Migration of primordial germ cells isolated from embryonic blood into the gonads after transfer to stage X blastoderms and detection of germline chimaerism by PCR

1. The present study was carried out to determine whether primordial germ cells isolated from embryonic blood can enter the bloodstream and successfully migrate to the germinal ridges of recipient embryos after transfer to stage X blastoderms, and also whether they can differentiate into blood cells, as is suggested in mice. 2. Primordial germ cells were transfected in vitro by lipofection and then transferred to stage X blastoderms. The introduced GFP gene was efficiently expressed in the gonads of 6-d incubated embryos. 3. Freshly collected primordial germ cells were transferred to stage X blastoderms. The fate of the transferred primordial germ cells was traced by detecting the single nucleotide polymorphism in the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA in White Leghorn and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens used in this study. The transferred donor primordial germ cell-derived cells were detected in the gonads, but not in the blood cells, of 17-d incubated embryos by PCR. 4. This procedure for primordial germ cell manipulation could provide a novel method of producing germline chimaeric chickens. 5. In conclusion, our findings indicate that primordial germ cells isolated from embryonic blood can migrate to the germinal ridges of recipient embryos after being transferred to stage X blastoderms. Although these transferred primordial germ cells differentiated into germ cells, no differentiation into blood cells was observed.     

Effect of soft X-ray irradiation on the migratory ability of primordial germ cells in chickens

1. The present study was conducted to elucidate the effect of soft X-ray irradiation on the migratory ability of primordial germ cells (PGCs) to the germinal ridges of chicken embryos. 2. PGCs (Barred Plymouth Rock, BPR) were isolated from embryonic blood and irradiated with soft X-rays for 1-10 min. Then, the PGCs were transfected in vitro with GFP gene by lipofection. The manipulated PGCs were transferred to recipient embryos (White Leghorn, WL) and migration to the germinal ridges was analysed by examining GFP gene expression in the gonads of recipient embryos under UV light at x40 magnifications. The expression of GFP gene was detected in all the gonads of recipient embryos examined up to 10.5 d of culture. 3. Migration of PGCs irradiated with soft X-rays to the germinal ridges was also confirmed by detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA of BPR and WL chickens. Freshly collected PGCs (BPR) were transferred to the bloodstream of recipient embryos (WL). The fate of the transferred donor PGCs was traced by detecting the single nucleotide polymorphism in the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA in BPR and WL used in this study. Transferred donor PGC-derived cells were detected in all the gonads of 17-d cultured embryos by PCR. 4. The results suggest that PGCs irradiated with soft X-rays still retain the ability to migrate to the germinal ridges of recipient embryos.     

Detection of the EGFP sequence in breast muscle of 3‐year‐old chicken after transfection using sonoporation

In our continuing effort to generate transgenic chickens, sonoporation was chosen to insert an exogenous gene into the chicken genome. An EGFP expression vector (pCAG‐EGFPac) and microbubbles were injected into the central disc of stage‐X blastoderm or the germinal crescent of stage‐4 embryos, followed by ultrasonic vibration. Nineteen chicks out of 108 treated embryos hatched, six females and six males out of these 19 chicks grew to sexual maturity and two females and three males lived for 3 years. Genomic DNA from 17 out of 35 gonads from embryos and chicks that died before sexual maturity was EGFP‐positive by PCR. No EGFP sequence was detected in the genomic DNA of 322 embryos from six sexually mature females and the semen from four sexually mature males by PCR. When genomic DNA was obtained from various tissues of five 3‐year‐old chickens, the EGFP sequence was amplified from the genomic DNA of the breast muscle of a female (No. 85). The above sequence was subjected to DNA sequencing and verified to be the EGFP sequence. These results showed that sonoporation is an effective tool for the transduction of exogenous genes into chicken embryos for the generation of transgenic chickens.     

