The use of somatic cell nuclear transfer to obtain interspecific cloned embryos from brown brocket deer karyoplast and bovine cytoplast: Embryo development and nuclear gene expression

Abstract

The brown brocket deer is a species of neotropical deer that is found in several regions of Brazil. Although not considered an endangered species, it can be used as a model for studies with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in endangered species. Thus, this study aimed to verify the embryo development and nuclear gene expression in intraSCNT (bovine-bovine), interSCNT (deer-bovine) and in vitro fertilized (IVF) bovine embryos. Thus, from a culture of brown brocket deer fibroblasts and enucleated bovine oocytes, inter and intraspecific embryos were produced. In addition, a group of IVF bovine embryos was prepared. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed from the blastocysts obtained from each experimental group to analyze the expression of OCT4, T-FAM, GJA1, BAX and BCL2. The blastocyst rate was higher (P < 0.05) in IVF group (44.0%) when compared to intraSCNT (11.3%) and inter SCNT (5.9%). The expression of BCL2 was close to null and for GJA1 was similar (P > 0.05) among experimental groups. In conclusion, bovine cytoplast was able to reprogram the brown brocket deer karyoplast and these cloned embryos were able to reach the blastocyst stage. The inverse relationship for BAX and BCL2 can indicate a high degree of apoptosis in blastocysts from interSCNT.