Projects Profile
Project Title
Development of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Products to improve embryo development and success rate of embryo transplantation
Partnership
Dr Ali Fouladi-Nashta from Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Prof. Zuoting Yan, from Lanzhou institute of animal science & Veterinary Pharmaceutics Science
Project Aim
Royal Veterinary College London and Lanzhou Institute are partnering to develop Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCM) products which improve fertility by improvement in survival rate by control and prevention of embryonic death in dairy cows. This will lead to increase in birth rate of embryo as well as maximizing reproductive performance and improving economy of British and Chinese dairy industries.
Inspiration for the projects
Low fertility is a pervasive problem; affecting both farm animal species and human. It is caused by embryo death before or soon after implantation and establishment of pregnancy. The death of embryo or fetus and abortion results in decrease of reproductive performance and severe economic loss in animal production husbandry. In dairy cattle, the rate of embryo death between days 0 to 7 after mating is about 30%. This rate increases to 40% in the periods between day 8 to 17 when the embryo is in the uterus and prepares for attachment to the uterine wall.
While many factors may cause embryonic death, our investigations show that TCMs with function of invigorating the kidney for anti-abortion can improve success rate of embryo implantation after transfer of embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in human. However, effect of TCMs on fertilization and embryonic development is still unknown. This project will use the knowledge from human to assess the effects of TCMs in increasing pregnancy and reducing embryo death or abortion in dairy cows.
Commercial Potential and Further Development
This project will bring together expertise in mammalian embryology and factors which influence embryo survival and pregnancy rate at the Royal Veterinary College with extensive knowledge of using traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of infertility at Lanzhou institute of animal science & Veterinary Pharmaceutics Science.
The collaboration will enable us to combine modern theory and technology with TCM theory and experiences. The advantages of both veterinary medicine systems will be combined to achieve the improvement of animal reproduction. By completing the proposed project, more effective and environmental friendly products will be generated. The experimental results can be used in two typical management systems. This will improve the reliability and relevance of any results obtained and widens market worldwide for the future products.
TCM products are actually natural products with good effects and with no or negligible side effects, such as residues. This will also produce environmental benefits via increasing efficiency of animal reproduction, especially in dairy cow industry, to reduce the wastage.
