水牛徒手克隆胚胎培养及冷冻条件的优化

本试验利用微滴、微穴和平板培养系统对徒手克隆(hand-made clone,HMC)重组胚进行体外培养;采用了40% EG(ethylene glycol,EG)、25% EG＋25% DMSO(dimethylsulphoxide,DMSO) 和20% EG＋20% DMSO＋0.5 mol/L蔗糖作为玻璃化冷冻液对HMC囊胚进行了超低温冷冻;并且比较了HMC与传统核移植的胚胎生产效率及囊胚冷冻存活率。结果表明,微穴系统的卵裂率要显著高于平板系统(P<0.05),极显著高于微滴系统(P<0.01);且微穴系统的囊胚率(40.0%)极显著高于平板(19.8%)和微滴系统(8.3%)(P<0.01)。采用20% EG＋20% DMSO＋0.5 mol/L蔗糖作为冷冻保护剂时HMC囊胚存活率极显著高于40% EG(P<0.01);HMC重组胚的融合率和囊胚率均高于传统核移植法(P<0.05;P<0.01),而HMC囊胚的冷冻存活率与传统核移植生产的囊胚没有显著差异。以上结果说明水牛HMC可以替代传统核移植法生产克隆胚胎,微穴体系最适合水牛HMC胚胎的体外培养,且采用20% EG＋20% DMSO＋0.5 mol/L蔗糖对HMC囊胚进行玻璃化冷冻可以取得良好的冷冻效果。     

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid,a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor,improves the development and acetylation level of miniature porcine handmade cloning embryos

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) can change the histone acetylation and significantly enhance the developmental competence of the pre‐implantation SCNT embryo. To select a proper histone deacetylase inhibitor to improve the success rate and potentially developmental ability of handmade cloning (HMC) embryos of miniature porcine, we compared the effect of two histone deacetylase inhibitors (SAHA vs. VPA) on HMC embryo development, their histone acetylation level and the expression level of relevant genes. The blastocyst rate and number of blastocyst cells of HMC embryos treated with SAHA (SAHA‐HMC) or VPA (VPA‐HMC) were significantly higher than those of control (Control‐HMC), respectively, but there were no significant difference between SAHA‐HMC and VPA‐HMC groups. In addition, the acetylation level (AcH4K8) of Control‐HMC and VPA‐HMC embryos at the blastocyst stage, respectively, was significantly lower than that of in vitro fertilized (IVF) and SAHA‐HMC embryos. However, the acetylation H4K8 of the blastocysts had no significant difference between SAHA‐HMC and the IVF groups. The SAHA‐HMC blastocysts indicated comparative expression levels of Oct4 and HDAC1 (histone deacetyltransferase gene) with those of IVF blastocysts. In contrast, the expression levels of Oct4 were lower and those of HDAC1 were higher in the VPA‐HMC and Control‐HMC blastocysts, respectively, compared to those of the IVF blastocysts. Our results demonstrated that the HMC embryos treated by SAHA could promote the pre‐implantation development and increase the levels of histone H4K8 acetylation and the expression of the OCT4 gene, yet decrease the expression of the HDAC1 gene to the comparable level of the IVF embryos. Our results proved that SAHA may be a better histone deacetylase inhibitor for porcine HMC compared to VPA, and furthermore, it may indicate that SAHA can effectively correct the abnormal histone acetylation during the HMC embryo development and subsequently improve the full‐term developmental potential of the HMC embryos after embryo transplantation.     

Cryopreservation of bovine somatic cell nuclear-transferred blastocysts: effect of developmental stage

The effect of developmental stage on the survival of bovine somatic cell nuclear-transferred blastocysts after freezing and thawing was evaluated. We also investigated how freezing affects nuclear-transferred (NT) embryos and in vitro fertilized (IVF) bovine embryos. Advanced-stage bovine NT blastocysts survived freezing better than early-stage NT blastocysts (86 vs 14%). The trend was similar with IVF embryos (87 vs 30%). At the stages tested, there was no significant difference in the survivability of NT and IVF embryos from advanced (86 vs 87%) or early-stage blastocysts (14 vs 30%). The average survival rate did not differ between NT and IVF bovine embryos (50 vs 51%). The higher survival rate of advanced-stage blastocysts compared to early-stage blastocysts in NT and IVF bovine embryos might be due to their higher cell number. In NT (128 +/- 25 vs 53 +/- 20) and IVF (128 +/- 29 vs 75 +/- 22) groups, advanced-stage blastocysts contained a significantly higher total cell number than early-stage blastocysts. There was no difference in total cell number between advanced-stage NT and IVF blastocysts (128 +/- 25 vs 128 +/- 29), however, early-stage NT and IVF blastocysts (53 +/- 20 vs 75 +/- 22) differed significantly.     

