Expression Profiling and Identification of Novel SNPs in CatSper2 Gene and Their Influence on Sperm Motility Parameters in Bovines.

122 randomly selected Vrindavani cattle were studied to detect polymorphism in four fragments of the CatSper2 gene that were comprised of exon 2, 4, 5, and 6 with flanking regions. Using PCR-SSCP and sequencing analysis, three SNPs (T157C, C273A, and A274C) in the first fragment, one SNP (C30G) in the second fragment, and two SNPs (T86G and T292C) in the fourth fragment were identified. The third fragment did not reveal any polymorphism.

Profiling of sperm gene transcripts in crossbred (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) bulls.

Crossbred cattle in some sectors of the world have a significant role in enhancing milk production thereby enhancing the per capita milk availability as a human food source. However, there are certain constraints associated with crossbred animals, such as disease susceptibility, increased reproductive problems, repeat breeding and poor seminal quality. The semen of crossbred bulls has a poor freezing capacity, increased cryo-damage, poor mass cell motility, greater percentages of dead/abnormal sperm and poor initial and post-freeze cell motility.