In vitro development of bovine nuclear transfer embryos reconstructed with mammary gland epithelial cells at different passages

In the present study, the effect of passage of nuclear donor cells on the in vitro development of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos was investigated using colostrum‐derived mammary gland epithelial (MGE) cells at different passages (3–30 passages) to find reliable passages for the efficiency of cloning. Development of NT embryos to the blastocyst stage was affected by the number of passages of MGE cells (P < 0.05). Nuclear transfer embryos reconstructed with MGE cells at 3–7 passages showed a significantly higher blastocyst development (31.3–48.5%) than those with the cells at 10–30 passages (2.5–12.5%, P < 0.05). No difference in the proportion of the MGE cells with normal diploid was observed among passage of 3, 15 and 30 (P > 0.05). The use of MGE cells at early passages for nuclear donor cells may be advantageous for the production of NT embryos.     

Gene expression and hormonal regulation of adiponectin and its receptors in bovine mammary gland and mammary epithelial cells

Although the functions of adiponectin, a differentiated adipocyte‐derived hormone, in regulating glucose and fatty acid metabolism are regulated by two subtypes of adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs; AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), those in ruminants remain unclear. Therefore we examined the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors in various bovine tissues and mammary glands among different lactation stages, and the effects of lactogenic hormones (insulin, dexamethasone and prolactin) and growth hormone (GH) on mRNA expression of the AdipoRs in cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC). AdipoRs mRNAs were widely expressed in various bovine tissues, but adiponectin mRNA expression was significantly higher in adipose tissue than in other tissues. In the mammary gland, although adiponectin mRNA expression was significantly decreased at lactation, AdipoR1 mRNA expression was significantly higher at peak lactation than at the dry‐off stage. In BMEC, lactogenic hormones and GH upregulated AdipoR2 mRNA expression but did not change that of AdipoR1. In conclusion, adiponectin and its receptor mRNA were expressed in various bovine tissues and the adiponectin mRNA level was decreased during lactation. These results suggest that adiponectin and its receptors ware changed in mammary glands by lactation and that AdipoRs mRNA expression was regulated by different pathways in BMEC.     

Nuclear transfer using a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (BMEC)

The developmental potential of nuclei from a bovine mammary epithelial cell line (BMEC) in nuclear transfer was investigated. For nuclear transfer donors, BMEC cells (passage 15) were cultured for 4–5 days after seeding at cell densities of 1.0 × 10⁵ cells/cm² (high‐density group) or 0.8 × 10⁴ cells/cm² (low‐density group). First, the effective electric stimulation for fusion of enucleated oocytes with BMEC cells was examined. Fusion rates reached maximum with two DC pulses of 30 V/150 µm for 20 µs in the high‐density group and with two DC pulses of 25 V/150 µm for 10 µs in the low‐density group. The fusion rate (37.5%) in the high‐density group was significantly (P < 0.005) lower than in the low‐density group (71.4%). Second, the in vitro developmental potential of nuclear transfer embryos derived from BMEC cells was examined. In the high‐density and low‐density groups, 18.8% and 24.1% of fused oocytes, respectively, developed to blastocyst stage. The results of this study indicate that nuclei from BMEC cells support the development of nuclear transfer embryos to the blastocyst stage and that the efficiency of oocyte–cell fusion is affected by the culture conditions of the donor BEMC cells before nuclear transfer.     

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.     

Recent progress in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer

Bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage at a rate similar to that of embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. However, the full‐term developmental rate of SCNT embryos is very low, owing to the high embryonic and fetal losses after embryo transfer. In addition, increased birth weight and postnatal mortality are observed at high rates in cloned calves. The low efficiency of SCNT is probably attributed to incomplete reprogramming of the donor nucleus and most of the developmental problems of clones are thought to be caused by epigenetic defects. Applications of SCNT will depend on improvement in the efficiency of production of healthy cloned calves. In this review, we discuss problems and recent progress in bovine SCNT.     

细胞因子对牛乳腺上皮细胞体外增殖作用评价

分离纯化了乳腺上皮细胞,对细胞进行角蛋白免疫组化鉴定后,比较不同细胞因子对乳腺上皮细胞生长的影响.结果显示,生长因子EGF或HGF对牛乳腺上皮细胞的增殖具有重要作用,17β-E2不能促进牛乳腺上皮细胞的增殖,但可与EGF协同促进牛乳腺上皮细胞的增殖,表明17β3-E2对EGF诱导的乳腺上皮细胞增殖具有重要作用.     