Exogenous DNA internalisation by sperm cells is improved by combining lipofection and restriction enzyme mediated integration

1. Three types of exogenous DNA inserts, i.e. complete linearised pVIVO2-GFP/LacZ vector (9620 bp), the LacZ gene (5317 bp) and the GFP gene (2152 bp) were used to transfect chicken spermatozoa through simple incubation of sperm cells with insert. 2. PCR assay, Dot Blot hybridisation and Southern hybridisation showed the successful internalisation of exogenous DNA by chicken sperm cells. 3. Lipofection and Restriction Enzyme Mediated Integration (REMI) were used to improve the rate of internalisation of exogenous DNA by sperm cells. 4. Results from dot blot as well as Southern hybridisation were semi-quantified and improved exogenous DNA uptake by sperm cells through lipofection and REMI. Stronger signals were observed from hybridisation of LacZ as well as GFP specific probe with the DNA from lipofected exogenous DNA transfected sperm DNA in comparison with those transfected with nude exogenous DNA.     

Liposome-mediated uptake of exogenous DNA by equine spermatozoa and applications in sperm-mediated gene transfer

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Sperm-mediated gene transfer has been reported as a method for production of transgenic animals in a variety of species, and this technique represents a possible method for production of transgenic equids. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the uptake of exogenous DNA (enhanced green fluorescent protein; pEGFP) by equine spermatozoa and to assess the ability of transfected spermatozoa to introduce this transgene into early equine embryos. METHODS: To evaluate incorporation of pEGFP into equine spermatozoa, washed spermatozoa were incubated with 32P-pEGFP, with or without lipofection. Spermatozoa were also transfected with fluorescently-labelled DNA (Alexa647-pEGFP) and changes in sperm viability and DNA uptake were assessed. Mares were inseminated with pEGFP-transfected spermatozoa and embryos recovered. Expression of pEGFP was assessed by epifluorescence microscopy of embryos, and the presence of pEGFP DNA and mRNA was assessed by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Liposome-mediated transfection increased the incorporation of 32P-pEGFP into spermatozoa compared to controls. Flow cytometric evaluation of spermatozoa after transfection with Alexa647-pEGFP revealed a linear increase in the proportion of live, Alexa647+ spermatozoa with increasing DNA concentrations. After insemination with transfected spermatozoa, 8 embryos were recovered. There was no evidence of EGFP expression in the recovered embryos; however, PCR analysis revealed evidence of the pEGFP transgene in 2 of 5 embryos analysed. CONCLUSIONS: The incorporation of exogenous DNA by equine spermatozoa was enhanced by liposome-mediated transfection and this did not adversely affect sperm viability, acrosomal integrity or fertility. Although the EGFP transgene was detected in a proportion of Day 7-10 embryos, there was no evidence of expression of EGFP in these embryos. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Sperm-mediated gene transfer offers a potential technique for the generation of transgenic equids.     

ZB transposon and chicken vasa homologue (Cvh) promoter interact to increase transfection efficiency of primordial germ cells in vivo

ABSTRACT

1. In order to increase the efficiency of generating transgenic chicken, this trial focused on two points: primordial germ cells (PGCs）transfection in vivo and a germline-specific promoter.

2. In order to transfect PGCs in vivo, two plasmids (pZB-CAG-GFP, pCMV-ZB）were co-injected into chicken embryos via the subgerminal cavity at Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) stage 2–3 or via blood vessel at HH stage 13–14. Results showed that the percentage of GFP+ embryos, viability and hatching rate of embryos injected at HH stage 13–14 were significantly higher than that at HH stage 2–3.

3. Two plasmid transposon systems were used for chicken embryo micro-injections. The donor plasmid, with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, was mediated by the ZB transposon. The helper plasmid was a transposase expression vector driven by the promoter of the chicken vasa homologue (Cvh) gene or Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Results showed that 60.98% of gonads in Cvh group expressed GFP, which was 52.50% higher than seen in the CMV group. Only gonad tissue from the Cvh group showed any GFP signal, whereas both gonads and other tissues in the CMV group showed green fluorescence.

4. The data suggested that ZB transposon-mediated gene transfer was efficient for transfecting PGCs in vivo; the Cvh promoter drove the transposase gene specifically in the germline and increased the efficiency of germline transmission. Blood vessels injection at HH stage 13–14 may be a more efficient route for PGCs transfection in vivo.     

Effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) supplementation during in vitro maturation culture on the development and quality of porcine embryos with electroporation treatment after in vitro fertilization

Electroporation is the technique of choice to introduce an exogenous gene into embryos for transgenic animal production. Although this technique is practical and effective, embryonic damage caused by electroporation treatment remains a major problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the optimal culture system for electroporation‐treated porcine embryos by supplementation of chlorogenic acid (CGA), a potent antioxidant, during in vitro oocyte maturation. The oocytes were treated with various concentrations of CGA (0, 10, 50, and 100 μmol/L) through the duration of maturation for 44 hr. The treated oocytes were then fertilized, electroporated at 30 V/mm with five 1 msec unipolar pulses, and subsequently cultured in vitro until development into the blastocyst stage. Without electroporation, the treatment with 50 μmol/L CGA had useful effects on the maturation rate of oocytes, the total cell number, and the apoptotic nucleus indices of blastocysts. When the oocytes were electroporated after in vitro fertilization, the treatment with 50 μmol/L CGA supplementation significantly improved the rate of oocytes that developed into blastocysts and reduced the apoptotic nucleus indices (4.7% and 7.6, respectively) compared with those of the untreated group (1.4% and 13.0, respectively). These results suggested that supplementation with 50 μmol/L CGA during maturation improves porcine embryonic development and quality of electroporation‐treated embryos.     

Production of quail-chick chimaeras by blastoderm cell transfer

1. Quail-chick chimaeras were produced by injecting dissociated quail blastoderm cells into chick embryos. 2. Quail blastoderms were removed from the yolk and the cells were dispersed by trypsin treatment or pipetting. The cell suspension (1 to 5 microliters) was injected into the subgerminal cavity of unincubated chick embryos. The chick embryos were then cultured in recipient eggshells. 3. Quail blastoderm cells injected into the chick embryos adhered to the chick embryonic cells. The rates of hatching were 8.6% (38 chicks from 441 eggs) and 40.3% (48 chicks from 119 eggs) when the volumes of the cell suspension injected were 3 to 5 microliters and 1 microliter, respectively. 4. Seven out of 86 hatched birds were clearly identified as being chimaeric because part of the feather colouring was of quail specificity. In addition to these chimaeric birds, there were 8 chimaeric embryos which died before hatching. The distribution patterns of the quail feathers were varied among the chimaeric birds and embryos. 5. This technique provides a basis for the investigation of chick embryo cryopreservation, genetic transformation and analysis of cell lineage of chickens.     

Sexing chick embryos: a rapid and simple protocol

1. Analysis of gene expression in the developing chick gonads requires the collection of male and female tissues from embryos between 3.5 d and 8.5 d of development. However, male and female chick embryos are indistinguishable by morphological examination before d 7.5 of development. 2. Sex identification of earlier embryos is only possible by molecular methods, which at present are laborious and time consuming. 3. We have devised a PCR-based sexing protocol which combines both sex specific and control reactions in a single tube assay. The assay is rapid and effective over a wide range of DNA concentrations and is tolerant of poor quality DNA. 4. Procedures are described for identifying the sex of individual embryos using either tissue samples or a small number of cells recovered from amniotic fluid.     

Migration and differentiation of gonadal germ cells under cross-sex germline chimeras condition in domestic chickens

A series of experiments was conducted to investigate migration, proliferation and differentiation of gonadal germ cells (GGCs) collected from the gonads of 7-day-old chick embryos under cross-sex germline chimera conditions. The migratory and proliferative abilities of exogenous GGCs were examined by transferring 50 fluorescently labeled GGCs collected from White Leghorn (WL) embryos into the blood of 2-day-old Rhode Island Red (RIR) embryos. No significant difference was observed in the number of fluorescently labeled GGCs in the gonads of recipient embryos among any of the four possible donor and recipient sex combinations. Cross-sex germline chimeras were produced to examine the differentiation of GGCs by transferring 100 GGCs from WL embryos into 2-day-old RIR embryos. Exogenous-GGC-derived progeny were obtained from both male and female recipients, except when female GGCs were transferred into male recipients. The migratory ability of GGCs recovered from the 7-day-old embryonic gonad was not influenced by cross-sex germ cell transfer conditions, whereas the differentiation of the GGCs was affected by the sex combinations of GGCs donors and recipients.     

