EGFP小鼠ES细胞来源的生殖系嵌合小鼠的获得和鉴定

生殖系嵌合体的获得是实现ES细胞介导的转基因途径的决定步骤，而嵌合体的制作及生殖系嵌合体的获得则是判定ES细胞系是否具有配子分化能力的有效方法。利用一株表达绿色荧光蛋白的杂种ES细胞系制备出嵌合体小鼠，共获得9只表达绿色荧光蛋白的嵌合体小鼠，其中有8只雄性，1只雌性，目前均发育成健康成年小鼠。流式细胞检测显示了绿色荧光蛋白在嵌合鼠以下器官的表达情况：心(77.96±15.78)%、脾(84.06±3.60)%、肾(42.49±19.79)%、骨髓(52.02±18.78)%。昆明雌鼠与雄性嵌合鼠杂交1代（F1）毛色表型分析显示该株ES细胞具有生殖系嵌合能力。     

绿色荧光蛋白嵌合体小鼠的建立和鉴定

为研究嵌合体动物中供体胚胎干细胞 (ES)在宿主胚胎发育中的走向和定位 ,同时探讨绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因作为报告基因在转基因动物制作中的应用价值 ,本研究将pEGFP N1基因导入小鼠ES D3 细胞系 ,得到稳定表达GFP的胚胎干细胞亚系ES D3 GFP ,通过对昆明小鼠的囊胚腔注射 ,获得了 4只表达绿色荧光蛋白的嵌合体小鼠。其中 1只存活至成年 ,3只出生时死亡。荧光显像及组织PCR检测显示了绿色荧光蛋白在小鼠体内的嵌合情况。以绿色荧光为指标可实现活体水平的动态观察 ,本实验首次观察到以GFP为指标所示的机体嵌合情况与根据毛色嵌合推测的机体嵌合情况存在很大差异 ,以GFP为嵌合指标更加全面而准确 ;但不排除GFP对小鼠发育存在一定毒性的可能 ;另外 ,有结果显示供体ES细胞在宿主体内除了大片补丁状嵌合外 ,还存在细胞散在嵌合的情况 ,后者提示了在组织中利用GFP对ES细胞实施单细胞追踪和实时观察的可行性 ,为胚胎发育和疾病发生的相关研究提供了新的观察方法     

通过显微注射法构建ES细胞(MESPU 13)嵌合小鼠

为了研究一个新建的小鼠胚胎干细胞系(ES细胞系)MESPU 13,我们将ES细胞显微注射到C57BL/6J小鼠的囊胚中构建嵌合鼠。在注射了2-9个ES细胞的136个囊胚中,127个囊胚(93%)经过3个小时的培养后重新出现囊胚腔。当把119个恢复的囊胚移植到假孕雌鼠的子宫内时,获得63只(52.9%)出生鼠。在59只存活到可以判断毛色阶段的小鼠中,有21只(35.6%)被判定为嵌合鼠。显示了该ES细胞系具有较高的嵌合能力。     

品系对小鼠胚胎干细胞分离效率的影响

为了充分利用小鼠胚胎干(ES)细胞,就必须从众多小鼠品系中分离ES细胞系。本研究通过传统的成纤维细胞饲养层法,从CD-1、129/Sv、C57BL/6J和129/Sv×C57BL/6J四种不同遗传背景的小鼠中分离得到12个ES细胞系,而从KM小鼠没有得到ES细胞系。所有的ES细胞系都具有典型的ES细胞特征,AKP染色呈阳性。从四种不同遗传背景的ES细胞系得到了包含多种组织的畸胎瘤;与桑椹胚聚合后,都得到了生殖系嵌合体。结果表明:品系对小鼠ES细胞的分离有显著影响,利用129小鼠以及包含129小鼠遗传背景的杂交小鼠都较容易分离ES细胞,由ES细胞得到生殖系嵌合体的效率在不同品系间有显著差异,从杂交ES细胞比近交ES细胞中更容易得到生殖系嵌合体。     