不同供体细胞代数对兔体细胞核移植效率的影响

将兔成纤维细胞分为5～10低代数组和20～25高代数组进行核移植研究。结果显示,2试验组供体细胞核移植的效率存在差异。通过对供体细胞进行核移植后的重构胚胎的融合率、卵裂率、囊胚率以及体内发育的比较,发现低代数相对来说更有效率,但是高代数组也能获得正常的克隆后代。结果表明,兔不同代数体外培养细胞对克隆效率存在影响,并为制备转基因打靶兔提供基础。     

Developmental Kinetics of Pig Embryos by Parthenogenetic Activation or by Handmade Cloning

The developmental kinetics of pig embryos produced by parthenogenetic activation without (PAZF) or with (PAZI) zona pellucida or by handmade cloning (HMC) was compared by time‐lapse videography. After cumulus cell removal, the matured oocytes were either left zona intact (PAZI) or were made zona free by pronase digestion (PAZF) before they were activated (PA). Other matured oocytes were used for HMC based on foetal fibroblast cells. On Day 0 (day of PA or reconstruction), the embryos were cultured for 7 days in vitro in our time‐lapse system. Pictures were taken every 30 min, and afterwards, each cell cycle was identified for each embryo to be analysed. Results showed that the PA embryos (both PAZF and PAZI) had shorter first cell cycle compared with HMC (17.4. 17.8 vs 23.6 h), but had a longer time length from four cell to morula stages (57.9, 53.8 vs 44.9 h). However, at the second cell cycle, PAZF embryos needed shorter time, while PAZI embryos had similar time length as HMC embryos, and both were longer than PAZF (23.4, 24.8 vs 14.6 h). Both PAZF and PAZI embryos used similar time to reach the blastocyst stage, and this was later than HMC embryos. In addition, when all of these embryos were grouped into viable (developed to blastocysts) and non‐viable (not developed to blastocysts), the only difference in the time length was observed on the first cell cycle (18.6 vs 24.5 h), but not on the later cell cycles. In conclusion, our results not only give detailed information regarding the time schedule of in vitro‐handled pig embryos, but also indicate that the first cell cycle could be used as a selecting marker for embryo viability. However, to evaluate the effect of the produced techniques, the whole time schedule of the pre‐implantation developmental kinetics should be observed.     

Aging of recipient oocytes reduces the development of cloned embryos receiving cumulus cells

Parthenogenetic activation is an important factor in successful production of cloned mammals. Because it has been reported that aged oocytes are more sensitive to parthenogenetic activation than young oocytes, the present study examined the effects of oocyte aging on the in vitro and in vivo developmental potential of nuclear-transferred (NT) mouse oocytes receiving cumulus cells. The potentials of young NT oocytes (14 h after human chorionic gonadotrophin [hCG] injection) to develop into blastocysts was, however, significantly higher than that of aged oocytes (20 h after hCG injection; 16% vs 6%). When the nuclei of NT oocytes at the 2-cell stage were fused with enucleated fertilized 2-cell embryos, the potentials of the serial NT embryos to develop into blastocysts were no different for both young and aged oocytes (74% vs 74%). Live young, however, were obtained only after transfer of serial NT blastocysts developed from young NT oocytes (2%). In contrast to a report using embryonic nuclei as the nuclear donors, the results of the present study indicate that young oocytes are superior to aged oocytes as a source of recipient cytoplasm for mouse somatic cell cloning.     

水牛徒手克隆的初步研究

徒手克隆是近年发展起来的一种手工化的核移植技术。本试验探讨了不同的去核方法、融合方法和供体细胞类型对水牛HMC效率的影响。试验结果表明,CB处理法去核与荧光染色法去核相比,去核效率及之后的重组胚发育能力均无显著差异(P＞0.05);一步法的融合率极显著高于两步法(P＜0.01),而两种方法构建的重组胚发育能力则无显著差异(P＞0.05);利用卵丘细胞所构建的HMC胚胎的融合率极显著高于耳皮肤成纤维细胞(P＜0.01),但重组胚的发育效果差异不显著(P＞0.05)。说明利用卵丘细胞作为HMC的供体细胞,采用CB处理法去核和一步融合的方法进行徒手克隆,其生产核移植胚胎效果较好。     

