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Normal DNA methylation status in sperm from a somatic cell cloned bull and their fertilized embryos
Author(s) -
Yamanaka KenIchi,
Yamashita Kyoko,
Khatun Hafiza,
Wada Yasuhiko,
Tatemoto Hideki,
Sakatani Miki,
Takenouchi Naoki,
Takahashi Masashi,
Watanabe Shinya
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.13086
Subject(s) - biology , somatic cell nuclear transfer , reprogramming , cloning (programming) , dna methylation , somatic cell , embryo , epigenetics , genetics , methylation , andrology , homeobox protein nanog , transgenesis , gene , blastocyst , reproductive technology , embryonic stem cell , embryogenesis , gene expression , induced pluripotent stem cell , medicine , computer science , programming language
Abstract Epigenetic reprogramming confers totipotency even during somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), which has been used to clone various animal species. However, as even apparently healthy cloned animals sometimes have aberrant epigenetic status, the harmful effects of these defects could be passed onto their offspring. This is one of the biggest obstacles for the application of cloned animals for livestock production. Here, we investigated the DNA methylation status of four developmentally regulated genes ( PEG3 , XIST , OCT4 , and NANOG ) in sperms from a cloned and a non‐cloned bull, and blastocysts obtained by in vitro fertilization using those sperms and SCNT. We found no differences in the methylation status of the above genes between cloned and non‐cloned bull sperms. Moreover, the methylation status was also similar in blastocysts obtained with cloned and non‐cloned bull sperms. In contrast, the methylation status was compromised in the SCNT blastocysts. These results indicate that sperm from cloned bulls would be adequately reprogrammed during spermatogenesis and, thus, could be used to produce epigenetically normal embryos. This study highlights the normality of cloned bull offspring and supports the application of cloned cattle for calf production.