Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos
In addition to fulfilling many breeders’ curiosity, equine embryonic sex determination can have a profound commercial impact. However, the application of currently described assays for equine embryonic sexing has rendered variable diagnosis and validation rates, with sensitivity being the main probl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Animal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123002689 |
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| author | T. De Coster M. Van Poucke O. Bogado Pascottini D. Angel-Velez E. Van den Branden S. Peere M. Papas I. Gerits J. Govaere L. Peelman J.R. Vermeesch A. Van Soom K. Smits |
| author_facet | T. De Coster M. Van Poucke O. Bogado Pascottini D. Angel-Velez E. Van den Branden S. Peere M. Papas I. Gerits J. Govaere L. Peelman J.R. Vermeesch A. Van Soom K. Smits |
| author_sort | T. De Coster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In addition to fulfilling many breeders’ curiosity, equine embryonic sex determination can have a profound commercial impact. However, the application of currently described assays for equine embryonic sexing has rendered variable diagnosis and validation rates, with sensitivity being the main problem. In addition, while pregnancy results of in vivo-flushed equine embryos following a needle aspiration biopsy equal those of non-biopsied embryos, the effect on in vitro-produced embryos is unknown. Here, we aimed to develop a highly sensitive and specific assay for equine sex determination that can be directly performed on few embryonic cells, and to test the effect of a needle aspiration biopsy on the viability of the in vitro-produced embryo. To this end, a multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay with dual-labelled probes was designed to allow the simultaneous generation of both male-specific and control fragments in a single closed-tube reaction, avoiding potential sample loss or contamination. To improve sensitivity, multicopy and polymeric genes were chosen to be specifically amplified, i.e., eight copies of Y-chromosomal ETSTY5 as male-specific and four autosomal UBC monomers as control fragment. Specificity was enhanced by the equine-specific character of ETSTY5 and by using dual-labelled probes. The assay was optimised with equine male and female genomic DNA and demonstrated a 100% accuracy and a >95% qPCR efficiency down to 10 pg of DNA. The assay was subsequently applied to determine the sex of 44 in vitro-produced embryos, collecting trophectoderm biopsies by means of a needle aspiration biopsy and herniating cells. Of all trophectoderm biopsies and herniating cell samples (n = 54), 87% could be diagnosed. Assay results were validated on a second sample obtained from the biopsied embryo (n = 18) or, by ultrasound-based sex determination of the foetus (n = 7) following the transfer of the biopsied embryo to a recipient mare, with about half of the embryos being fillies and colts. The needle aspiration biopsy procedure did not impair initial pregnancy rate or early pregnancy losses as compared to non-biopsied embryos. In conclusion, we report a safe, reliable, fast, and cost-effective assay for equine sex determination which was validated for the sex determination of in vitro-produced embryos based on few embryonic cells, and needle aspiration biopsy did not impair the embryo's viability. The assay and safe biopsy strategy hold potential for other applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:05:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df75d33ab3b5490eb304e0e5abea505e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-7311 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:05:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| series | Animal |
| spelling | doaj.art-df75d33ab3b5490eb304e0e5abea505e2023-11-20T04:11:30ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112023-11-011711100952Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryosT. De Coster0M. Van Poucke1O. Bogado Pascottini2D. Angel-Velez3E. Van den Branden4S. Peere5M. Papas6I. Gerits7J. Govaere8L. Peelman9J.R. Vermeesch10A. Van Soom11K. Smits12Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Laboratory for Cytogenetics and Genome Research, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Corresponding author at: Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumReproductive Biology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumReproductive Biology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Research Group in Animal Sciences – INCA-CES, Universidad CES, Medellin, ColombiaClinic of Large Animal Reproduction, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumClinic of Large Animal Reproduction, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumClinic of Large Animal Reproduction, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumClinic of Large Animal Reproduction, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumClinic of Large Animal Reproduction, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumLaboratory of Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumLaboratory for Cytogenetics and Genome Research, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumReproductive Biology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumReproductive Biology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumIn addition to fulfilling many breeders’ curiosity, equine embryonic sex determination can have a profound commercial impact. However, the application of currently described assays for equine embryonic sexing has rendered variable diagnosis and validation rates, with sensitivity being the main problem. In addition, while pregnancy results of in vivo-flushed equine embryos following a needle aspiration biopsy equal those of non-biopsied embryos, the effect on in vitro-produced embryos is unknown. Here, we aimed to develop a highly sensitive and specific assay for equine sex determination that can be directly performed on few embryonic cells, and to test the effect of a needle aspiration biopsy on the viability of the in vitro-produced embryo. To this end, a multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay with dual-labelled probes was designed to allow the simultaneous generation of both male-specific and control fragments in a single closed-tube reaction, avoiding potential sample loss or contamination. To improve sensitivity, multicopy and polymeric genes were chosen to be specifically amplified, i.e., eight copies of Y-chromosomal ETSTY5 as male-specific and four autosomal UBC monomers as control fragment. Specificity was enhanced by the equine-specific character of ETSTY5 and by using dual-labelled probes. The assay was optimised with equine male and female genomic DNA and demonstrated a 100% accuracy and a >95% qPCR efficiency down to 10 pg of DNA. The assay was subsequently applied to determine the sex of 44 in vitro-produced embryos, collecting trophectoderm biopsies by means of a needle aspiration biopsy and herniating cells. Of all trophectoderm biopsies and herniating cell samples (n = 54), 87% could be diagnosed. Assay results were validated on a second sample obtained from the biopsied embryo (n = 18) or, by ultrasound-based sex determination of the foetus (n = 7) following the transfer of the biopsied embryo to a recipient mare, with about half of the embryos being fillies and colts. The needle aspiration biopsy procedure did not impair initial pregnancy rate or early pregnancy losses as compared to non-biopsied embryos. In conclusion, we report a safe, reliable, fast, and cost-effective assay for equine sex determination which was validated for the sex determination of in vitro-produced embryos based on few embryonic cells, and needle aspiration biopsy did not impair the embryo's viability. The assay and safe biopsy strategy hold potential for other applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123002689Assisted reproductionBiopsyETSTY5HorsePreimplantation genetic testingqPCR |
| spellingShingle | T. De Coster M. Van Poucke O. Bogado Pascottini D. Angel-Velez E. Van den Branden S. Peere M. Papas I. Gerits J. Govaere L. Peelman J.R. Vermeesch A. Van Soom K. Smits Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos Animal Assisted reproduction Biopsy ETSTY5 Horse Preimplantation genetic testing qPCR |
| title | Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos |
| title_full | Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos |
| title_fullStr | Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos |
| title_short | Single closed-tube quantitative real-time PCR assay with dual-labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos |
| title_sort | single closed tube quantitative real time pcr assay with dual labelled probes for improved sex determination of equine embryos |
| topic | Assisted reproduction Biopsy ETSTY5 Horse Preimplantation genetic testing qPCR |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123002689 |
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