Cloned porcine embryos can maintain developmental ability after cryopreservation at the morula stage

The aim of the present study was to clarify the overall efficiency of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) by incorporating cryopreservation of the cloned embryos before transfer. The SCNT embryos reconstructed with preadipocytes and in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes were cultured to harvest morula stage embryos; they were then subjected to delipation (removal of cytoplasmic lipid droplets) and vitrification. After warming and culture, the embryos developing to blastocysts were transferred to recipients to obtain cloned piglets. From 372 reconstructed embryos, 188 (50.5%) reached the morula stage and 117 (31.5%) developed to blastocysts after vitrification. Transfer of 98 (26.3%) morphologically normal blastocysts gave rise to 6 (1.6%) piglets, including 1 stillborn. The efficiency of the cloned piglet production was comparable with that obtained using SCNT embryos without cryopreservation (2.7%, 17/635). Here, we demonstrate that porcine somatic cell cloning can be performed without a significant reduction in efficiency even when the SCNT embryos are cryopreserved before transfer.     

手工克隆小鼠胚胎的研究

与传统克隆相比,手工克隆使用较为简单的仪器设备和技术操作即可生产克隆动物。小鼠作为模式实验动物在多领域得以应用。本研究中采用杂交胎鼠细胞系提供核供体细胞,在含细胞松弛素(Cytochalasin B,CB)和链蛋白酶(Pronase)及2%血清的M199 hepes缓冲液滴(CBMP)中消化透明带并切割去核,电融合后1 h,重构胚置于含Sr Cl2及CB(5μg/m L)的无钙体外培养液(Ca2+-free IVC)中激活6 h,体外培养液(IVC)中清洗3遍后,移入WOW系统培养,培养至小鼠HMC囊胚阶段。研究发现:1)CBMP液中Pronase的浓度相比20μg/m L和100μg/m L,卵母细胞透明带在10μg/m L组需要更长时间消化至消失,较有利于操作;2)直流电(DC)80 V,持续40μs,融合率达60%。3)含10 mmol/L Sr Cl2的化学激活液处理的重构胚与5mmol/L组相比,囊胚更高(29±3%∶13±3%,P0.05),差异显著;4)两种体外培养液,CZB与m PZM,在IVC囊胚率上无显著差异(29±3%∶24±5%,P0.05),而使用CZB可获得较高的囊胚率。本实验首次采用HMC方法体外条件下生产小鼠克隆胚胎,通过摸索透明带消化时间、电激活参数、化学激活试剂及培养液,尝试小鼠体外生产克隆胚胎的新方法,并取得了初步成果,技术优化及效率提高问题仍需要更进一步的研究。     

Comparison of efficiency of in vitro cloned sheep embryo production by conventional somatic cell nuclear transfer and handmade cloning technique

Conventional somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique of in vitro production of cloned embryos involves use of costly and complicated micromanipulators. Handmade cloning (HMC) technique has been applied as efficient and cost‐effective alternative in many livestock species. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of in vitro production and in vitro development of cloned sheep embryos by the two techniques. Cloned embryos were produced by conventional SCNT using micromanipulator apparatus and by HMC technique. Enucleation efficiency and efficiency of fusion with somatic cell (nucleus donor) were compared. Cleavage percentage was observed on day 2 of in vitro culture (IVC), and morula and blastocyst percentages were calculated on day 7 of IVC. Higher enucleation efficiency (96.98 ± 1.01 vs. 93.62 ± 1.03; p > .05) as well as fusion efficiency was obtained with HMC technique than with conventional SCNT (96.26 ± 1.34 vs. 92.63 ± 0.70, p < .05); 181 cloned sheep embryos were produced in vitro by conventional SCNT and 92 by HMC. Cleavage percentage observed on day 2 of in vitro culture was higher in HMC than SCNT (66.92 ± 3.72 vs. 55.97 ± 2.5, respectively, p < .05). Morula percentage obtained was higher in SCNT than HMC (44.12 ± 2.93 vs. 30.43 ± 6.79, respectively, p < .05), whereas blastocyst percentage obtained by HMC was higher (12.46 ± 4.96) than SCNT (5.31 ± 2.25; p > .05). It was inferred that HMC technique provides a cost‐effective and efficient method of in vitro production of cloned sheep embryos with a comparatively simpler technique with a possibility of automation. Efficiency of cloned embryo production could be improved further by propagating and standardizing this technique.     