奶牛乳腺上皮细胞和成纤维细胞的体外培养与鉴定

为体外培养纯化出稳定的奶牛乳腺上皮细胞和成纤维细胞,试验通过外科手术的方法取妊娠后期或泌乳期的荷斯坦奶牛乳腺组织,分离乳腺腺泡,用组织块法体外培养奶牛乳腺细胞,应用差时胰酶消化法和差速贴壁法将奶牛乳腺上皮细胞和成纤维细胞分别纯化出来,并用免疫组化的方法对细胞的纯度进行鉴定。结果表明:纯化的奶牛乳腺上皮细胞多为多角形,细胞核呈圆形或椭圆形,核仁清晰可见,多呈鹅卵石样或铺路石样生长,并可分泌乳滴,角蛋白-18反应阳性,波形蛋白反应阴性;纯化的奶牛乳腺成纤维细胞多为长梭形,呈旋涡状或放射状生长,角蛋白-18反应阴性,波形蛋白反应阳性;经纯化后2种细胞的纯度均可达95%以上,可满足后续试验的要求。     

Constant transmission of mitochondrial DNA in intergeneric cloned embryos reconstructed from swamp buffalo fibroblasts and bovine ooplasm

Although interspecies/intergeneric somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) has been proposed as a tool to produce offspring of endangered species, conflict between donor nucleus and recipient cytoplasm in iSCNT embryos has been identified as an impediment to implementation for agricultural production. To investigate the nuclear–mitochondrial interactions on the developmental potential of iSCNT embryos, we analyzed the mtDNA copy numbers in iSCNT embryos reconstructed with water buffalo (swamp type) fibroblasts and bovine enucleated oocytes (buffalo iSCNT). As controls, SCNT embryos were derived from bovine fibroblasts (bovine SCNT). Buffalo iSCNT and bovine SCNT embryos showed similar rates of cleavage and development to the 8‐cell stage (P > 0.05). However, buffalo iSCNT embryos did not develop beyond the 16‐cell stage. Both bovine and buffalo mtDNA content in buffalo iSCNT embryos was stable throughout the nuclear transfer process, and arrested at the 8‐ to 16‐cell stage (P > 0.05). In bovine SCNT embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage, mtDNA copy number was increased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both the donor cell and recipient cytoplast mtDNAs of buffalo iSCNT embryos were identified and maintained through the iSCNT process until the 8–16‐cell stage. In addition, the copy number of mtDNA per embryo was a useful monitor to investigate nuclear–mitochondrial interactions.     

金属螯合剂对延边黄牛体细胞核移植重组胚发育的影响

由于在核移植试验中,所用的水和化学物质都不可避免的会被一些金属离子轻微污染,造成胚胎内抗氧化物和过氧化物之间难以保持平衡,从而导致胚胎发育率降低,本试验以此为出发点,探讨了在延边黄牛体细胞核移植重组胚早期培养液中添加乙二胺四乙酸钠（EDTA-Na）和柠檬酸钠（sodium citrate）2种金属螯合剂类抗氧化剂,对其后续发育的影响,以期筛选出最佳的体外培养条件。结果表明：适合延边黄牛体细胞核移植重组胚后期发育的EDTA-Na和柠檬酸钠的最佳浓度分别为50μmol/L和0.6mmol/L。     

脂多糖诱导奶牛乳腺上皮细胞先天性免疫反应

采取荷斯坦奶牛乳腺,进行体外分离培养,并纯化细胞。用不同质量浓度(0、1、10、100mg/L)的脂多糖刺激乳腺上皮细胞,采用MTT法检测脂多糖对细胞增殖的影响,半定量PCR检测10mg/L的LPS对乳腺上皮细胞TLR4、TLR2、CD14、MD-2四个基因在不同时间(0、2、6h)mRNA表达水平的差异。结果表明,高剂量(100mg/L)的LPS对乳腺上皮细胞的增殖产生明显影响;LPS刺激乳腺上皮细胞后,导致TLR4、CD14、MD-2mRNA表达迅速升高,而TLR2mRNA弱表达。说明TLR4、CD14、MD-2参与LPS的识别,同时也说明脂多糖刺激乳腺上皮细胞后,乳腺上皮细胞能够产生先天性免疫反应。     

牛乳腺上皮细胞的分离培养

为了对牛乳腺上皮细胞(MECs)进行分离、培养和鉴定,并研究细胞分泌功能,试验通过胶原酶消化法分离得到了牛乳腺上皮细胞,采用传代法对细胞进行纯化,对细胞标志蛋白进行免疫荧光染色鉴定,通过体外诱导和RT-PCR分析鉴定细胞的分泌功能。结果表明:分离到的牛乳腺上皮细胞具有典型乳腺上皮细胞的形态特征,表达广谱角蛋白,经诱导后可分泌β-酪蛋白。     