远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系的建立及嵌合鼠的获得

ES细胞（Embryonic Stcm Cells)是来源小鼠早期胚胎的多潜能干细胞,它可以在体外大量培养,并以单细胞的形式注射到早期胚胎里,发育为嵌合体,到目前为止,通常使用的129小鼠品系是来源于近交系（inbrcd)小鼠的胚胎。与之相比,远交系小鼠应当具有较强的生命力和抗病能力。曾有人报道过建成了远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系,但是尚没有见到获得嵌合鼠的报道。有人甚至认为：由于不同品系小鼠所具有的遗传背景不同,有的小鼠不能建成ES细胞系。最近,本实验室在这方面做了有益的探索,成功地建成了远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系,并在这里报导首例用远交小鼠胚胎干细胞系培育成功嵌合体小鼠。采用源于Swiss小鼠远交群的昆明（KM）品系小鼠囊胚建成了三个小鼠胚胎干细胞系（KE1,KE2,KE5)。核型正常率均达到70％以上。自第八代起分批存。复苏后,培养至第12代,消化成单细胞,通过囊胚显微注射,将其注射到615品系小鼠胚胎。在幸存的幼鼠中获得了一只来源于KE1细胞的嵌合鼠（Table1)。其毛色表现为受体鼠（615）的白色中嵌合有供体鼠（KM)黑褐色（Platc I-A）。嵌合鼠与受体鼠的杂交后代鼠中仍然出现了受体鼠的毛色类型（PlateI-B)。证明：ES细胞能嵌合到生殖腺并形成具有正常功能的配子,从而产生种系嵌合鼠。     

BALB／c小鼠胚胎干细胞系的建立及其嵌合体小鼠的获得

目的：建立BALB/c小鼠胚胎干细胞系,并用于制作嵌合体小鼠。方法：从BALB／c小鼠囊胚内分离培养内细胞团块。建系后,进行C57BL／6L小鼠受体囊胚腔注射,制作嵌合体小鼠,结果：建立了我国第一株BALB／c小鼠胚胎干细胞系,该细胞系具有典型的ES细胞形态,碱性磷酸酶强阳性,核型正常以及具有分化为三种胚层组织的能力,并已产生5只嵌合体小鼠,结论：建立的BALB／c小鼠胚胎干细胞系具有胚胎干细胞的各种特点,可用于体内外诱导分化研究,在进一步观察生殖系嵌合情况后,决定是否可应用于基因打靶等转基因动物的制作。     

源于129S1品系的小鼠胚胎干细胞系的建立及其生物学特性分析

从129S1小鼠早期胚胎的内细胞团分离、培养类胚胎样细胞,经反复传代,成功地建立了129S1小鼠胚胎干细胞系,命名为NM-2细胞系。形态学鉴定具有胚胎干细胞的典型形态特征,正常核型率为80％;呈碱性磷酸酶阳性、表达胚胎干细胞特异性转录因子OCT-4;体内分化后可形成源于三胚层的组织结构;经囊胚腔显微注射后所获得的子代个体中79％具有毛色嵌合表型;雄性嵌合个体中31％发生生殖腺嵌合;同时,通过育种观察到所有生殖腺嵌合体的子代小鼠表型正常。以上结果证实NM-2细胞系为一株具高生殖腺嵌合能力的小鼠胚胎干细胞系。     

