Association between BMP4 gene polymorphism and in vitro embryo production traits in Gyr cows ¤/Asociación entre polimorfismo en el gen BMP4 y características de producción in vitro de embriones en vacas Gyr/Associação entre o polimorfismo no gene BMP4 e características de produção in vitro de embriões em vacas Gyr

This paper aims to evaluate the degree of association between polymorphism in the BMP4 gene (guanine for thymine-GT, SNP rs109778173) and the performance of Gyr oocyte donors, including the rate of cumulus-oophorus complex obtained in each session of follicular aspiration (OPU), embryo development, and pregnancy rates. DNA was extracted from hair follicles from 50 oocyte donors and genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Data from 212 OPU-IVP sessions was collected, and the following traits were associated with BMP4 polymorphism (SNP rs109778173): number and ratio of viable cumulus-oophorus complexes; number of cleaved embryos at day 4 of culture; number of transferable embryos at day 7 of culture, and pregnancies on days 30 and 60 after embryo transfer. The studied BMP4 polymorphism was significantly associated with the number and ratio of viable cumulus-oocyte complexes, and the ratio of pregnancies at 30 days.