USE OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNIQUES FOR FORMATION OF A GERMOPLASM BANK OF MARAJOARA BREED EQUINES ON MARAJÓ ISLAND
ICSI, Marajoara equine, Sperman, Embryon
The conservation of Marajoara horses, native to Marajó Island, is essential due to their regional importance and adaptation to adverse local conditions. To preserve these genetic resources, the use of assisted reproduction biotechnologies, combined with genetic evaluation, has proven to be an effective approach in the formation of germplasm banks. These techniques allow the conservation of high-quality genetic material, ensuring the maintenance of genetic variability and helping to prevent the loss of character of the breed caused by interbreeding. Little is known about sperm and embryos in this species, however, sperm and embryos in horses are essential for the reproduction and preservation of the genetics of the species. Sperm quality directly influences the fertilization rate, and is assessed by parameters such as motility, morphology and integrity of the plasma membrane. Cryopreservation of semen is widely used for artificial insemination, allowing genetic conservation and the dissemination of high-value reproductive material. Reproductive biotechnology applied to equine embryos includes techniques such as embryo transfer, in vitro oocyte maturation and fertilization (ICSI). These strategies are essential to increase reproductive efficiency. In this context, the objective of this project is to evaluate the sperm pattern and embryo quality in Marajoara horses