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Placental microstructure and efficiency in cloned bovines: a design-based stereological approach

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Abstract

Somatic nuclear transfer allows scientists to produce identical copies of individuals (clones) and offers the potential for research in various fields. However, the production of cloned bovines is inefficient, partly because of high rates of embryonic mortality associated with abnormal placental development, although the exact mechanisms are still unclear. In the present study, we have applied design-based stereological methods to quantify placental morphology in cloned and non-cloned Nelore bovines (280–297 days of gestation). We have found no differences for any of the following parameters: number and volume of placentomes, villous volume and surface area, volume and number of star volume units and placental efficiency. Therefore, placental deficiency is unlikely to be attributable to its villous component. Nevertheless, new studies should focus on other placental constituents, e.g. capillaries, trophoblast cells and feto-maternal exchange surface area.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to Prof. Terry Mayhew (Nottingham, UK) for practical advice on stereological methods and organ sampling and for help with interpreting results. A.A.C.M.R. thanks Prof. Flávio Vieira Meirelles from the Departamento de Ciências Básicas, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos in Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil, for producing all the cloned bovines used in this investigation. P.M.O.L. is also grateful to Prof. Maria Angélica Miglino.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Stochastic Stereology and Chemical Anatomy, Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil

    Antonio Augusto Coppi Maciel Ribeiro & Procássia Maria de Oliveira Lacerda

  2. Department of Statistics, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mariana Pereira de Melo

  3. Department of Basic Science, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil

    Júlio César de Carvalho Balieiro

  4. Physical Education Post-graduate Course, São Judas Tadeu University, São Paulo, Brazil

    Romeu Rodrigues de Souza

  5. Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, Brazil, CEP: 05508–270

    Antonio Augusto Coppi Maciel Ribeiro

Authors
  1. Antonio Augusto Coppi Maciel Ribeiro
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  2. Procássia Maria de Oliveira Lacerda
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  3. Mariana Pereira de Melo
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  4. Júlio César de Carvalho Balieiro
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  5. Romeu Rodrigues de Souza
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Augusto Coppi Maciel Ribeiro.

Additional information

A.A.C.M.R. and P.M.O.L. thank Fapesp (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) for financial support (application number: 04/04045–0).

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Ribeiro, A.A.C.M., de Oliveira Lacerda, P.M., Pereira de Melo, M. et al. Placental microstructure and efficiency in cloned bovines: a design-based stereological approach. Cell Tissue Res 333, 105–114 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-008-0626-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-008-0626-4

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