In Vitro Development of Marbled Cat Embryos Derived from Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

The objective of the study was to investigate interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (iSCNT) techniques in marbled cats (Pardofelis marmorata), using domestic cat and rabbit oocytes as the recipient cytoplasm. The recipient oocytes were obtained from ovariohysterectomized cats and superovulated rabbits. The donor cells were collected from a male marbled cat that had died in captivity. Experiment 1 was conducted to observe the development of cloned marbled cat embryos (marbled cat donor cells-domestic cat oocytes; MC-DC), derived from oocytes matured for 24, 36 and 42 h. The result showed that the developmental rates of MC-DC cloned embryos at the 4-8 cell and the morula stages derived from oocytes cultured for 24 h were significantly greater than those cultured for 36 and 42 h (p < 0.05). Experiment 2 was conducted to compare the fusion rate of MC-DC couplets, fused by inducing different fusion voltages, 2.1 or 2.4 kV/cm. The result showed that there was no difference in fusion efficiency between the 2.1 and 2.4 kV/cm fusion protocols. Experiment 3 was conducted to compare the developmental rate of MC-DC and domestic cat (DC-DC) cloned embryos. In vitro fertilized cat embryos served as a control. The development of MC-DC and DC-DC cloned embryos to the 4- to 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stages was not significantly different. However, the development rates at morula and blastocyst stages of control were significantly greater than those of cloned embryos (p < 0.05). Experiment 4 rabbit (RB) oocytes were used as a recipient cytoplasm for marbled cat and domestic cat cloned embryos (MC- RB and DC-RB). RB-RB cloned embryos served as a control. There were no differences in the developmental rates between MC-RB, DC-RB and RB-RB embryos. In conclusion, marbled cat fibroblast cells can be reprogrammed in domestic cat and rabbit oocytes, and by using iSCNT it might be possible to produce marbled cat offspring in the future.     

Factors Affecting the Development of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos in Cattle

Nuclear transfer is a complex multistep procedure that includes oocyte maturation, cell cycle synchronization of donor cells, enucleation, cell fusion, oocyte activation and embryo culture. Therefore, many factors are believed to contribute to the success of embryo development following nuclear transfer. Numerous attempts to improve cloning efficiency have been conducted since the birth of the first sheep by somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, the efficiency of somatic cell cloning has remained low, and applications have been limited. In this review, we discuss some of the factors that affect the developmental ability of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos in cattle.     

Development In Vitro and Mitochondrial Fate of Interspecies Cloned Embryos

Although the technique of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer can be used to increase the population size of endangered mammals, the mitochondrial heteroplasmy in cloned embryos and animals makes this idea doubtful. In present study, goat–sheep cloned embryos were constructed by fusing goat foetal fibroblasts (GFFs) into sheep oocytes and then cultured in vitro to investigate the capability of sheep oocyte dedifferentiating GFF nucleus. Moreover, at each stage of 1‐ (immediately after fused), 2‐, 4‐, 8‐, 16‐cell, morula and blastocyst, the copy number of mtDNA from GFF and sheep oocyte was examined using real‐time PCR. The results showed that: 7.4% of the fused cloned embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage; in the process of one cell to the morula stage, the copy number of two kinds of mtDNA was stable relatively; however, in the process of morula to the blastocyst stage, the decreasing in the copy number of GFF‐derived mtDNA, while the increasing in sheep oocyte‐derived, resulted in their ratio of decreasing sharply from 2.0 ± 1.0% to 0.012 ± 0.004%. This study demonstrates that: (i) the goat–sheep cloned embryos have the ability to develop to blastocyst in vitro; (ii) from the morula stage to the blastocyst stage of goat–sheep cloned embryos, goat derived mitochondria can be gradually replaced with those from sheep oocyte.     

