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Embryonic genotype and inbreeding affect preimplantation development in cattle

Embryonic genotype and inbreeding affect preimplantation development in cattle
Embryonic genotype and inbreeding affect preimplantation development in cattle
Infertility in cattle herds is a growing problem with multifactorial causes. Embryonic genotype and level of inbreeding are amongst the many factors that can play a role on reproductive efficiency. To investigate this issue we produced purebred and crossbred bovine embryos by in vitro techniques from Holstein oocytes and Holstein or Brown Swiss semen to investigate several cellular and molecular features. In the first experiment purebred and crossbred embryos, obtained from abattoir oocytes, were analysed for cleavage, development to morula/blastocyst stages, amino acid metabolism and gene expression of developmentally important genes. The results indicated significant differences in the percentage of compacted morulae, in the expression of three genes at the blastocyst stage (MnSOD, gp130 and FGF4) and in the utilisation of serine, asparagine, methionine and tryptophan by day 6 embryos. In the second experiment bovine oocytes were collected by Ovum Pick Up from ten Holstein donors and fertilized with the semen of the respective Holstein sires or with Brown Swiss semen. The derived embryos were grown in vitro up to day 7, then were transferred in synchronized recipients and recovered on day 12. We found that purebred/inbred embryos had lower blastocyst rate on day 7-8, were smaller on day 12 and had lower expression of the trophoblast gene PLAC8. Overall these results indicate reduced and delayed development of purebred embryos as compared to crossbred embryos. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that embryo genotype and high inbreeding can affect amino acid metabolism, preimplantation development and therefore fertility in cattle.
bovine, embryo, genotype, inbreeding, infertility
0022-4251
625-632
Lazzari, G.
47b225ff-55da-408c-9b6e-910928bd2d4e
Colleoni, S.
906ef660-9f7b-430c-b224-df3a291ce511
Duchi, R.
954c7900-3371-445d-89d5-256731fd8b6e
Galli, A.
4da0ed72-21ac-4d40-8165-88e8bfcb0127
Houghton, F.D.
53946041-127e-45a8-9edb-bf4b3c23005f
Galli, C.
6823f562-790e-486e-afa3-ca23747ab71a
Lazzari, G.
47b225ff-55da-408c-9b6e-910928bd2d4e
Colleoni, S.
906ef660-9f7b-430c-b224-df3a291ce511
Duchi, R.
954c7900-3371-445d-89d5-256731fd8b6e
Galli, A.
4da0ed72-21ac-4d40-8165-88e8bfcb0127
Houghton, F.D.
53946041-127e-45a8-9edb-bf4b3c23005f
Galli, C.
6823f562-790e-486e-afa3-ca23747ab71a

Lazzari, G., Colleoni, S., Duchi, R., Galli, A., Houghton, F.D. and Galli, C. (2011) Embryonic genotype and inbreeding affect preimplantation development in cattle. Reproduction, 141 (5), 625-632. (doi:10.1530/REP-10-0282). (PMID:21310813)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Infertility in cattle herds is a growing problem with multifactorial causes. Embryonic genotype and level of inbreeding are amongst the many factors that can play a role on reproductive efficiency. To investigate this issue we produced purebred and crossbred bovine embryos by in vitro techniques from Holstein oocytes and Holstein or Brown Swiss semen to investigate several cellular and molecular features. In the first experiment purebred and crossbred embryos, obtained from abattoir oocytes, were analysed for cleavage, development to morula/blastocyst stages, amino acid metabolism and gene expression of developmentally important genes. The results indicated significant differences in the percentage of compacted morulae, in the expression of three genes at the blastocyst stage (MnSOD, gp130 and FGF4) and in the utilisation of serine, asparagine, methionine and tryptophan by day 6 embryos. In the second experiment bovine oocytes were collected by Ovum Pick Up from ten Holstein donors and fertilized with the semen of the respective Holstein sires or with Brown Swiss semen. The derived embryos were grown in vitro up to day 7, then were transferred in synchronized recipients and recovered on day 12. We found that purebred/inbred embryos had lower blastocyst rate on day 7-8, were smaller on day 12 and had lower expression of the trophoblast gene PLAC8. Overall these results indicate reduced and delayed development of purebred embryos as compared to crossbred embryos. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that embryo genotype and high inbreeding can affect amino acid metabolism, preimplantation development and therefore fertility in cattle.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 10 February 2011
Published date: May 2011
Keywords: bovine, embryo, genotype, inbreeding, infertility

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 175283
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/175283
ISSN: 0022-4251
PURE UUID: 728481ca-617b-4f43-8920-a5b3c9f4c275
ORCID for F.D. Houghton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5167-1694

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Date deposited: 22 Feb 2011 14:00
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:51

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Contributors

Author: G. Lazzari
Author: S. Colleoni
Author: R. Duchi
Author: A. Galli
Author: F.D. Houghton ORCID iD
Author: C. Galli

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