EXPRESSION PROFILING OF CANDIDATE EMBRYOTROPHIC GENES OF BUFFALO OVIDUCT DURING DIFFERENT STAGES OF OESTROUS CYCLE

The aim of the present study was to identify the gene expression profile of three candidate genes namely heat shock protein 70, oviductal glycoprotein and osteopontin in buffalo oviduct during different stages of the oestrous cycle. Slaughter house derived buffalo oviducts were categorized as belonging to early, mid and late phase of the oestrous cycle based on the morphological appearance of CL and progesterone concentration. The relative abundance of each of the candidate gene transcript was quantified by real time RT-PCR. Transcripts of all the three candidate genes were found to be expressed in OEC throughout the oestrous cycle. The results of the present study demonstrate that gene expression in the buffalo oviduct is clearly regulated during the oestrous cycle, as these candidate genes play a crucial role in several reproductive processes. It was found that Hsp 70 gene was significantly upregulated in OEC belonging to the early and late phases when compared to mid phases of the cycle. The expression of OVGP mRNA was found to be maximum during the early phase and it remained low during the mid and late phases while expression of OPN mRNA was maximum during the early phase and declined sequentially during the mid and late phase of oestrus cycle.