title: Differences in developmental competence and gene expression profiles between buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) preimplantation embryos cultured in three different embryo culture media.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare effects of in vitro culture systems on embryonic development and expression patterns of developmentally important genes in preimplantation buffalo embryos. After IVM/IVF presumptive zygotes were cultured in one of three systems: undefined TCM-199, mCR2aa medium supplemented with 10 % FBS and defined PVA-myo-inositol-phosphate-EGF medium. No (P > 0.05) differences at 2-cell, 4-cell and 8-cell to 16- cell stages were observed among the three cultured media used, however, increased (P < 0.05) blastocyst yield, cell number and hatching rate were found in defined medium compared to undefined media. The expression patterns of genes implicated in embryo metabolism (GLUT-1), anti-apoptosis (BCL-2), imprinting (IGF-2R), DNA methylation (DNMT-3A) and maternal recognition of pregnancy (IFNT) were increased (P < 0.05) in hatched blastocysts derived from defined medium compared to undefined media. In conclusion, serum-free, defined medium improved developmental competence of in vitro cultured buffalo embryos. Whether these differences in morphological development and gene expression have long-term effects on buffalo calves born after embryo transfer remains unknown. However, it is possible that early adaptations of the preimplantation embryo to its environment persist during fetal and post-natal development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, India. sadeeshcirb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sadeesh
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, India.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Selokar
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Balhara
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, India.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yadav
keywords: Buffalo; Culture media; Embryo; Expression profile; In-vitro fertilization