title: Global transcriptome profiles of Italian Mediterranean buffalo embryos with normal and retarded growth.
abstract: The transcriptome profiles were compared for buffalo embryos with normal growth and embryos with retarded growth on Day 25 after mating. Embryos with retarded growth on Day 25 after mating have a reduced likelihood of undergoing attachment to the uterine endometrium and establishing a pregnancy. Italian Mediterranean buffaloes were mated by AI and on Day 25 underwent trans-rectal ultrasonography to ascertain embryo development. Embryos with an embryonic width (EW)>2.7 mm were classed as normal embryos and embryos with an EW<2.7 mm were classed as retarded embryos. Three buffaloes with embryos of the largest EW (3.7, 3.7 and 3.9 mm) and three buffaloes with embryos of the smallest EW (1.5, 1.6 and 1.9 mm) were slaughtered on Day 27 to recover embryos for transcriptome analysis using a bovine custom designed oligo array. A total of 1,047 transcripts were differentially expressed between embryos with normal growth and embryos with retarded growth. Retarded embryos showed 773/1,047 (74%) transcripts that were down-regulated and 274/1,047 (26%) transcripts that were up-regulated relative to normal embryos; in silico analyses focused on 680/1,047 (65%) of the differentially expressed transcripts. The most altered transcripts observed in retarded embryos were associated with membrane structure and function and with metabolic and homeostasis maintenance functions. Other notable functions altered in retarded embryos were developmental processes and in particular nervous system differentiation and function. Specific biochemical pathways such as the complement cascade and coagulation were also altered in retarded embryos. It was concluded from the findings that buffalo embryos with retarded growth on Day 25 after mating show altered gene expression compared with normal embryos, and some de-regulated functions are associated with attachment to the uterine endometrium.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Production System in Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strazzullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gasparrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Balestrieri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ABT, National Research Council, Naples, Italy ; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francioso
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Production System in Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nassa
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico SDN, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: De Filippo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weisz
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ABT, National Research Council, Naples, Italy ; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Esposito
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: D'Occhio
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zicarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanile
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D059467:Transcriptome