Controversial aspect of using GFP as a marker for the production of transgenic cattle

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of identification and selection of cattle embryos based on green fluorescence (GFP-positive) in order to obtain calves carrying an integrated transgene. The construct used (pbLGTNF-EGFP) contained the human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNFalpha) gene fused to the bovine beta-lactoglobulin promoter (bLG) in plasmid vector pCX-EGFP. In four experiments, 76 zygotes were injected; eight of them developed to the morulae/blastocysts stage of which only five were GFP positive (one of them 100%, one-50%, three- 25%). All of the GFP positive embryos were transferred to recipients. Two calves were born: one after transfer of the 100% GFP positive embryo and the other after transfer of one of the 25% GFP positive embryos. Both animals were healthy with normal weight when compared to two control calves. The integration of pbLGTNF-EGFP in the host genome could not be detected in either of the calves, suggesting that GFP is an unreliable marker for preimplantation screening of embryos.     

Production of transgenic bovine cloned embryos using piggybac transposition

Transgenic research on cattle embryos has been developed to date using viral or plasmid DNA delivery systems. In this study, a different gene delivery system, piggybac transposition, was employed to investigate if it can be applied for producing transgenic cattle embryos. Green or red fluorescent proteins (GFP or RFP) were transfected into donor fibroblasts, and then transfected donor cells were reprogrammed in enucleated oocytes through SCNT and developed into pre-implantation stage embryos. GFP was expressed in donor cells and in cloned embryos without any mosaicism. Induction of RFP expression was regulated by doxycycline treatment in donor fibroblasts and pre-implantational stage embryos. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that piggybac transposition could be a mean to deliver genes into bovine somatic cells or embryos for transgenic research.     

转EGFP基因山羊克隆胚的发育

利用脂质体包裹含EGFP基因的质粒,并将之导入山羊乳腺上皮细胞,经G418筛选获得阳性细胞,以阳性细胞作为核供体,利用核移植技术构建转基因克隆胚。结果表明：用转基因山羊乳腺上皮细胞作为核供体,电融合法更适合构建转基因克隆胚。转基因山羊克隆胚体外培养最佳方案是用SOFaa培养液,在培养72 h后加入10%的正常山羊血清（Normal goat serum,NGS）。荧光显微镜下观察到转基因克隆胚中EGFP的表达,大部分克隆胚发育到8-16细胞以后的时期,绿色荧光蛋白才开始逐渐表达,随着发育时间的延长,绿色荧光蛋白的表达也逐渐增强。说明外源基因在胚胎早期发育阶段可以表达,EGFP可以作为报告基因来实现对外源基因整合及表达的监测。     

Exogenous DNA Uptake of Boar Spermatozoa by a Magnetic Nanoparticle Vector System

The sperm‐mediated gene transfer method is applicable to transgenesis in many species that use spermatozoa for reproduction recently, which has been shown various results. In the current study, we show that transgenic porcine embryos can be efficiently produced by employing a simple transfection method that uses magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The complexes formed between plasmid DNA and MNPs were bounded on ejaculated boar spermatozoa at a higher efficiency compared to methods using DNA alone or lipofection. Using confocal microscopy, rhodamine fluorophore‐labelled MNPs were detected on external surfaces of the spermatozoa membrane, which were bounded on zona pellucida of in vitro maturated oocyte during in vitro fertilization. Electron microscopy revealed that clusters of MNPs were detected in inside of plasma membrane and nucleus of the spermatozoa head. Additionally, we found that magnetofected boar spermatozoa could be fertilized with oocytes in vitro and that the resulting gene of green fluorescent protein was detected in fertilized eggs by genomic PCR analysis. Taken together, these results suggest that MNPs can be used to efficiently introduce a transgene into embryo via spermatozoa.     