卵母细胞核因子促进核移植四倍体胚胎早期发育研究

研究旨在探讨猪卵母细胞核因子在重编程过程中发挥的作用。将体细胞引入未去核的MⅡ期卵母细胞中,构建体细胞核与卵母细胞核共存的核移植四倍体胚胎。通过分析核移植四倍体胚胎的早期发育情况探讨卵母细胞核因子对核移植四倍体胚胎早期发育的影响。结果显示,核移植四倍体胚胎、孤雌二倍体胚胎及孤雌单倍体胚胎这3组胚胎的卵裂率极显著高于核移植二倍体胚胎（P<0.01）,且核移植四倍体囊胚率及总细胞数也极显著高于核移植二倍体囊胚（P<0.01）。与通过标准核移植程序构建的核移植二倍体胚胎相比,核移植四倍体胚胎具有更强的发育能力。本研究建立了一个体细胞核与完整卵母细胞核因子物质共存的四倍体胚胎模型,有助于研究供体核与卵母细胞核之间的联系,为研究核因子在重编程过程中发挥的作用提供了平台。     

Study on Oocyte Nuclear Factor Promotes the Early Development of Tetraploid Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos

The study was aimed to investigate the role of porcine oocyte nuclear factors during reprogramming. Somatic cell nuclei was introduced into intact MⅡ oocytes to establish tetraploid somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos containing both somatic nuclei and oocyte nuclei. And then the influence of the oocyte nucleus on tetraploid SCNT embryo development was examined by assessing characteristics including cleavage rate and blastocyst rate. The results showed that the cleavage rate of tetraploid SCNT embryos,diploid parthenogenetic embryos and haploid parthenogenetic embryos was extremely significantly higher than that of standard diploid SCNT embryos (P<0.01). The blastocyst rate and the total number of cells in tetraploid SCNT embryos were extremely significantly higher than that of standard diploid SCNT embryos (P<0.01).Overall,tetraploid SCNT embryos had a higher developmental competence than standard diploid SCNT embryos. In conclusion, the embryonic model was established in which a fetal fibroblast nucleus and an oocyte M Ⅱ plate coexist. Tetraploid SCNT represented a new research platform that was potentially useful for examining interactions between donor nuclei and oocyte nuclei. This platform should facilitate further understanding of the roles played by nuclear factors during reprogramming.     

绵羊卵丘细胞细胞周期同步化对核移植胚胎发育的影响

供体细胞周期同步化是影响体细胞核移植成功率的重要因素之一.试验分别对绵羊卵丘细胞采用血清饥饿和接触抑制的方法进行细胞周期同步化处理,使用流式细胞仪检测各组细胞周期的分布.结果发现,与对照组相比,卵丘细胞经血清饥饿24~72 h后,显著地增加了G₀/G₁期细胞的百分比(P <0.05);接触抑制24~72 h,G₀/G₁期细胞所占比例与血清饥饿组无显著差异(P >0.05),但显著高于对照组(P <0.05);用经血清饥饿与接触抑制的供体细胞进行核移植后,重构胚卵裂率、桑椹胚率和囊胚率差异不显著(P >0.05),但二者囊胚率显著高于对照组(P <0.05).上述结果证实,血清饥饿和接触抑制均能使绵羊卵丘细胞周期同步化至G₀/G₁,均可用作绵羊体细胞核移植的供体细胞细胞周期同步化处理.     

Production of Wild Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) Embryos by Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Using Domestic Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes

