Effects of timing and morphology of blastomere cleavage on gene expression profiles of bovine <i>in vitro</i> fertilized embryos

To efficiently produce high-quality bovine calves by transferring embryos obtained from in vitro fertilization (IVF), it is important to evaluate their ability to conceive and their ability to develop into normal litters. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of timing and morphology of blastomere cleavage on the gene expression status of bovine IVF embryos. Bovine IVF embryos were classified in four categories, which were divided according to the time of the first blastomere cleavage and the presence or absence of direct cleavage. In addition, the gene expression profiles of these embryos were examined. The timing and morphology of the blastomere cleavage was involved in pre-implantation development and gene expression status of bovine IVF embryos. Our results indicate the possibility of multiple evaluations for bovine IVF embryos and the selection of the most suitable embryos for embryo transfer.