The effect of season on oocyte quality and developmental competence in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Francesco, S. Di; Boccia, Lorenzo; Campanile, Giuseppe; Palo, R. Di; Vecchio, Domenico; Neglia, Gianluca; Zicarelli, L.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.11.009

Cited by 61 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Heat stress altered endocrine patterns and reduced follicular development may be the reason behind the poor yield and low quality oocytes in HP. Our findings concur with earlier report by Francesco et al (2011) in bovine. In addition, heat stress during HP induced a decrease in oocyte function due to a sequence of cellular changes disturbing nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments of the bovine oocyte which in turn destroys intracellular events associated with both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation (Payton et al 2003;MayaSoriano et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…In buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in vitro embryo production technology is considered most effective for improving genetic progress through the maternal lineage by increasing the number of embryos available per donor on a long-term basis (Francesco et al 2011). Major restrictions of this technology in buffalo species are an innate low number of follicles, consequently a low number of cumulus-oocyte complexes that can be recovered per ovary (Gasparrini 2002) and seasonality (Gasparrini 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developmental competence and expression profile of genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes and embryos collected under different environmental stress

et al. 2016

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The study examined the effects of different environmental stress on developmental competence and the relative abundance (RA) of various gene transcripts in oocytes and embryos of buffalo. Oocytes collected during cold period (CP) and hot period (HP) were matured, fertilized and cultured in vitro to blastocyst hatching stage. The mRNA expression patterns of genes implicated in developmental competence (OCT-4, IGF-2R and GDF-9), heat shock (HSP-70.1), oxidative stress (MnSOD), metabolism (GLUT-1), pro-apoptosis (BAX) and anti-apoptosis (BCL-2) were evaluated in immature and matured oocytes as well as in pre-implantation stage embryos. Oocytes reaching MII stage, cleavage rates, blastocyst yield and hatching rates increased (P \ 0.05) during the CP. In MII oocytes and 2-cell embryos, the RA of OCT-4, IGF-2R, GDF-9, MnSOD and GLUT-1 decreased (P \ 0.05) during the HP. In 4-cell embryos, the RA of OCT-4, IGF-2R and BCL-2 decreased (P \ 0.05) in the HP, whereas GDF-9 increased (P \ 0.05). In 8-to 16-cell embryos, the RA of OCT-4 and BCL-2 decreased (P \ 0. 05) in the HP, whereas HSP-70.1 and BAX expression increased (P \ 0.05). In morula and blastocyst, the RA of OCT-4, IGF-2R and MnSOD decreased (P \ 0.05) during the HP, whereas HSP-70.1 was increased (P \ 0.05). In conclusion, deleterious seasonal effects induced at the GVstage carry-over to subsequent embryonic developmental stages and compromise oocyte developmental competence and quality of developed blastocysts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental competence and expression profile of genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes and embryos collected under different environmental stress

et al. 2016

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“…Conception rates decline from about 40–60% in cooler months to 10–20% or lower in summer, depending on the severity of the thermal stress [2], [9]–[12]. Several studies have shown that oocytes and embryos at early stages of development are extremely sensitive to heat stress in both species [4], [10], [11], [13]–[21]. Buffaloes are seasonally polyestrous with a marked reduction in their reproductive performance during summer in regions of high latitude [7], [10]–[12], [22], [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have shown that oocytes and embryos at early stages of development are extremely sensitive to heat stress in both species [4], [10], [11], [13]–[21]. Buffaloes are seasonally polyestrous with a marked reduction in their reproductive performance during summer in regions of high latitude [7], [10]–[12], [22], [23]. Therefore, fertility of buffalo females is not only affected by heat stress but also by the sensitivity of these animals to photoperiod.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, fertility of buffalo females is not only affected by heat stress but also by the sensitivity of these animals to photoperiod. However, the environmental effects on buffalo fertility does not appear to be due to a failure on follicular development, but due to an impairment of oocyte developmental competence [10], [11]. The causes behind this climate-dependent developmental impairment remain widely unknown and studies of the effects of seasonal temperature oscillations on oocyte gene expression are of value in the understanding of the low developmental potential of bovine and buffalo oocytes during summer [14]–[16], [21], [24], [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reference Gene Selection for Gene Expression Analysis of Oocytes Collected from Dairy Cattle and Buffaloes during Winter and Summer

