Figure 1

A. Real Time PCR analysis of HMGN3a. The mRNA abundance of HMGN3a was determined in bovine matured oocytes, 2–4-cell, 8–16-cell, morula and blastocyst stage embryos. Bars represent relative expression values of 2–4-cell embryos, 8–16-cell embryos, and blastocysts to the expression in MII oocytes. Transcript abundance was normalized to the housekeeping gene, GAPDH. Expression ratio of HMGN3 gene in the 8-16-cell, morulae and blastocysts were significant higher than that during MII and 2–4-cell stages. Different letters represent statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). B. Real Time PCR analysis of SMARCAL1. mRNA abundance SMARCAL1 was determined in bovine matured oocytes, 2–4-cell, 8–16-cell, morula and blastocyst stage embryos. Bars represent relative expression values of 2–4-cell embryos, 8–16-cell embryos, and blastocysts to the expression in MII oocytes. Transcript abundance was normalized to the housekeeping gene, GAPDH. SMARCAL1 relative expression was similar in MII oocytes and 8-16-cell embryos. However, significantly higher levels of SMARCAL1 in 2–4-cell embryos were observed. SMARCAL1 transcripts decreased significantly in the morula and blastocyst stages. Different letters represent statistically significant differences (P < 0.05).