金黄色葡萄球菌对体外培养的奶牛乳腺上皮细胞PDGF-BB mRNA及蛋白表达的影响

为研究金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞(BMEC)中PDGF-BB m RNA及蛋白表达的影响,本研究采用热灭活的不同浓度的S.aureus菌液(0、105、106、108cfu/m L)作用于BMEC,分别在不同时间点(6 h、12 h、24 h、48 h)利用荧光定量PCR和western blot方法检测PDGF-BB m RNA及其蛋白的相对表达量。结果显示,不同浓度菌液处理组的PDGF-BB m RNA相对表达量随着作用时间延长表达量升高(p0.05)。6 h处理组随着菌液浓度的升高,PDGF-BB m RNA的相对表达量呈升高趋势;12 h处理组随着菌液浓度的升高,PDGF-BB m RNA的相对表达量呈降低趋势;24 h和48 h处理组105cfu/m L菌液处理组PDGF-BB m RNA相对表达量最高(p0.05)。同时,各时间点不同浓度菌液处理组PDGF-BB蛋白的相对表达量和m RNA表达基本一致。本研究表明,热灭活的S.aureus能够促进BMEC PDGF-BB m RNA和蛋白的表达。     

Mitochondrial and DNA damage in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent mitochondrial and DNA damage in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos were examined. Bovine enucleated oocytes were electrofused with donor cells and then activated by a combination of Ca-ionophore and 6-dimethylaminopurine culture. The H₂O₂ and ˙OH radical levels, mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential (ΔΨ), and DNA fragmentation of SCNT and in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos at the zygote stage were analyzed. The H₂O₂ (35.6 ± 1.1 pixels/embryo) and ˙OH radical levels (44.6 ± 1.2 pixels/embryo) of SCNT embryos were significantly higher than those of IVF embryos (19.2 ± 1.5 and 23.8 ± 1.8 pixels/embryo, respectively, p < 0.05). The mitochondria morphology of SCNT embryos was diffused within the cytoplasm. The ΔΨ of SCNT embryos was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of IVF embryos (0.95 ± 0.04 vs. 1.21 ± 0.06, red/green). Moreover, the comet tail length of SCNT embryos was longer than that of IVF embryos (515.5 ± 26.4 µm vs. 425.6 ± 25.0 µm, p < 0.05). These results indicate that mitochondrial and DNA damage increased in bovine SCNT embryos, which may have been induced by increased ROS levels.     

Exfoliation rate of mammary epithelial cells in milk on bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is associated with bacterial load

The exfoliation rate of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) in milk is affected by physiological, breeding and environmental factors. Little is known about the relationship between the MEC exfoliation into milk and mammary‐infected Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) load on bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between S. aureus load and the proportion of MEC exfoliation in milk using five substantial bovine mastitis models. In 64 randomly extracted milk samples from udders at 3–21 days after S. aureus infusion, there were various samples with different numbers of S. aureus counts and somatic cell counts. No significant correlations were found between the S. aureus counts and somatic cell count (r = 0.338). In contrast, a significant correlation was noted between S. aureus counts and the proportion of cytokeratin‐positive cells in the milk from the infused udders (r = 0.734, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the increasing MEC exfoliation rate in milk from mastitis udders caused by S. aureus may contribute to reduced milk yield.     

体细胞克隆太湖猪出生

以中国太湖猪胎儿成纤维细胞为核供体,以体外成熟卵母细胞为核受体,以杜洛克猪为代孕母猪,进行了太湖猪体细胞克隆技术的研究,成功地获得了首例体细胞克隆太湖猪仔猪.经微卫星DNA多态性鉴定,确定克隆猪来自供核细胞,与代孕母猪无亲缘关系.本研究将为体细胞克隆技术在我国太湖猪育种、建立人类疾病模型等研究方面提供可行的技术方法.     

