Molecular signatures of in vitro produced embryos derived from ovum pick up or slaughterhouse oocytes in buffalo.

This study was performed to investigate the difference in developmental competence of oocytes derived from ovum pick-up (OPU) and slaughterhouse ovaries (SLH), and its underlying mechanisms. The OPU and SLH oocytes were in-vitro maturated and fertilized to produce blastocysts, and these blastoycsts were collected to explore the expression of key genes for developmental potential and telomere (Oct-4, Sox2, Nanog, Cdx2, Gata3, E-cadherin, ß-catenin, TERT, TERF1 and TERF2). The results showed that both the cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher for the OPU group (68.31%, 39.48%, respectively) than SLH group (57.59%, 26.50%, respectively) (P < 0.01). The relative mRNA abundances of Sox2, Oct-4, Nanog and E-cadherin were significantly higher in the OPU blastocysts than the SLH ones (P < 0.01). Protein expression analysis by Western blot and immunofluorescence also revealed that the expression of E-cadherin and Sox2 was significantly higher in OPU blastocysts than SLH ones. However, there was no significant differences between the two groups in the expression of Cdx2, ß-catenin, Gata3, TERT, TERF1, TERF2. These results imply oocyte sources modify the expression of development and adhesion related genes in blastocysts, which may elucidate a possible reasoning for the low development competence of buffalo SLH embryos.