The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of producing wild buffalo embryos by interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) through handmade cloning using wild buffalo somatic cells and domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes. Somatic cells derived from the ear skin of wild buffalo were found to express vimentin but not keratin and cytokeratin‐18, indicating that they were of fibroblast origin. The population doubling time of skin fibroblasts from wild buffalo was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, and the cell proliferation rate was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared with that of skin fibroblasts from domestic buffalo. Neither the cleavage (92.6 ± 2.0% vs 92.8 ± 2.0%) nor the blastocyst rate (42.4 ± 2.4% vs 38.7 ± 2.8%) was significantly different between the intraspecies cloned embryos produced using skin fibroblasts from domestic buffalo and interspecies cloned embryos produced using skin fibroblasts from wild buffalo. However, the total cell number (TCN) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (192.0 ± 25.6 vs 345.7 ± 42.2), and the apoptotic index was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (15.1 ± 3.1 vs 8.0 ± 1.4) for interspecies than that for intraspecies cloned embryos. Following vitrification in open‐pulled straws (OPS) and warming, although the cryosurvival rate of both types of cloned embryos, as indicated by their re‐expansion rate, was not significantly different (34.8 ± 1.5% vs 47.8 ± 7.8), the apoptotic index was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for vitrified–warmed interspecies than that for corresponding intraspecies cloned embryos (48.9 ± 7.2 vs 23.9 ± 2.8). The global level of H3K18ac was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in interspecies cloned embryos than that in intraspecies cloned embryos. The expression level of HDAC1, DNMT3a and CASPASE3 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, that of P53 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in interspecies than in intraspecies embryos, whereas that of DNMT1 was similar between the two types of embryos. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that wild buffalo embryos can be produced by iSCNT.     

哺乳动物异种体细胞核移植技术的应用及影响因素

哺乳动物异种体细胞核移植技术是在同种细胞核移植技术基础上发展起来的动物生殖技术,其在濒危动物保护、人类胚胎干细胞及生物基础学科研究等方面已展现出美好的前景.目前,该技术处于发展阶段,还存在很多值得研究的问题.文章介绍了动物异种体细胞核移植技术在国内外的研究现状,分析了影响异种体细胞核移植技术发展的因素,并对该技术的发展前景进行了展望.     

体细胞核移植技术生产猪植酸酶转基因胚胎的研究

为获得具有植酸酶腮腺特异性表达的猪转基因克隆胚胎,本研究使用植酸酶腮腺特异性表达的DNA质粒(包含腮腺分泌蛋白(parotid secretary protein,PSP)启动子与终止子序列、Neo筛选基因、绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)报告基因和高比活的植酸酶appA基因),采用脂质体转染和基因素418(G418)药物抗性筛选的方法获取稳转细胞系,并利用体细胞核移植技术获得植酸酶转基因胚胎。结果表明,本研究构建的DNA质粒可用于细胞筛选,且质粒越小,细胞的转染效率越高,14.89 kb的YM6552仅获得了7.1%的转染率,EGFP质粒则获得了43.4%的转染效率。在单克隆形成上,较小的pYN3600也获得了更高的单克隆形成数(25个),其中表达EGFP的单克隆有14个,植酸酶PCR阳性集落有11个,高于YM6552的单克隆数(19、8和6)。转基因细胞构建重构胚胎后,所有的胚胎均能表达绿色荧光蛋白,虽其体外发育能力有所下降,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。综上所述,本研究所采用的植酸酶质粒、细胞筛选方法和核移植技术可生产植酸酶重构胚。     

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Horses

The cloning of equids was achieved in 2003, several years after the birth of Dolly the sheep and also after the cloning of numerous other laboratory and farm animal species. The delay was because of the limited development in the horse of more classical-assisted reproductive techniques required for successful cloning, such as oocyte maturation and in vitro embryo production. When these technologies were developed, the application of cloning also became possible and cloned horse offspring were obtained. This review summarizes the main technical procedures that are required for cloning equids and the present status of this technique. The first step is competent oocyte maturation, this is followed by oocyte enucleation and reconstruction, using either zona-enclosed or zona-free oocytes, by efficient activation to allow high cleavage rates and finally by a suitable in vitro embryo culture technique. Cloning of the first equid, a mule, was achieved using an in vivo -matured oocytes and immediate transfer of the reconstructed embryo, i.e. at the one cell stage, to the recipient oviduct. In contrast, the first horse offspring was obtained using a complete in vitro procedure from oocyte maturation to embryo culture to the blastocyst stage, followed by non-surgical transfer. Later studies on equine cloning report high efficiency relative to that for other species. Cloned equid offspring reported to date appear to be normal and those that have reached puberty have been confirmed to be fertile. In summary, horse cloning is now a reproducible technique that offers the opportunity to preserve valuable genetics and notably to generate copies of castrated champions and therefore, offspring from those champions that would be impossible to obtain otherwise.     