et al. 2014

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Oocytes from dairy cattle and buffaloes have severely compromised developmental competence during summer. While analysis of gene expression is a powerful technique for understanding the factors affecting developmental hindrance in oocytes, analysis by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) relies on the correct normalization by reference genes showing stable expression. Furthermore, several studies have found that genes commonly used as reference standards do not behave as expected depending on cell type and experimental design. Hence, it is recommended to evaluate expression stability of candidate reference genes for a specific experimental condition before employing them as internal controls. In acknowledgment of the importance of seasonal effects on oocyte gene expression, the aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of expression levels of ten well-known reference genes (ACTB, GAPDH, GUSB, HIST1H2AG, HPRT1, PPIA, RPL15, SDHA, TBP and YWHAZ) using oocytes collected from different categories of dairy cattle and buffaloes during winter and summer. A normalization factor was provided for cattle (RPL15, PPIA and GUSB) and buffaloes (YWHAZ, GUSB and GAPDH) based on the expression of the three most stable reference genes in each species. Normalization of non-reference target genes by these reference genes was shown to be considerably different from normalization by less stable reference genes, further highlighting the need for careful selection of internal controls. Therefore, due to the high variability of reference genes among experimental groups, we conclude that data normalized by internal controls can be misleading and should be compared to not normalized data or to data normalized by an external control in order to better interpret the biological relevance of gene expression analysis.

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Effect of age, pregnancy, and tuberculosis status on oocyte parameters in African buffalo

Kosior,

Lyne,

Salerno

et al. 2024

J Wildl Manag

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In the past decades, the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) population has steadily declined; an estimated reduction of 31.2% over 3 generations has resulted in classifying it as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Therefore, the aim of this work was a preliminary evaluation of the size and number of ovarian follicles and oocyte quality and quantity in African buffaloes in relationship to age, tuberculosis, and pregnancy status to assess feasibility of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) as a tool for conservation and propagation of this species. The study occurred during the winter dry season (Jul–Aug) of 2018 within Huluhluwe‐Imfolozi National Park in Kwa‐Zulu Natal, South Africa during the routine culling procedures of African buffalo carried out at the park by the provincial authorities as means of disease management and population control. We obtained ovaries from 39 adults and 10 juveniles, and transported them to the field laboratory where we counted follicles, collected oocytes by aspiration and slicing, and classified oocytes according to their morphology. Adult animals had more small and medium follicles compared to juveniles (small: 14.5 ± 0.1 [SE] vs. 14.0 ± 0.1; medium: 4.6 ± 0.7 vs. 2.0 ± 1.3); however, juvenile animals had more cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs). Pregnancy and tuberculosis status did not affect COC recovery rate and quality. The oocyte recovery rate is comparable to cattle and higher than in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Therefore, our results suggest that IVEP could be an effective tool for conservation of valuable germplasm in African buffalo. The use of aspiration, using an 18‐gauge needle and syringe, followed by slicing the ovary with a scalpel blade increased the recovery of suitable COCs (aspiration = 37.2 ± 3.02%; aspiration and slicing = 46.1 ± 3.02%), supporting the use of aspiration and slicing to optimize oocyte collection for conservation of African buffalo.

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The effect of season on oocyte quality and developmental competence in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Cited by 61 publications

References 20 publications

Developmental competence and expression profile of genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes and embryos collected under different environmental stress

Developmental competence and expression profile of genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes and embryos collected under different environmental stress

Reference Gene Selection for Gene Expression Analysis of Oocytes Collected from Dairy Cattle and Buffaloes during Winter and Summer

Effect of age, pregnancy, and tuberculosis status on oocyte parameters in African buffalo

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