CryoStore at SYSAAF - Firouzeh Sadeghzadeh

PhD 8 - Use of cryopreserved PGCs for the restoration of the complete genetic heritage of a poultry breed: validation, cost and transfer to the industry

My name is Firouzeh Sadeghzadeh; I am from Persia (Iran). I have a master’s degree and graduated from University of Arak in the major of Cell & Developmental Biology. For my M.Sc. I selected the project called “Effect of vitamin C on spermatogenesis indexes and daily sperm production in mice treated with Dexamethasone”.

After obtaining my M.Sc. degree, I did several projects under the supervision of Prof. Malek Soleimani-Mehranjani, Prof. Saeed ChangiziAshtiani and Dr. Monireh Mahmoodi. I have written articles for national and international journals. Also, I wrote an article under the guidance of Prof. Andrew Taylor-Robinson from Central Queensland University with the title “Bovine herpes virus-1: comparison of methods for removal of a commercially important pathogen from cattle sperm, oocytes and preimplantation embryos”.

I worked as a research assistant in Biology Lab of Arak University and as a supervisor of andrology lab in Rastak fertility Clinic. My responsibility during this time included teaching, clinical work and research. As a research assistant, I assisted in lab work and accumulated, analysed and interpreted results obtained by various experiments. I collaborated with other members to address issues on the field of research and supported master's students to carry out tests, write and edit research articles according to the specific journal format. I learned techniques such as mice and rat semen analysis, DNA and RNA Extraction, cDNA Synthesis, PCR, Primer Design, cell culture, Oxidative stress and antioxidant tests (MDA, FRAP, CAT), Stereology, Histology and Immunohistochemistry. As an andrologist, I learned techniques such as human semen Analysis, semen preparation for ICSI and IUI, Sperm and Embryo Freezing/Thawing, Ovum Pick Up, Embryo transfer and DFI (DNA Fragmentation index).

Currently, I am a PhD student in the French Poultry and Aquaculture Breeders Technical Center (SYSAAF), under the guidance of Dr. Maxime Reverchon and Dr. Marina Govorun for the CryoStore project. The aim of my thesis is to restore endangered poultry breeds and securing the avian genetic heritage. This will involve carrying out cell transplantation experiments in different types of hosts, assessing their capacity to support the colonisation and maturation of PGCs into functional germ cells.