BCB和Zebularine对绵羊体细胞核移植胚胎发育效果的影响

为探究亮甲酚蓝(BCB)染色选择的卵母细胞是否有利于体细胞核移植胚胎的体外发育,本实验将卵丘-卵母细胞复合体(COCs)放入含有BCB的PBS中染色,根据细胞质颜色可将卵母细胞分成BCB~+组和BCB~-组,并以未经BCB处理的COCs作为对照组,然后将卵母细胞进行体外成熟,统计卵母细胞的成熟率。将成熟后的卵母细胞进行体细胞核移植,其中,部分BCB~+组卵母细胞所需的供体细胞利用Zebularine处理,统计体细胞核移植的卵裂率、桑椹胚率和囊胚率。结果表明:BCB~+组卵母细胞的成熟率显著高于对照组和BCB~-组(71.15%vs 65.38%,53.52%,P0.05);BCB~+组核移植胚胎的卵裂率(87.91%vs 56.83%)、桑椹胚率(37.41%vs 21.73%)和囊胚率(21.48%vs6.82%)均显著高于BCB~-组(P0.05);与对照组相比,BCB~+组卵裂率(87.91%vs 83.23%)和囊胚率(21.48%vs14.89%)也显著升高(P0.05)。BCB~+组供体细胞经Zebularine处理后,胚胎发育能力进一步提高,其中囊胚率显著高于BCB~+组、对照组和BCB~-组(29.25%vs 21.48%,14.89%,6.82%,P0.05)。     

自由基吸收类抗氧化剂对延边黄牛体细胞克隆重构胚发育的影响

为提高延边黄牛体细胞克隆重构胚发育率,研究了在体外培养液中单独添加不同浓度的自由基吸收类抗氧化剂维生素E(VE)、表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)和亚硒酸钠(SS)对克隆重构胚发育率的影响。试验中选择成熟培养20～22h的卵母细胞,脱颗粒细胞后选择排出第一极体的卵母细胞进行去核与注核操作,然后将融合、激活后的重构胚在添加不同种类不同浓度抗氧化剂的体外培养液中进行培养。结果表明,在卵裂率上,VE的100μmol.L-1组显著高于其他3组(84.58%vs 57.64%、70.87%、67.64%);50和200μmol.L-1组之间无差异,但都显著高于0μmol.L-1组(70.87%、67.64%vs 57.64%)。EGCG的7.5和15μmol.L-1组显著高于加0μmol.L-1组(79.47%、81.67%vs 69.47%)且其他2组间差异不显著。SS的添加,5ng.mL-1组与0和10ng.mL-1组有显著差异(80.44%vs 70.27%、67.16%);与2.5ng.mL-1组差异不显著(80.44%vs 73.92%),且其他2组间差异不显著;在囊胚发育率上,VE的100μmol.L-1组要显著高于其他3组(26.36%vs 13.04%、18.08%、17.26%)。EGCG的15μmol.L-1组显著高于0和30μmol.L-1组(24.86%vs 8.99%、12.10%),和7.5μmol.L-1组无差异。SS的5与0组和10ng.mL-1组有显著差异(23.31%vs 10.32%、12.65%);2.5ng.mL-1组与0和10ng.mL-1l组有显著差异(19.97%vs 10.32%、12.65%)且其他2组间差异不显著。体外培养液中分别单独添加浓度为100μmol.L-1、15μmol.L-1和5ng.mL-1的维生素E,EGCG和亚硒酸钠都能够显著提高延边黄体细胞克隆牛重构胚的发育率。     

