Birth of correctly genotyped calves after multiplex marker detection from bovine embryo microblade biopsies

Abstract

We report a method for multiplex genotyping of bovine embryo microblade biopsies. We have tested the reliability of the method and the viability of the embryos in vitro and in vivo. Two polymorphic gene markers (GHR F279Y and PRLR S18N) associated with milk production traits and one marker for sex diagnosis (ZFX/ZFY) were genotyped simultaneously with a method that combines nested PCR and allelic discrimination. To test the accuracy of genotyping, in the first experiment the genotypes of 134 biopsies from in vitro produced embryos were compared to genotypes determined from the corresponding embryos after biopsy. The method proved to be highly accurate as only in three cases (two for PRLR S18N and one for GHR F279Y) out of 395 genotypes the genotype was in disagreement between the two samples. The viability of similarly biopsied embryos was tested in parallel: after 24-hr culture 94.6% of embryos recovered in vitro. In the second experiment, a total of 150 in vivo-produced embryos were biopsied on Day 7 and genotyped. After the genotyping results were obtained on Day 8, female embryos were selected for transfer. From a total of 57 selected embryos 43 were transferred individually and 14 as pairs. After single embryo transfers, 19 recipients became pregnant and after embryo transfers in pairs one became pregnant. The success of genotyping was tested with the genotypes of donors and bulls and also from the hair samples of born calves. All calves were females and of the same genotypes determined from the biopsy.

Conception rate after sex determination and cryopreservation of D7 bovine embryos:

“…The technique expands to include other DNA markers associated with valuable production traits. Nowadays it can be used for multiplex genotyping of bovine embryos (Peippo et al, 2007;Hirayama et al, 2008;Alonso et al, 2009) and for genetic testing for hereditary diseases (Hirayama et al, 2004;Ipate et al, 2007).…”

Animal Reproduction Technologies—Future Perspectives

“…Results reported initially in the literature for ruminants were based on typing for a limited number of markers [48]. Field studies with in vivo produced, biopsied embryos (either fresh or frozen) have shown that pregnancy rates following transfer on-farm were compatible with field use [34] (Table 2).…”

Du diagnostic préimplantatoire au suivi de troupeau : que peut apporter la génomique aux éleveurs ?

“…Cela ouvre la voie pour développer de nouvelles stratégies basées sur le diagnostic pré-implantatoire, applicable dès la première semaine de développement, dans le cadre d'opérations de collectes d'embryons. Les avantages du génotypage de l'embryon ont été rapportés dès que la sélection assistée par marqueurs (SAM), basée sur un nombre limité de marqueurs micro satellites a été utilisée, en raison de l'estimation simultanée de plusieurs caractères dès un stade précoce de développement (Peippo et al, 2007). Les avantages vis-à-vis du progrès géné-tique potentiel sont encore plus importants avec l'utilisation d'un grand nombre de marqueurs SNP (Humblot et al, 2010).…”