Salivary cell-free HSD17B1 and HSPA1A transcripts as potential biomarkers for estrus identification in buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis )

Abstract

Background: Estrus detection is a major problem in buffaloes because of the poor expression of estrus signs leading to low reproductive e ciency. Salivary transcripts analysis is a promising tool to identify biomarker; therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate their potential as estrus biomarker.Methods: The levels of HSD17B1, INHBA, HSPA1A, Testin transcripts were compared in saliva during estrous cycle stages [early proestrus (day -2, EP), late proestrus (day-1, LP), estrus (E), metestrus (ME) and diestrus (DE)] of cyclic heifers (n=8) and pluriparoous (n=8) buffaloes by employing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Results: The levels of HSD17B1 (EP/DE 1.46-2.43 fold, LP/DE 2.49-3.06 fold; E/DE 7.21-11.9-fold P<0.01; ME/D 1.0-1.16 fold) and HSPA1A (EP/DE 0.93-2.39 fold, LP/DE 2.68-3.23 fold; E/DE 8.52-15.18 fold P<0.01; ME/D 0.86-1.01 fold) were signi cantly altered during the estrus than other estrous cycle stages in both cyclic heifers and pluriparous buffaloes. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed ability of salivary HSD17B1 (AUC 0.96; P<0.001) and HSPA1A (AUC 0.99; P<0.01) to differentiate E from other stages of estrous cycle.Conclusion: Signi cantly higher levels of HSD17B1 and HSPA1A transcripts in saliva during estrus phase suggest their biomarkers potential for estrus detection in buffaloes.

Estrus Physiology and Potential of Extracellular Vesicular miRNA as Biomarkers: A Theoretical Review

“…The transcripts of lactoferrin (LF) and glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) were highly expressed in the uterine tissue of cattle during the estrus when compared to other stages of the estrous cycle [44]. Likewise, higher expression of mRNA transcripts of HSD17B1 and heat shock 70-kDa protein 1A (HSPA1A) in saliva during the estrus stage in both cyclic heifers and pluriparous buffaloes was reported [45]. In yet another study, it was reported that the mRNA transcript of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) was significantly over-expressed in cell free saliva at the estrus stage when compared to the diestrus stage in buffaloes [46].…”

“…Studies on differential expression of mRNA transcripts [44][45][46], heat shock proteins [47][48][49][50] and other proteins [44,[51][52][53][54] in various biological fluids and/or tissues collected at different stages of estrous cycle have been reported and the use of the same as biomarkers for the identification of estrus has been opined.…”