Establishment and characterization of a dairy goat mammary epithelial cell line with human telomerase (hT‐MECs)

Although research on dairy goat mammary gland have referred extensively to molecular mechanisms, research on lines of dairy goat mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are still rare. This paper sought to establish an immortal MEC line by stable transfection of human telomerase. MECs from a lactating (45 days post‐parturition) Xinong Saanen dairy goat were cultured purely and subsequently transfected with a plasmid carrying the sequence of human telomerase. Immortalized MECs by human telomerase (hT‐MECs) exhibited a typical cobblestone morphology and activity and expression levels of telomerase resembled that of MCF‐7 cells. hT‐MECs on passage 42 grew vigorously and ‘S’ sigmoid curves of growth were observed. Moreover, hT‐MECs maintained a normal chromosome modal number of 2n = 60, keratin 8 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were evidently expressed, and beta‐casein protein was synthesized and secreted. Beta‐casein expression was enhanced by prolactin (P < 0.05). Lipid droplets were found in hT‐MECs, and messenger RNA levels of PPARG, SREBP, FASN, ACC and SCD in hT‐MECs (passage 40) were similar to MECs (passage 7). In conclusion, the obtained hT‐MEC line retained a normal morphology, growth characteristics, cytogenetics and secretory characteristics as primary MECs. Hence, it can be a representative model cell line, for molecular and functional analysis, of dairy goat MECs for an extended period of time.     

Modification of maturation condition improves oocyte maturation and in vitro development of somatic cell nuclear transfer pig embryos

This study examined effects on the developmental competence of pig oocytes after somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or parthenogenetic activation (PA) of : 1) co-culturing of oocytes with follicular shell pieces (FSP) during in vitro maturation (IVM); 2) different durations of maturation; and 3) defined maturation medium supplemented with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA; control), pig follicular fluid (pFF), cysteamine (CYS), or β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME). The proportion of metaphase II oocytes was increased (p < 0.05) by co-culturing with FSP compared to control oocytes (98% vs. 94%). However, blastocyst formation after SCNT was not improved by FSP coculture (9% vs. 12%). Nuclear maturation of oocytes matured for 39 or 42 h was higher (p < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured for 36 h (95-96% vs. 79%). Cleavage (83%) and blastocyst formation (26%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in oocytes matured for 42 h than in other groups. Supplementation of a defined maturation medium with 100 µM CYS or 100 µM β-ME showed no stimulatory effect on oocyte maturation, embryo cleavage, or blastocyst formation after PA. β-ME treatment during IVM decreased embryo cleavage after SCNT compared to pFF or PVA treatments, but no significant difference was found in blastocyst formation (7-16%) among the four treatment groups. The results indicated that maturation of oocytes for 42 h was beneficial for the development of SCNT embryos. Furthermore, the defined maturation system used in this study could support in vitro development of PA or SCNT embryos.     

Establishment of an in vitro culture model to study milk production and the blood–milk barrier with bovine mammary epithelial cells

This study attempted to establish a culture model to recreate the milk production pathway in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). BMECs were isolated from Holstein cows (nonlactating, nonpregnant, and parous) and were stored by cryopreservation. To separate the apical and basolateral compartments, BMECs were cultured on a cell culture insert with a collagen gel in the presence of bovine pituitary extract and dexamethasone to induce milk production and tight junction (TJ) formation. The culture model showed the secretion of the major milk components, such as β‐casein, lactose, and triglyceride, and formed less‐permeable TJs in BMECs. Moreover, the TJs were distinctly separated from the apical and basolateral membranes. Glucose transporter‐1, which transports glucose into the cytoplasm through the basolateral membrane, localized in the lateral membrane of BMECs. Toll‐like receptor‐4, which binds to lipopolysaccharide in the alveolar lumen in mastitis, localized in the apical membrane. Beta‐casein was mainly localized near the Golgi apparatus and the apical membrane. Moreover, milk components were almost secreted into the upper chamber of the cell culture insert. These findings indicate that this model has clear cell polarity as well as in vivo and is effective to study of milk production and the blood–milk barrier in lactating BMECs.     

影响水牛体细胞克隆胚胎移植的因素

从不同发情方式、不同胚胎类型、不同胚龄以及不同季节来探讨影响水牛体细胞克隆胚胎移植的效率。结果显示,自然发情与同期发情方法对水牛体细胞克隆胚胎的移植受胎率有显著影响。鲜胚和冻胚移植后受胎率没有显著差异,其受胎率分别是9.79%、14.5%。在移植中,不论是鲜胚还是冻胚,6日龄胚胎移植受胎率最高。而且不同日龄(5、6、7、8～10d)克隆胚胎移植受胎率差异不显著(鲜胚P=0.260 7,冻胚P=0。065 2)。克隆胚胎在秋季移植时受胎率最高,受胎率是16.06%,比其他季节高,且差异显著(P<00.05).其次是春季,但夏季和冬季克隆胚胎移植后受胎率差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果表明,水牛体细胞克隆胚胎在胚胎移植中是可行的,但效率比较低。