四倍体补偿技术的建立及其应用

常规基因剔除小鼠的获得主要是利用ES细胞的全能性先获得嵌合体小鼠,再利用:ES细胞的生殖系传递能力,通过嵌合体与野生型小鼠的交配获得杂合子小鼠.而四倍体补偿技术则可绕过嵌合体小鼠阶段,直接获得基因修饰杂合子小鼠.利用电融合技术和Piezoelectric microinjecfion显微注射技术建立了四倍体补偿技术,小鼠四倍体胚胎的获得率(电融合率)为(93.01±l.37)%,经体外培养囊胚形成率为(82.49±2.08)%.通过显微注射方法将2种129品系小鼠来源的ES细胞(CJ7和SCR012)注射到四倍体囊胚腔中,获得了完全ES细胞来源的小鼠,ES鼠的获得率分别为2.7%和8.3%.经微卫星DNA检测,成体小鼠的10个被检测组织均为129小鼠来源的.同时,也利用基因修饰的ES细胞进行了研究,获得了2种基因修饰的完全ES细胞来源的杂合子小鼠,部分小鼠具有繁殖能力,经繁育已获得了纯合子,其中凝血因子Ⅷ基因敲除小鼠获得了预期的血友病小鼠表型.上述结果说明四倍体补偿技术可应用于基因修饰小鼠的制备.     

绿色荧光小鼠胚胎干细胞的分离与培养

目的:建立绿色荧光小鼠胚胎干细胞系.方法:以ICR及GFP转基因小鼠为实验动物,冲取交配后3.5天小鼠GFW-/+囊胚,去透明带后进行完全培养,以13.5天鼠胚胎成纤维细胞(MEF)为饲养层,并对细胞克隆用亚克隆的方法分离扩大培养.结果:获得了边缘清晰,表面平滑,结构致密,隆起生长的鸟巢状克隆,碱性磷酸酶染色呈强阳性,干细胞特异性的多能因子OCT4及Nanog表达呈阳性,且能稳定表达绿色荧光的雄性干细胞系.结论:本文为小鼠ES细胞系的建立提供了一种稳定而可靠的方法.     

具高效种系嵌合能力的C57BL／6J 小鼠ES细胞系的建立

采用小鼠原代成纤维细胞作为饲养层,在含1×103单位白血病抑制因子（LIF）的DMEM高糖培养基中,建成了11个C57BL／6J小鼠的ES细胞系,成系率为9．6％。所建的11个ES细胞系中有5个核型正常率大于70％。这些细胞具早期胚胎细胞的特征,呈碱性磷酸酶阳性,具表达0014基因的特性5进行体内分化实验时能发生广泛的分化。通过嵌合体制作实验证明其中3个系具嵌合能力,并从中筛选出具高效种系嵌合能力的MESPU35细胞系,MESPU35细胞的克隆能达到种系传递,经过基因操作的细胞克隆,也保留了高效的嵌合能力。因此,MESPU35细胞可作为制作突变小鼠的有效载体。     

Comparison of BALB/c and B6-albino mouse strain blastocysts as hosts for the injection of C57BL6/N-derived C2 embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells from a C57BL/6N (B6N) background injected into B6(Cg)-Tyrc-2J/J (B6-albino) recipient blastocysts are commonly used for generating genetically modified mouse models. To understand the influence of the recipient blastocyst strain on germline transmission, BALB/cAnNTac and B6-albino germline transmission rates were compared using the C57BL6/N-derived C2 ES cell line. A total of 92 ES cell clones from 27 constructs were injected. We compared blastocyst yield, birth rate, chimera formation rate, and high-percentage (>50 %) male chimera formation rate. For germline transmission, we analyzed 24 clones from 19 constructs, which generated high-percentage male chimeras from both donor strains. B6-albino hosts resulted in higher mean blastocyst yields per donor than did BALB/c ones (3.6 vs. 2.5). However, BALB/c hosts resulted in a higher birth rate than B6-albino ones (36 vs. 27 %), a higher chimera formation rate (50 vs. 42 %), a higher high-percentage male chimera rate (10 vs. 8 %), and a higher germline transmission rate (65 vs. 49 %), respectively. Our data suggest that BALB/c is a suitable blastocyst host strain for C2 ES cells and has an advantage over the B6-albino strain for receiving the injection of C2 ES cells.     