Telomerase Activity in Swamp Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes and Embryos Derived from In Vitro Fertilization, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer and Parthenogenetic Activation

The objective of this study was to examine the telomerase activity in swamp buffalo oocytes and pre-implantation stage embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF), somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) and parthenogenetic activation (PA). Immature and mature oocytes, and embryos at the 2-4 cell, 8-16 cell, morula and blastocyst stages produced by IVF, NT and PA were collected and the telomerase activity was assayed by using a Telomerase PCR ELISA kit. Telomerase activity was detected in all developmental stages evaluated from immature oocytes to blastocyst stage embryos. Telomerase activity was detected in higher amounts in immature as compared with mature oocytes (p < 0.05). Embryos derived from NT showed a profile of telomerase activity similar to that of IVF. In IVF and NT embryos, telomerase activity was low in the 2-4 cell and 8-16 cell stages, but the activity significantly increased (p < 0.05) at the morula stage, reaching its highest level at the blastocyst stage. In PA embryos, low levels of telomerase activity were detected from the 2-4 cell to the morula stage, and the highest level of telomerase activity was found at the blastocyst stage. Telomerase activity in NT blastocysts is higher than that derived from IVF and the activity is highest in PA blastocysts. These results suggest that the successful reprogramming of telomerase activity in buffalo NT embryos follow a pattern similar to that in embryos derived from IVF and PA.     

卵母细胞来源对水牛体细胞核移植胚胎发育潜能的影响

【目的】探索不同来源卵母细胞对体细胞核移植(SCNT)重构胚的发育能力及发育潜能关键蛋白表达水平的影响。【方法】试验分为活体采卵(OPU)和屠宰场(SLH)卵巢2组,OPU组用超声波活体采卵仪穿刺抽吸10头非泌乳期经产水牛卵巢的卵泡采卵,SLH组从屠宰场卵巢抽吸卵泡采卵。获得的卵母细胞分别进行体外成熟,体外成熟22～24 h后,吹打去除卵丘细胞,挑选具有第一极体的卵母细胞,去核后与水牛耳部成纤维细胞进行SCNT,分别统计SCNT重构胚的融合率、分裂率和囊胚率,用免疫荧光检测2种SCNT重构胚的E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)和转录因子Sox2蛋白的表达水平。【结果】OPU组卵母细胞成熟率及其SCNT重构胚的囊胚率均显著高于SLH组(P<0.05),但2组SCNT重构胚的融合率和分裂率均无显著差异(P>0.05);免疫荧光结果显示,E-cadherin蛋白定位于细胞膜上,Sox2蛋白分布在细胞核膜及细胞质中,OPU组SCNT重构胚中E-cadherin和Sox2的表达水平均显著高于SLH组(P<0.05)。【结论】活体采集的水牛卵母细胞更适合用于SCNT重构胚的构建...     

牛体细胞核移植技术

对牛体细胞核移植技术中核供体细胞周期同期化处理，电融合条件及去核方法等进行了研究。结果表明，血清－饥饿组（细胞周期同期化处理组）的移核重构胚细胞融合率（83．3％），卵裂率（70％）和囊胚发育率（33．8％）与血清－选择组对应指标间无显著性差异（82．3％，69．2％，32．4％，P＞0．05）；但上述2组分别极显著高于血清－随机组（64．8％，33．8％，4．35％，P＜0．01），试验确立了场强1.025kV/cm，脉冲宽度50μs，连续2次脉冲为最佳电融合条件。摸索出的点击去核法，对卵母细胞进行去核，去核成功率达90％，极显著高地吸引法的68．3％（P＜0．01）；其囊胚发育率为34．1％，显著高于吸引法的18．0％（P＜0．05），与挤压法（20．9％）相比差异不显著（P＞0．05），移植重构胚胎移植后，产2头成活的体细胞克隆牛。     

