Thesis supervisor: Szabolcs Nagy
Location of studies (in Hungarian): MATE Institute of Animal S iences, Georgikon Campus Abbreviation of location of studies: GC
Description of the research topic:
A reliable laboratory assay that can predict fertility in the field has been one of the main goals of researchers in the field of reproductive biology since the first applications of Artificial Insemination (AI). Good sperm quality is essential for the success of fertilization. During routine analysis of sperm quality, concentration, percentage of motile spermatozoa and sperm morphology are the commonly investigated traits. Flow cytometry offers a highly repeatable technique for measuring several sperm attributes simultaneously, including plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function, chromatin structure,. Flow cytometric assays are fully automatized, quick (measuring thousands of cells per second), and precise (each test result is based on the evaluation of several tens of thousands of individual cells). Flow cytometers are able to do multiparameter analyses on every single cell. The main goal of this research project would be flow cytometric testing of the integrity of different sperm domains (plasma membrane, acrosome, mitochondria and chromatin) on different vertebrate species, mainly on bulls and boars. Semen samples would be tested in the laboratory by conventional methods (subjective and computer-assisted motility analyses) and by flow cytometry to measure plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and to measure early membrane changes within the viable sperm subpopulation. Moreover, assays would be applied to test the effects of reactive oxygen species on the lipids of the plasma membrane, and the status of the sperm chromatin would be studied, too. Each test would be investigated for its usefulness in field fertility prediction, and then using a multicolor-multiparameter approach, domain-specific tests would be combined to create a multiparameter assay. A diagnostic/prognostic statistical approach would be used with every single assay and their combinations, sensitivity and specificity would be calculated to establish their validity, and positive/negative predictive values and observed prevalence would be calculated to test their usefulness.
Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-05-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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