Comparison of male chimeric mice generated from microinjection of JM8.N4 embryonic stem cells into C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NTac blastocysts

To identify ways to improve the efficiency of generating chimeric mice via microinjection of blastocysts with ES cells, we compared production and performance of ES-cell derived chimeric mice using blastocysts from two closely related and commonly used sub-strains of C57BL/6. Chimeras were produced by injection of the same JM8.N4 (C57BL/6NTac) derived ES cell line into blastocysts of mixed sex from either C57BL/6J (B6J) or C57BL/6NTac (B6NTac) mice. Similar efficiency of production and sex-conversion of chimeric animals was observed with each strain of blastocyst. However, B6J chimeric males had fewer developmental abnormalities involving urogenital and reproductive tissues (1/12, 8?%) compared with B6NTac chimeric males (7/9, 78?%). The low sample size did not permit determination of statistical significance for many parameters. However, in each category analyzed the B6J-derived chimeric males performed as well, or better, than their B6NTac counterparts. Twelve of 14 (86?%) B6J male chimeras were fertile compared with 6 of 11 (55?%) B6NTac male chimeras. Ten of 12 (83?%) B6J chimeric males sired more than 1 litter compared with only 3 of 6 (50?%) B6NTac chimeras. B6J male chimeras produced more litters per productive mating (3.42?±?1.73, n?=?12) compared to B6NTac chimeras (2.17?±?1.33, n?=?6). Finally, a greater ratio of germline transmitting chimeric males was obtained using B6J blastocysts (9/14; 64?%) compared with chimeras produced using B6NTac blastocysts (4/11; 36?%). Use of B6J host blastocysts for microinjection of ES cells may offer improvements over blastocysts from B6NTac and possibly other sub-strains of C57BL/6 mice.     

Use of coisogenic host blastocysts for efficient establishment of germline chimeras with C57BL/6J ES cell lines.

Gene targeting in embryonic stem (ES) cells allows the production of mice with specified genetic mutations. Currently, germline-competent ES cell lines are available from only a limited number of mouse strains, and inappropriate ES cell/host blastocyst combinations often restrict the efficient production of gene-targeted mice. Here, we describe the derivation of C57BL/6J (B6) ES lines and compare the effectiveness of two host blastocyst donors, FVB/NJ (FVB) and the coisogenic strain C57BL/6-Tyr(c)-2J (c2J), for the production of germline chimeras. We found that when B6 ES cells were injected into c2J host blastocysts, a high rate of coat-color chimerism was detected, and germline transmission could be obtained with few blastocyst injections. In all but one case, highly chimeric mice transmitted to 100% of their offspring. The injection of B6 ES cells into FVB blastocysts produced some chimeric mice. However; the proportion of coat-color chimerism was low, with many more blastocyst injections required to generate chimeras capable of germline transmission. Our data support the use of the coisogenic albino host strain, c2J, for the generation of germline-competent chimeric mice when using B6 ES cells.     

Development and Initial Characterization of Xenomitochondrial Mice

Xenomitochondrial mice harboring trans-species mitochondria on a Mus musculus domesticus (MD) nuclear background were produced. We created xenomitochondrial ES cell cybrids by fusing Mus spretus (MS), Mus caroli (MC), Mus dunni (Mdu), or Mus pahari (MP) mitochondrial donor cytoplasts and rhodamine 6-G treated CC9.3.1 or PC4 ES cells. The selected donor backgrounds reflected increasing evolutionary divergence from MD mice and the resultant mitochondrial-nuclear mismatch targeted a graded respiratory chain defect. Homoplasmic (MS, MC, Mdu, and MP) and heteroplasmic (MC) cell lines were injected into MD ova, and liveborn chimeric mice were obtained (MS/MD 18 of 87, MC/MD 6 of 46, Mdu/MD 31 of 140, and MP/MD l of 9 founder chimeras, respectively). Seven MS/MD, 1 MC/MD, and 11 Mdu/MD chimeric founder females were mated with wild-type MD males, and 18 of 19 (95%) were fertile. Of fertile females, only one chimeric MS/MD (1% coat color chimerism) and four chimeric Mdu/MD females (80-90% coat color chimerism) produced homoplasmic offspring with low efficiency (7 of 135; 5%). Four male and three female offspring were homoplasmic for the introduced mitochondrial backgrounds. Three male and one female offspring proved viable. Generation of mouse lines using additional female ES cell lineages is underway. We hypothesize that these mice, when crossbred with neurodegenerative-disease mouse models, will show accelerated age-related neuronal loss, because of their suboptimal capacity for oxidative phosphorylation and putatively increased oxidative stress.     