哺乳动物体细胞克隆技术的应用前景

体细胞克隆的成功为农业、医学以及生物学基础研究提供了新的工具。体细胞核移植技术和转基因、胚胎干细胞等现代生物技术的相互渗透更是活跃。当前,尽管体细胞核移植效率仍然不甚理想,而且克隆后代成活率低、畸形率高,但人们还是对该技术的发展充满了憧憬,尤其希望借助这一手段在攻克一些长期困扰人类的疑难疾病上有所突破。作者则总结了体细胞核移植在上述各方面的应用价值,供同行参考。     

小鼠体细胞核移植研究进展

体细胞核移植是目前生物技术领域研究的热点之一。小鼠作为一种广泛使用的实验动物模型,具有遗传背景清楚、繁殖周期短、饲养成本较低等优点,因此小鼠体细胞核移植具有较大的研究价值。作者简要回顾了小鼠体细胞核移植的发展史,并对体细胞核移植方法、影响核移植效率的因素,包括供核细胞的类型、供核细胞的体外处理、核质细胞周期协调、重构胚的激活、体外培养体系及核移植分子机制等进行了综述,并展望了小鼠体细胞核移植的应用前景。     

Chronological Appearance of Apoptosis in Bovine Embryos Reconstructed by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer from Quiescent Granulosa Cells

Efficiency of cloning has remained low and in spite of attempts to improve this technology, many reconstructed embryos do not implant or are lost during early pregnancy. Chromosomal aberrations, deviant gene expression patterns and abnormal regulation of cell death may be involved in this increased early embryonic loss. Here, we investigate the chronological onset of both apoptotic changes in nuclear morphology and DNA degradation [detected by transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) reaction] in bovine two-cell- to blastocyst-stage embryos. Such embryos were generated either by reconstruction with nuclear transfer from quiescent granulosa cells or by regular in vitro embryo production. Nuclear condensation was observed from the two-cell stage and TUNEL labelling was observed from the six-cell stage in reconstructed embryos, whereas nuclear condensation was evident from the eight-cell stage and TUNEL labelling from the 13-cell stage in embryos derived in vitro. Furthermore, reconstructed embryos displayed elevated ratios of embryos containing apoptotic nuclei at pre-compaction stages and higher indices of apoptotic nuclei in morula and blastocyst stages when compared with in vitro-produced embryos.     

无透明带体细胞核移植研究进展

目前,体细胞核移植主要还是沿用Willadsen发明的显微操作的去核、注核、融合和激活来完成。由于其核移植效率较低,且对仪器设备和技术人员的要求较高,因此,简化并建立一套更适合于生产条件下的体细胞核移植程序,从而提高核移植效率一直是人们所不懈努力的。作者就无透明带核移植技术和单个胚胎培养系统作一介绍。     

A Cathepsin B Inhibitor,E-64, Improves the Preimplantation Development of Bovine Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos

Bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an important and powerful tool for basic research and biomedical and agricultural applications, however, the efficiency of SCNT has remained extremely low. In this study, we investigated the effects of cathepsin B inhibitor (E-64) supplementation of culture medium on in vitro development of bovine SCNT embryos. We initially used three concentrations of E-64 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 μm), among which 0.5 μm resulted in the highest rate of blastocysts production after in vitro fertilization (IVF), and was therefore used for further experiments. Blastocyst development of SCNT embryos in the E-64 treatment group also increased relative to the control. Moreover, the cryosurvival rates of IVF and SCNT blastocysts were increased in E-64 treatment groups when compared with the control. On the other hand, we found that IVF and SCNT blastocysts derived from E-64-treated groups had increased total cell numbers and decreased apoptotic nuclei. Furthermore, assessment of the expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Bcl-xL) in bovine IVF and SCNT blastocysts treated with E-64 by real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed suppressed expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax and stimulated expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL. Taken together, these finding indicate that addition of E-64 to embryo culture medium may have important implications for improving developmental competence and preimplantation quality in bovine IVF and SCNT embryos.