biostudies-literatureUnknown9(3)Selokar NLSomatic cells were isolated from cryopreserved semen of 4 buffalo bulls, 3 of which had died over 10 years earlier, and were established in culture. The cells expressed cytokeratin-18, keratin and vimentin indicating that they were of epithelial origin. The cells were used as nuclear donors for hand-made cloning for producing buffalo embryos. The blastocyst rate and quality, as indicated by apoptotic index, were comparable among embryos produced using cells obtained from fresh or frozen-thawed semen or those obtained from conventional cell sources such as skin. Examination of the epigenetic status revealed that the global level of H3K27me3 but not that of H3K9/14ac and H4K5ac differed significantly (P<0.05) among cloned embryos from different bulls. The relative mRNA abundance of HDAC1, DNPloS onee90755https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3948694biostudies-literatureHope for restoration of dead valuable bulls through cloning using donor somatic cells isolated from cryopreserved semen.PMC3948694Selokar NLSaini MPalta PChauhan MSManik RSingla SKfalseHope for restoration of dead valuable bulls through cloning using donor somatic cells isolated from cryopreserved semen.Somatic cells were isolated from cryopreserved semen of 4 buffalo bulls, 3 of which had died over 10 years earlier, and were established in culture. The cells expressed cytokeratin-18, keratin and vimentin indicating that they were of epithelial origin. The cells were used as nuclear donors for hand-made cloning for producing buffalo embryos. The blastocyst rate and quality, as indicated by apoptotic index, were comparable among embryos produced using cells obtained from fresh or frozen-thawed semen or those obtained from conventional cell sources such as skin. Examination of the epigenetic status revealed that the global level of H3K27me3 but not that of H3K9/14ac and H4K5ac differed significantly (P<0.05) among cloned embryos from different bulls. The relative mRNA abundance of HDAC1, DN2014-01-01T00:00:00Z20142025-04-20T02:46:53.618Z2019-03-26T23:24:04ZS-EPMC39486942461458610.1371/journal.pone.0090755