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Elucidation of DNA methylation status of bovine spermatozoa related to embryo development after in vitro fertilization and conception after artificial insemination

Description: To evaluate the novel methods for the prediction of bull fertility based on epigenome information, we analyzed the genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of bull spermatozoa using a human DNA methylation microarray. We detected differentially methylated regions (DMRs) concerning embryonic developmental ability after in vitro fertilization (IVF%), conception rate after artificial insemination (AI%), and age-related changes. Using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA), nine DMRs were confirmed to exhibit significant differences in their age-dependent methylation levels. One DMR was detected to correlate with IVF%, and another one DMR was detected to correlate with AI%. Further studies are required to use these DMRs as epigenetic biomarkers for predicting semen or bull fertility.

Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Amount: ¥4,940,000

Funding type: research

Funder scheme: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Start date: 2016-04-01

End date: 2019-03-31

Investigator: Kumiko TAKEDA

Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization

Topic: Epigenetics and DNA Methylation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences