Expression Profile of Connexin 43 and Poly A Polymerase Genes in Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes and Developing Embryos Produced in vitro

To find out the expression pattern of Connexin 43 (Cx43) a gap junction protein and Poly A polymerase (PAP) necessary for synthesis of poly (A) tail in mRNA, genes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes and developing embryos produced in vitro, pools of immatured oocytes (n=200), in vitro matured oocytes (n=200), embryos of 2–4 cell (n=83), 8–16 cell (n=80), morula (n=77) and blastocyst (n=40) were collected in vitro from slaughter house ovaries for mRNA isolation. RT-PCR was carried out by using mRNA as the template and PCR was carried out by using cDNA as template for amplification of 425 bp Cx43 and 252 bp PAP. Cx43 was expressed in all except blastocysts stage, whereas, PAP was expressed in all. It is concluded that expression pattern of Cx43 and PAP in oocytes and developing embryos can be used as a marker of developmental potential for embryos derived from oocytes.