Tiger,Bengal and Domestic Cat Embryos Produced by Homospecific and Interspecific Zona‐Free Nuclear Transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate three different cloning strategies in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris) and to use the most efficient to generate wild felid embryos by interspecific cloning (iSCNT) using Bengal (a hybrid formed by the cross of Felis silvestris and Prionailurus bengalensis) and tiger (Panthera tigris) donor cells. In experiment 1, zona‐free (ZP‐free) cloning resulted in higher fusion and expanded blastocyst rates with respect to zona included cloning techniques that involved fusion or injection of the donor cell. In experiment 2, ZP‐free iSCNT and embryo aggregation (2X) were assessed. Division velocity and blastocyst rates were increased by embryo aggregation in the three species. Despite fewer tiger embryos than Bengal and cat embryos reached the blastocyst stage, Tiger 2X group increased the percentage of blastocysts with respect to Tiger 1X group (3.2% vs 12.1%, respectively). Moreover, blastocyst cell number was almost duplicated in aggregated embryos with respect to non‐aggregated ones within Bengal and tiger groups (278.3 ± 61.9 vs 516.8 ± 103.6 for Bengal 1X and Bengal 2X groups, respectively; 41 vs 220 ± 60 for Tiger 1X and Tiger 2X groups, respectively). OCT4 analysis also revealed that tiger blastocysts had higher proportion of OCT4‐positive cells with respect to Bengal blastocysts and cat intracytoplasmic sperm injection blastocysts. In conclusion, ZP‐free cloning has improved the quality of cat embryos with respect to the other cloning techniques evaluated and was successfully applied in iSCNT complemented with embryo aggregation.     

Improving the Quality of Miniature Pig Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Blastocysts: Aggregation of SCNT Embryos at the Four‐cell Stage

Miniature pigs share many similar characteristics such as anatomy, physiology and body size with humans and are expected to become important animal models for therapeutic cloning using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In the present study, we observed that miniature pig SCNT blastocysts possessed a lower total number of nuclei and a lower percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells than those possessed by in vitro fertilized (IVF) blastocysts. To overcome these problems, we evaluated the applicability of aggregating miniature pig SCNT embryos at the four‐cell stage. We showed that (i) aggregation of two or three miniature pig SCNT embryos at the four‐cell stage improves the total number of nuclei and the percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells in blastocysts, and (ii) IVF blastocysts with low cell numbers induced by the removal of two blastomeres at the four‐cell stage did not exhibit a decrease in the percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells. These results suggest that the aggregation of miniature pig SCNT embryos at the four‐cell stage can be a useful technique for improving the quality of miniature pig SCNT blastocysts and indicating that improvement in the percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells in aggregated SCNT embryos is not simply the consequence of increased cell numbers.     

Early morphological nuclear events and developmental capacity of embryos reconstructed with fetal fibroblasts at the M or G1 phase after intracytoplasmic nuclear injection in cattle

We examined morphological nuclear events during the first cell cycle of bovine embryos reconstructed with somatic cells at the M and G1 phases (M-embryos and G1-embryos, respectively) by intracytoplasmic nuclear injection, and the subsequent development of these embryos in vitro and in vivo. Bovine fetal fibroblasts (BFFs) at the M or G1 phase were directly injected into enucleated oocytes, and activated immediately. Only half (48%) of the M-embryos extruded polar body-like cells (PBCs) at 6 h post injection (hpi). At 15 to 19 hpi, 54% of the M-embryos formed a single pronucleus-like nucleus. Nuclear envelope-breakdown, premature chromosome condensation and single nuclear clusters were observed in most of the G1-embryos (88%) within 30 min following the nuclear injection. At 15 to 19 hpi, single pronucleus-like nuclei were formed in most G1-embryos (83%). The potential of G1-embryos to develop to blastocysts was significantly higher than that of M-embryos (31% vs 16%). Three of five recipients following transfer of blastocysts derived from the G1-embryos became pregnant on Day 30, and one recipient delivered a calf. Our results indicate that almost a half of the M-embryos failed to extrude PBCs and that the G1-embryos developed to blastocysts at a higher rate than the M-embryos.     

