HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Suteevun, T. Articles by Tian, X. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Suteevun, T. Articles by Tian, X. C.

Epigenetic characteristics of cloned and in vitro-fertilized swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos¹

T. Suteevun^*,, R. Parnpai^*, S. L. Smith, C-C. Chang, S. Muenthaisong^* and X. C. Tian^,2

^* Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center and School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand; and Center for Regenerative Biology and Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269

² Corresponding author: xiuchun.tian{at}uconn.edu

Swamp buffalos are becoming endangered due to reproductive inefficiencies. This is of concern because many countries depend heavily on their products. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a potential strategy for preserving endangered species. To date, SCNT in swamp buffalo has succeeded in the creation of blastocyst embryos. However, development to term of SCNT swamp buffalos is extremely limited, and only 1 live birth has been reported. An abnormal epigenetic mechanism is suspected to be the cause of developmental failure, as is also seen in other species. The DNA methylation and histone acetylation are key players in epigenetic modification and display marked variability during embryonic preimplantation development. Knowledge of epigenetic modifications will aid in solving the developmental problems of SCNT embryos and improving reproductive technology in the swamp buffalo. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between preimplantation embryonic development and 2 epigenetic patterns, global DNA methylation and histone acetylation, in SCNT and in vitro-fertilized (IVF) swamp buffalo embryos. In addition, we examined the correlations between those 2 mechanisms in the SCNT and IVF swamp buffalo embryos throughout the developmental stages using double immunostaining and quantification of the emission intensities using confocal microscopy. We discovered an aberrant methylation pattern in early preimplantation-stage swamp buffalo SCNT embryos. In addition, greater variability in the DNA methylation levels among nuclei within SCNT embryos was discovered. Hyperacetylation was also observed in SCNT embryos compared with IVF embryos at the 4- and 8-cell stages (P < 0.05). Dynamic changes and interplay between these 2 epigenetic mechanisms could be crucial for embryonic development during the early preimplantation period. The aberrancies uncovered here may contribute to the low efficiency of SCNT.

Key Words: DNA methylation • epigenetics • histone acetylation • nuclear transfer • preimplantation embryo • swamp buffalo

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. H. Shi, J. S. Ai, Y. C. OuYang, J. C. Huang, Z. L. Lei, Q. Wang, S. Yin, Z. M. Han, Q. Y. Sun, and D. Y. Chen Trichostatin A and nuclear reprogramming of cloned rabbit embryos J Anim Sci, May 1, 2008; 86(5): 1106 - 1113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Sellner, J. W. Kim, M. C. McClure, K. H. Taylor, R. D. Schnabel, and J. F. Taylor BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: Applications of genomic information in livestock J Anim Sci, December 1, 2007; 85(12): 3148 - 3158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]