Development in culture of the chick embryo from cleavage to hatch

1. Early uterine embryos were obtained from hens by induced oviposition 7.5-8.0 h after the preceding egg was laid. They were cultured in vitro and then in recipient shells to hatch. As controls, embryos from freshly laid eggs were cultured in recipient shells to hatch. 2. For embryos cultured from uterine eggs, the hatch rate was 22.5%, and for embryos cultured from laid eggs, the hatch rate was 62.5%. 3. The weight of the chicks hatched from culture was about 60% of the weight of the preceding egg, or donor egg. Male and female chicks reached maturity and have produced viable offsprings. 4. The results show that it is possible to grow chick embryos in culture from the early cleavage stage (stage II) to hatch. They extend earlier findings on the culture of embryos from the blastoderm stage (Stage X) to hatch. The technique provides a basis for investigations on chick embryo cryopreservation.     

过表达FOXL2基因对鸡胚性腺分化的影响

试验旨在研究FOXL2基因对鸡胚性腺分化的影响。本试验分为试验1组、试验2组和空白对照组（鸡胚数量分别为260、100、20枚），试验组通过胚盘下腔注射的方法分别将pLV-FOXL2慢病毒重组质粒、pLV空质粒注入胚胎期第2天的鸡胚，空白对照组不做处理并与试验组一起孵化至出雏，利用CHD1基因遗传性别鉴定的方法对出雏的雏鸡进行性别检测，分析其性腺解剖学、组织学结构变化，并利用免疫组化的方法检测性腺FOXL2和CYP19A1蛋白表达量。结果显示，试验1组遗传性别为公的23只，遗传性别为母的18只，表型性别为公的21只，表型性别为母的18只，其中有2只表型性别不典型，左侧性腺发生变化，朝卵巢结构转变；试验2组遗传性别为公的9只，遗传性别为母的12只，表型性别与遗传性别一致。阳性PCR检测结果显示，试验1组获得阳性个体10个，阳性率为24.4%（10/41）；试验2组获得阳性个体8个，阳性率为38.1%（8/21）。性腺解剖学结果显示，阳性pLV-FOXL2雄性鸡胚左侧性腺体积明显大于右侧性腺，表现膨松状态；组织切片结果显示，雄性鸡胚性腺具有典型的卵巢皮质层和髓质层结构；阳性pLV-FOXL2雌性鸡胚性腺的发育无明显变化。免疫组化结果显示，FOXL2和CYP19A1蛋白在试验1组左右侧睾丸中的表达量与空白对照组母鸡卵巢中的表达量相似，显著高于试验2组（P<0.05）。以上结果表明，FOXL2基因可能促进鸡雄性性腺的性反转，在鸡性腺分化和发育过程中发挥着重要的作用。     

Effect of Overexpression of FOXL2 Gene on Gonadal Differentiation in Chicken Embryo

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of FOXL2 gene on gonadal differentiation in chicken embryos.This test was divided into the experiment groups 1,2 and blank control group(chicken embryos were 260,100 and 20,respectively).In the experimental group,pLV-FOXL2 lentivirus recombinant plasmids and pLV empty plasmids were injected into the chicken embryo on the second day of the embryonic stage by subpaneoidal injection.The blank control group was not treated and incubated with the experimental groups until the chick was hatched.CHD1 gene genetic sex identification method was used to detect the sex of chicks,the changes of gonadal anatomy and histological structure were analyzed,and the expression levels of FOXL2 and CYP19A1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry.The results showed that in the experiment group 1,there were 23 male and 18 female of genetic sex,21 male and 18 female of phenotypic sex,and two of them had atypical phenotypic gender,with changes in the left gonadal gland toward ovarian structure.The phenotypic sex was consistent with the genetic sex in experiment group 2,with 9 male and 12 female.Positive PCR results showed that 10 positive individuals were obtained in the experiment group 1,with a positive rate of 24.4% (10/41),and 8 positive individuals were obtained in the experiment group 2,with a positive rate of 38.1% (8/21).The anatomical structure of the gonad showed that the volume of the left gonad was significantly larger than that of the right gonad in the positive plV-FOXL2 male embryos.The results of tissue sections showed that the gonad of male chicken embryo had typical structure of ovarian cortex and medulla.There was no significant change in the development of gonad in female embryos with positive pLV-FOXL2.Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression levels of FOXL2 and CYP19A1 proteins in the left and right testicle of experiment group 1 were similar to that in the hen ovary of the blank control group,and were significantly higher than that in experiment group 2 (P<0.05).These results suggested that FOXL2 gene might promote the sexual inversion of chicken gonads and played an important role in the differentiation and development of chicken gonads.     