牛胚胎性别鉴定荧光定量PCR方法的优化与应用

旨在建立一种可检测牛早期胚胎性别的复合探针体系,减少常规PCR方法电泳所带来的污染,提高鉴定准确率,降低鉴定成本。本研究以SRY为牛胚胎性别鉴定的目标基因,以进口YCD-PCR性别鉴定试剂盒为对照组（n=9 543）,荧光定量PCR的单引物分别扩增体系（荧光单扩,FSPSA,n=6 570）和双引物混合扩增体系（荧光双扩,FDPMA,n=22 238）分别做试验组,从性别鉴定效率、无反应率、雌雄胚胎百分率和比值、移植妊娠率、雌性胚胎母犊率、不同细胞取样数下的性别鉴定结果和鉴定成本等方面进行各组间比较。结果表明,荧光单扩组的雌性胚胎百分率和性别鉴定效率极显著高于其他两组（P<0.01）,无反应率极显著低于其他两组（P<0.01）,雌雄胚胎比值与其他两组差异较大（1.03∶1 vs 1∶1.03和1∶1.02）,雌性胚胎母犊率极显著低于荧光双扩组和对照组（P<0.01）;荧光双扩组的雌性胚胎百分率、雄性胚胎百分率和雌性胚胎母犊率均与对照组无显著差异（P>0.05）,雌雄胚胎比值与对照组相似（1∶1.03和1∶1.02）,无反应率极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）,性别鉴定效率极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）。取样细胞4~6组和7~10组的性别鉴定效率极显著高于1~3组和SD（separated & died cells）组（P<0.01）,而1~3组和SD组之间及4~6组和7~10组之间差异不显著（P>0.05）。移植妊娠率4~6细胞组最高（49.68%）,但各取样组间无显著差异（P>0.05）。荧光双扩法与对照组相比,鉴定成本下降了46.76%。结果显示,荧光双扩方法产母犊准确率最高,鉴定成本较低,取样4~6细胞时的移植妊娠率最高,是一种更可行的牛胚胎性别鉴定技术,更有利于产业化推广和应用。     

山羊类ES细胞的分离与克隆

采集山羊交配后6～8d的桑椹胚、囊胚和孵化囊胚,将桑椹胚和囊胚分别放在小鼠原代胎儿成纤维细胞(PMEF)饲养层和同源原代胎儿成纤维细胞(PGEF)饲养层上比较其脱带时间及脱带率。脱带后,将各自一半胚胎切割,把含ICM的半胚分别放在相应饲养层上进行培养,另一半整胚在各自饲养层上继续培养,而孵化囊胚直接于PGEF饲养层上培养。当ICM增殖一定程度时进行传代,以比较其类ES细胞分离与克隆的效果。结果表明,在2种不同饲养层上,囊胚的脱带时间均短于桑椹胚,囊胚的脱带率均高于桑椹胚,而饲养层的种类对胚胎的脱带时间以及脱带率影响不大。脱带切割囊胚不论在PMEF还是在PGEF饲养层上,其贴壁时间均短于脱带整胚及孵化囊胚,而贴壁率高于脱带整胚,与孵化囊胚相似。脱带整胚及脱带切割胚在PMEF饲养层上所获类ES细胞只能维持3代,而在PGEF饲养层上,脱带切割半胚和孵化囊胚所获类ES细胞传至5代。由此认为,对脱带后的胚胎进行切割处理,有利于ICM的贴壁和增殖;应用同源原代胎儿成纤维细胞饲养层培养系统,有利于类ES细胞的分离与克隆。     

牛体细胞核移植胚胎的批量化生产

利用2枚显微去核后的半卵与1枚供体细胞同步融合,并结合微穴法(WOWs)培养体系批量化生产成年牛克隆胚胎(日产40～80枚).结果,重构胚电融合率95.7%(3059/3197)、卵裂率87.1%(2637/3027)、囊胚率41.1%(1244/3027)和可冻胚率(72.5%,933/1244)均达到较高水平.克隆胚胎采用玻璃微管玻璃化冷冻保存数月后移植,30日龄时妊娠率为28.1%(48/171),已经产下5头足月克隆牛续.结果表明,该方法具有产业开发潜力.     

