Buffalo and various ruminant embryos production by inter-species, inter-genus and inter-subfamily somatic cell nuclear transfer

Abstract

We have compared the effect of different nuclear –cytoplasmic relatedness on inter-species, somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) efficiency among buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), bovine (Bos taurus), goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) and gaur (Bos gaurus). on the in vitro embryo development. ISCNT is one of the techniques for species with limited availability oocytes and for endangered species. Ear fibroblast cells from buffalo, bovine and gaur were used as donor cells and recipient oocytes were obtained from buffalo, bovine and goat. The somatic cell nuclear transfer reconstructed embryos of various combinations were cultured. Our study showed that gaur-bovine (inter-species) blastocyst rate (12.10%) was higher than gaur-buffalo (inter-genus) (5.10%) and gaur-goat (inter-subfamily) (3.21%). The inter-species SCNT (gaur-bovine) blastocyst rate (12.10%) was similar to those by inter-genus SCNT (buffalo- bovine, 12.24%). The gaur-goat (inter-subfamily) showed the lowest blastocyst rate (3.21%). And buffalo media culture condition could support the development of gaur, goat and bovine iSCNT embryos.  In conclusion, our study showed that blastocysts were possibly produced by inter-species, inter-genus and inter-subfamily somatic cell nuclear transfer. The inter-species SCNT and inter-genus SCNT tend to show higher development efficiency than inter-sub-family SCNT.