In vivo gene transfer into skeletal muscle of neonatal chicks by electroporation

Chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) show considerable growth of skeletal muscle during the neonatal period. The in vivo gene transfer method is useful for studying gene function and can be employed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle growth in chicks. We evaluated the following conditions for gene transfer to the skeletal muscle of neonatal chicks by electroporation: (i) voltage; (ii) age of the chick; (iii) plasmid DNA injected amount; and (iv) duration of gene expression. The results obtained from this study indicate that the most efficient gene transfer condition was as follows: 75 µg of plasmid DNA encoding β‐galactosidase was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of chicks at 4 days of age electroporated at 50 V/cm. In addition, peak transferred gene expression was observed from 3 days to 5 days after electroporation. Our results provide optimal electroporation conditions for elucidating the gene function related to skeletal muscle growth and development in neonatal chicks.     

Detection of chicken anemia virus in the gonads and in the progeny of broiler breeder hens with high neutralizing antibody titers

Previous evidence for the presence of chicken anemia virus (CAV) in the gonads of immune specific-pathogen-free chickens raised the question whether this occurs also in commercial breeders. The presence of CAV was investigated by nested PCR in the gonads and spleens of hens from two 55- and 59-week-old, CAV-vaccinated (flocks 2 and 3), and two 48- and 31-week-old non-vaccinated broiler breeder flocks (flocks 1 and 4). In addition, lymphoid tissues of 20-day-old embryos from these hens were also investigated for the presence of CAV. CAV was detected in the gonads and of 5/6 and 11/22 of the vaccinated hens and in some hens also in the spleen alone. Embryos from 7/8 and 5/18 of these hens were positive. In the non-vaccinated flocks, CAV was detected in the gonads of 11/34 and 10/10 hens in flocks 1 and 4, respectively. In addition, 11 birds in flock 1 had positive spleens. CAV DNA was detected in 3/11 and 2/10 of their embryos. CAV-positive gonads and embryos were detected in samples from hens with moderate as well as high VN antibody titers. Vaccinated chickens positive for CAV in the gonads and in their embryos had VN titers ranging from >1:512 to <1:2048. In non-vaccinated chickens, the VN titers of CAV positive chickens ranged from 1:128 to 1:4096. These results demonstrate that CAV genome can remain present in the gonads of hens in commercial broiler breeder flocks even in the presence of high neutralizing antibody titers that have been associated with protection against CAV vertical transmission. It also suggests that transmission to the progeny may occur irrespectively of the level of the humoral immune response in the hens.     

Optimizing injection time of GFP plasmid into sheep zygote

Microinjection of exogenous DNA into the cytoplasm of matured oocytes or zygotes is a promising technique to generate transgenic animals. However, the data about the microinjection time and procedure in sheep are limited and have not treated in detail. To obtain more in-depth information, the Sarda sheep oocytes from abattoir-derived ovaries were subjected to IVM and IVF. Then, the GFP plasmid as a reporter gene was injected into the cytoplasm of MII oocytes (n: 95) and zygotes at different post-insemination intervals (6–8 hpi, n: 120; 8–10 hpi, n: 122; 10–12 hpi, n: 110 and 12–14 hpi, n: 96). There were no significant differences in the cleavage rates between the groups. However, blastocyst rate of injected zygotes at all-time intervals was significantly lower than injected MII oocytes and control group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the proportion of GFP-positive embryos was higher at 8–10 hpi compared with other injected groups (4 % versus 0 %, p  < 0.01). Among these, the proportion of mosaic embryos was high and two of those embryos developed to the blastocyst stage. In conclusion, we settled on the cytoplasmic microinjection of GFP plasmid at 8–10 hpi as an optimized time point for the production of transgenic sheep and subsequent experiments.