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    Laura Favetta

    Laura Favetta Picture

    Associate Professor

    Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Biomedical Sciences

    lfavetta@uoguelph.ca
    (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56212
    Office:OVCE Rm 3621

    BSc (Milan), PhD (Guelph)

    Lab: OVC Biomed 3638
    519-824-4120 Ext. 58261

    Research Interests

    • Effect of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs), such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and oxidative stressors on gene expression and molecular mechanisms regulating early embryonic development and cell proliferation/arrest.
    • Effect of cannabinoids (THC) on gamete competence and fertilization capability and pre-implantation embryonic development.

    Current Graduate Students

    • Alexis Didomizio - MBS
    • Nathan Galvao - MSc
    • Fiona McIlhargey - PhD
    • Samantha Mohr - MBS
    • Sarah Porter - MBS
    • Eden Wackerlin - MSc

    Selected Publications

    • Goncalves TM., Scandlan OLM., Watson CB., Davis OS., McIlhargey FK., Sabry R. and Favetta LA. (2025) Are BPA effects on Connexins and key downstream microRNAs in bovine COCs correlated to miR-21 expression? Reproductive Biology. May 20;25(2):101026. doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2025.101026. Online ahead of print
    • Davis OS., Scandlan OLM., Potestio EA., Robinson C., Hickey KD., Ross M. and Favetta LA. (2025) Impact of BPA and its analogs on sperm hyperactivity, acrosome reaction, epigenetic profiles and in vitro embryo development. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. Apr 17:112555. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2025.112555. Online ahead of print.
    • Kuzma-Hunt AG., Sabry R., Davis OS., Troung VB., Khokhar JY., Favetta LA. (2024) THC and Sperm: impact on fertilization capability, pre-implantation in vitro development and epigenetic modifications. PLoS ONE Mar 27;19(3):e0298697. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298697. eCollection 2024.
    • Sabry R., Gallo JF., Rooney C., Scandlan OLM., Davis OS., Amin S., Faghih M., Karnis M., Neal MS. and Favetta LA. (2024) Genetic and epigenetic profiles of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and in vitro bisphenol exposure in a human granulosa cell model. Biomedicines. Jan 21;12(1):237. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12010237.
    • Sabry R., May DR. and Favetta LA. (2023) The relationship between miR-21, DNA Methylation, and Bisphenol A in Bovine COCs and Granulosa Cells. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Nov 15;11:1294541. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1294541
    • Patel RH., Truong VB., Sabry R., Acosta JE., McCahill K., Favetta LA. (2023) SMAD signaling pathway is disrupted by BPA via the AMH Receptor in Bovine Granulosa Cells. Biol Reprod. Sep 19:ioad125. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioad125. Online ahead of print.
    • Davis OS., Truong VB., Hickey KD. and Favetta LA. (2023) Quality of fresh and cryopreserved bovine sperm is reduced by BPA and BPF exposure. Reprod Fertil. 2023 Sep 1:RAF-23-0018. doi: 10.1530/RAF-23-0018. Online ahead of print.
    • Sabry R., Williams M., LaMarre J. and Favetta LA. (2023) Granulosa cells undergo BPA-induced apoptosis in a miR-21-independent manner. Exp Cell Res 427(1), 113574 doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113574.
    • Truong VB., Davis OS., Gracey J., Neal MS., Khokhar JY. and Favetta LA. (2023) Sperm capacitation and transcripts levels are altered by in vitro THC exposure. BMC Molecular and Cell Biology. Feb 23;24(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s12860-023-00468-3.
    • Kourmaeva E., Sabry R. and Favetta LA. (2022) Bisphenols A and F, but not S, Induce Apoptosis in Bovine Granulosa Cells Via the Intrinsic Mitochondrial Pathway. Front. Endocrinol. 13:1028438. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1028438
    • Sabry R., Williams M., Werry N., LaMarre J. and Favetta LA. (2022) BPA decreases PDCD4 in bovine granulosa cells independently of miR-21 inhibition. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23,8276. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijms23158276
    • Sabry R., Nguyen M., Younes S. and Favetta LA. (2022) BPA and its analogs increase oxidative stress levels in in vitro cultured granulosa cells by dysregulating anti-oxidant enzymes expression. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Jan 20;545:111574. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2022.111574.
    • Nguyen M., Sabry R., Davis OS. and Favetta LA. (2022) BPA, BPS and BPF effects on oxidative stress and anti-oxidant enzymes expression in bovine oocytes and spermatozoa. Genes (Basel) Jan 14;13(1):142. doi: 10.3390/genes13010142.
    • Saleh AC., Sabry R., Mastromonaco GF. and Favetta LA. (2021). BPA and BPS affect the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and its receptor during bovine oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology Journal, 19 (1)., doi: 10.1186/s12958-021-00773-6.
    • Misner MJ., Taborek A., Dufour J., Sharifi L., Khokhar JY. and Favetta LA. (2021). Effects of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on Oocyte Competence and Early Embryonic Development. Frontiers in Toxicology. 3: 647918.
    • Sabry R., Saleh AC., Stalker L., LaMarre J., Favetta LA. (2021). Effects of bisphenol A and bisphenol S on microRNA expression during bovine (Bos taurus) oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Reproductive Toxicology. 99: 96-108.