTS ON THE CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEX

The overarching goal of this project is to determine the functional impact of the intrafollicular fluid milieu from preovulatory follicles expected to support higher vs lower fertility outcomes on cumulus-oocyte complex(COC) metabolism and subsequent embryonic development. To this end, one objective with two subcomponents will be performed. In Objective 1A, we will treatmeiotically-inhibitedCOCs with follicular fluid collected from preovulatory follicles of estradiol levels previously determined to be of higher versus lower fertility, lower fertility follicular fluid supplemented with estradiol equivalent of higher fertility follicular fluid, and appropriate developmental, follicular fluid, and diluent controls. We will compare intraoocyte ATP and embryo development among treatments.We will also perform hypothesis generating studies in Objective 1Bto determine the impact of follicular fluidtreatments on the metabolome of oocytes, cumulus cells, blastocysts, and media, and the transcriptome of blastocysts.