Identification of molecular markers for oocyte competence in bovine cumulus cells

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2017

Abstract

Cumulus cells (CCs) have an important role during oocyte growth, competence acquisition, maturation, ovulation and fertilization. In an attempt to isolate potential biomarkers for bovine in vitro fertilization, we identified genes differentially expressed in bovine CCs from oocytes with different competence statuses, through microarray analysis. The model of follicle size, in which competent cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from bigger follicles (≥8.0 mm in diameter) and less competent ones from smaller follicles (1–3 mm), was used. We identified 4178 genes that were differentially expressed (P < 0.05) in the two categories of CCs. The list was further enriched, through the use of a 2.5-fold change in gene expression as a cutoff value, to include 143 up-regulated and 80 down-regulated genes in CCs of competent COCs compared to incompetent COCs. These genes were screened according to their cellular roles, most of which were related to cell cycle, DNA repair, energy metabolism, metabolism of amino acids, cell signaling, meiosis, ovulation and inflammation. Three candidate genes up-regulated (FGF11, IGFBP4, SPRY1) and three down-regulated (ARHGAP22, COL18A1 and GPC4) in CCs from COCs of big follicles (≥8.1 mm) were selected for qPCR analysis. The selected genes showed the same expression patterns by qPCR and microarray analysis. These genes may be potential genetic markers that predict oocyte competence in in vitro fertilization routines.

Identifier

84997755111 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Animal Genetics

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12496

e-ISSN

13652052

ISSN

02689146

PubMed ID

27650317

First Page

19

Last Page

29

Issue

1

Volume

48

Grant

MP1- 01.13.06.001.00.00

Fund Ref

Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária

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