PAN Olsztyn

Determination of swine oocytes and embryos quality generated from animals after different methods of estrous stimulation.

Role of  peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in regulation of reproductive functions during estrus cycle and early pregnancy.

Within cooperating grants using microassays systems to find differences in genes expression in unilaterally pregnant gilts in different periods of early pregnancy and to investigate embryo influence on maternal immune system for increasing the immunotolerance  to developing embryo.

Isolation and characterization of fish seminal proteins, such as transferrin, serine proteinase inhibitors, lipocalin, fetuin, parvalbumin and lipoproteins.

The broadening and improvement of the sperm cryopreservation methods of deer obtained under post mortem conditions and comparative research of sperm quality (epididymal and ejaculated). Research activities of the Team are also concentrated on the improvement of European bison sperm cryopreservation methods as the basis of European bison genetic bank establishing and evaluation of the effectiveness of cryopreservation after cattle oocytes heterologous fertilization in vitro and in vivo insemination to obtain the hybrids.

Determination of influence of the experimentally controlled photoperiod on growth and development of deer antlers.

Sperm cryopreservation of chosen fish species with use of proteins instead of egg yolk. Simultaneously, studies are undertaken to determine effects of albumin and casein on sperm physiology and their usefulness in short-term preservation.

Ageing of fish sperm and biology of this process. The processes in sperm in vivo and in vitro during short- and long-term preservation are examined. Research activities lead to determination of biochemical changes in seminal plasma and sperm phospholipids as well as protein degradation and phosphorylation and lipids oxidation rate. Studies in relation to the improvement of short-term preservation methods are undertaken, trying to eliminate the damaging processes during in vitro sperm preservation.

As a part of the project, until 2010 we have commenced a study concerning isolation and characterization of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from rainbow trout sperm and sturgeons. In mammalian sperm this enzyme originates from acrosome. Data concerning the origin and function of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase fish sperm are very obscure. The role of this enzyme in fertilization of fish with sperm acrosome (sturgeons) and without acrosome (teleost  – rainbow trout).