Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Candidate Genes Associated with Fertilizing Ability of Sperm and Subsequent Embryonic Development in Cattle1

Abstract

Fertilization and development of the preimplantation embryo is under genetic control. The present goal was to test 434 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association with genetic variation in fertilization and early embryonic development. The approach was to produce embryos from 93 bulls using in vitro procedures (n = 3-6 replicates per bull) and relate cleavage rate (CR) and development of cleaved embryos to the blastocyst stage (BDRC) to the genotype for each SNP. Bulls were selected to have either high or low estimates for predicted transmitted ability for daughter pregnancy rate (DPR), an estimate of female fertility. The repeatability was 0.84 for CR and 0.55 for BDRC. Semen extender affected CR, with lower results for milk extender than yolk extender. There was no significant correlation between DPR and either CR or BDRC. A total of 100 SNPs had a minor allele frequency sufficiently high (>5%) to allow association analysis. There were nine genes with SNPs associated with CR (AVP, DEPP, EPAS1, HSD17B6, NT5E, SERPINE2, SLC18A2, TBC1D24, and a noncharacterized gene) and 12 genes with SNPs associated with BDRC (C1QB, FAM5C, HSPA1A, IRF9, MON1B, PARM1, PCCB, PMM2, SLC18A2, TBC1D24, TTLL3, and WBP1). Results demonstrate that in vitro fertilization and blastocyst development are under genetic control and point out the potential importance of some previously unknown genes in these processes. Selection of cattle based on the genotype at one or more of these 19 loci may prove useful in conjunction with other genetic markers for improving genetic ability for fertility.

Estrous sheep serum enables in vitro capacitation of ram spermatozoa while preventing caspase activation

“…This 351 follows other studies in which single nucleotide polymorphisms and genome-wide methylation in 352 bulls were associated to embryonic development success [46,47]. We have to highlight that these 353 males were mostly undetected by the in vitro tests, therefore suggesting that we might combine our 354 laboratory tests with molecular analyses, in order to obtain a complete picture of semen fertility.…”

Use of single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes associated with daughter pregnancy rate for prediction of genetic merit for reproduction in Holstein cows

“…Using analyses of gene networks, candidate genes for cattle reproductive behavior have been identified (Kommadath et al 2011). A candidate gene approach has also been used to identify mutations in genes associated with fertilization and embryonic development during the pre-implantation period (Khatib et al 2009a,b;Cochran et al 2013a). Cochran et al (2013b) identified 51 SNPs in candidate genes that were associated with one or more fertility traits in Holstein bulls including DPR, cow conception rate (CCR) and heifer conception rate (HCR).…”

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

“…En particulier, des listes de SNP associés au nombre d'ovocytes viables, aux taux de fécondation, segmentation et développe-ment ont récemment été rapportés par plusieurs auteurs. Les effets maximaux observés entre les génotypes ont varié de 5,4 à 12,2 % pour les taux de fécondation (Khatib et al, 2009) et de 3,9 à 23,2 % pour le développement de l'embryon à partir de l'étape de segmentation (Cochran et al, 2013), démontrant ainsi l'intérêt potentiel la sélection génomique appliquée aux biotechnologies de l'embryon. Avec la puce LD (puce Illumina bovine LD; Illumina Inc., 5200 Illumina Way, San Diego, CA 92122 USA), une liste personnalisée de SNP pourrait être conçue afin de maximiser l'efficacité de la biotechnologie et de sélectionner les donneuses avec un potentiel maximal de production d'embryons.…”