共培养消除次黄嘌呤对胚胎发育的抑制作用

将昆明小鼠原核胚分别与不同贴壁程度的山羊原代输卵管上皮细胞（oviductal epithelial cells，OECs）共培养，确定体细胞的贴壁程度对共培养胚胎发育的影响。然后，采用高压液相色谱仪（HPLC）测定培养液中次黄嘌呤（hypoxanthine，HX）浓度，确定不同贴壁程度体细胞降解HX的能力。结果表明：与山羊原代0ECs共培养，能很好地促进小鼠胚胎发育，发育到囊胚的比例约为60％，其中贴满1d组的胚胎发育效果最好。在此基础上，检测培养液中HX浓度，发现贴满1d组培养液中HX浓度显著低于贴满3d和5d组（P〈0．05），表明体细胞降解HX的能力随培养时间的延长而下降。     

An Inter‐Subspecies Cloned Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Obtained by Transferring of Cryopreserved Embryos via Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of cryopreservation of inter‐subspecies cloned embryos in buffalo. In our experiment, river buffalo ear fibroblast nucleus was fused into swamp buffalo oocyte cytoplasm. The blastocyst formation rate for nuclear transfer of freshly thawed cells was not different from those of growing cells, confluent or serum‐starved cells. A total of 122 cloned blastocysts derived from cryopreserved fibroblasts were cryopreserved and thawed, 37 were survived, the cryosurvival rate was 30.3%. The survived blastocysts were transferred into 15 recipient buffalos. Five of the recipients established pregnancy, but four of them aborted on day 53, 59, 145 and 179 of gestation respectively. One cross‐bred buffalo (Murrah × Swamp buffalo (2n = 49) received three embryos delivered a 40.5 kg female calf by natural delivery on day 320 of gestation. Up to now (13‐month old), the cloned calf has been growing well with no abnormity observed. These results demonstrated that cryopreservation of inter‐subspecies cloned embryos is feasible to produce buffalo offspring.     

Study of the efficiency of chemically assisted enucleation method for handmade cloning in goat (Capra hircus)

The present investigation was carried out to find an efficient chemically assisted procedure for enucleation of goat oocytes related to handmade cloning (HMC) technique. After 22-h in vitro maturation, oocytes were incubated with 0.5 μg/ml demecolcine for 2 h. Cumulus cells were removed by pipetting and vortexing in 0.5 mg/ml hyaluronidase, and zona pellucida were digested with pronase. Oocytes with extrusion cones were subjected to oriented bisection. One-third of the cytoplasm with the extrusion cone was removed with a micro blade. The remaining cytoplasts were used as recipients in HMC. Goat foetal fibroblasts were used as nuclear donors. The overall efficiency measured as the number of cytoplasts obtained per total number of oocytes used was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in chemically assisted handmade enucleation (CAHE) than oriented handmade enucleation without demecolcine (OHE) (80.02 ± 1.292% vs. 72.9 ± 1.00%, respectively, mean ± SEM). The reconstructed and activated embryos were cultured in embryo development medium (EDM) for 7 days. Fusion, cleavage and blastocyst development rate were 71.63 ± 1.95%, 92.94 ± 0.91% and 23.78 ± 3.33% (mean ± SEM), respectively which did not differ significantly from those achieved with random handmade enucleation and OHE. In conclusion, chemically assisted enucleation is a highly efficient and reliable enucleation method for goat HMC which eliminates the need of expensive equipment (inverted fluorescence microscope) and potentially harmful chromatin staining and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for cytoplast selection.     

In vitro development and postvitrification survival of cloned feline embryos derived from preadipocytes

The aim of the present study was to optimize the conditions for in vitro development and postvitrification survival of somatic cell cloned feline embryos. To determine the effects of cell cycle synchronization of the nuclear donor cells, we cultured preadipocytes under serum starvation or conventional conditions. After two days in serum starvation culture, the proportion of synchronized donor cells at the G0/G1 phase was 91.6%. This was significantly higher than the proportion of non-synchronized cells in the proliferative phase (72.6%, P<0.05). The in vitro development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos reconstructed using donor cells treated under serum starvation conditions (normal cleavage rate of 65.7%, 46/70, and blastocyst formation rate of 20.0%, 14/70) was comparable to that of the serum supplemented group (52.5%, 31/59, and 20.3%, 12/59). Use of in vitro or in vivo matured oocytes as recipient cytoplasts equally supported development of the SCNT embryos to the blastocyst stage (11.9%, 5/42, vs. 9.5%, 2/21). SCNT-derived blastocysts were vitrified using the original minimum volume cooling (MVC) or the modified (stepwise) MVC method. Although none (n=10) of the SCNT blastocysts survived following vitrification by the original MVC method, the stepwise MVC method resulted in 100% survival after rewarming (n=11). In conclusion, we demonstrated that feline somatic cell cloned embryos with a high developmental ability can be produced irrespective of cell cycle synchronization of donor cells using either in vivo or in vitro matured oocytes. Furthermore, by utilizing a stepwise vitrification method, we showed that it is possible to cryopreserve cloned feline blastocysts.