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Identification of molecular markers for oocyte competence in bovine cumulus cells
Author(s) -
Melo E. O.,
Cordeiro D. M.,
Pellegrino R.,
Wei Z.,
Daye Z. J.,
Nishimura R. C.,
Dode M. A. N.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/age.12496
Subject(s) - biology , oocyte , identification (biology) , competence (human resources) , genetics , computational biology , botany , embryo , social psychology , psychology
Summary Cumulus cells ( CC s) 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 CC s from oocytes with different competence statuses, through microarray analysis. The model of follicle size, in which competent cumulus–oocyte complexes ( COC s) 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 CC s. 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 CC s of competent COC s compared to incompetent COC s. 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 ( FGF 11, IGFBP 4, SPRY 1 ) and three down‐regulated ( ARHGAP 22, COL 18A1 and GPC 4 ) in CC s from COC s 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.