Differential transcription of the bovine AMPD3 gene in single blastocysts cultured under various oxygen tensions

Abstract

Studying gene expression during the early embryonic stages of in vitro culture is essential and of special interest, not only to gain insights in embryo development but also to find candidate genes that can be used as markers to assess embryo quality. Using differential display RT-PCR expression of AMPD3 coding for AMP deaminase 3 was found in bovine blastocysts cultured in vitro only under 2% but not under 5 and 20% oxygen tensions. Mapping of this gene to bovine chromosome 15 confirmed its identity. The differential expression of bovine AMPD3 was confirmed by RT-PCR with specific primers.