Differentiation of female chicken primordial germ cells into spermatozoa in male gonads

In avian species, the developmental fate of different-sex germ cells in the gonads is unclear. The present study attempted to confirm whether genetically female germ cells can differentiate into spermatozoa in male gonads using male germline chimeric chickens produced by the transfer of primordial germ cells (PGC), and employing molecular biological methods. As a result of Southern hybridization, specific sequences of the W chromosome (the female specific sex chromosome in birds) were detected in the genomic DNA extracted from one out of four male germline chimeric chickens. When two-color in situ hybridization was conducted on the spermatozoa of this germline chimera, 0.33% (average) of the nuclei of each semen sample showed the fluorescent signal indicating the presence of the W chromosome. The present study shows that female PGC can differentiate into spermatozoa in male gonads in the chicken. However, the ratio of produced W chromosome-bearing (W-bearing) spermatozoa fell substantially below expectations. It is therefore concluded that most of the W-bearing PGC could not differentiate into spermatozoa because of restricted spermatogenesis.     

Derivation of a Germline Competent Transgenic Fischer 344 Embryonic Stem Cell Line

Embryonic stem (ES) cell-based gene manipulation is an effective method for the generation of mutant animal models in mice and rats. Availability of germline-competent ES cell lines from inbred rat strains would allow for creation of new genetically modified models in the desired genetic background. Fischer344 (F344) males carrying an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) transgene were used as the founder animals for the derivation of ES cell lines. After establishment of ES cell lines, rigorous quality control testing that included assessment of pluripotency factor expression, karyotype analysis, and pathogen/sterility testing was conducted in selected ES cell lines. One male ES cell line, F344-Tg.EC4011, was further evaluated for germline competence by injection into Dark Agouti (DA) X Sprague Dawley (SD) blastocysts. Resulting chimeric animals were bred with wild-type SD mates and germline transmissibility of the ES cell line was confirmed by identification of pups carrying the ES cell line-derived EGFP transgene. This is the first report of a germline competent F344 ES cell line. The availability of a new germline competent ES cell line with a stable fluorescence reporter from an inbred transgenic rat strain provides an important new resource for genetic manipulations to create new rat models.     

Chimeric mice reveal clonal development of pancreatic acini, but not islets

Intestinal crypt stem cells establish clonal descendants. To determine whether the pancreas is patterned by a similar process, we used embryonic stem (ES) cell chimeric mice, in which male ES cells were injected into female blastocysts. Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the Y chromosome (Y-FISH) revealed clonal patterning of ES-derived cells in the adult mouse small intestine and pancreas. Intestinal crypts were entirely male or entirely female. Villi contained columns of male or female epithelial cells, consistent with upward migration of cells from the crypts which surround them. Within the exocrine pancreas, acini were entirely male or entirely female, consistent with patterning from a single stem/progenitor cell. Pancreatic islets contained a mixture of male and female cells, consistent with patterning from multiple progenitors. Male-female chimeric mice demonstrate that the adult mouse exocrine pancreatic acinus is patterned from a single stem/progenitor cell, while the endocrine pancreas arises from multiple progenitors.     

Establishment of germline-competent embryonic stem cell lines from the MSM/Ms strain

MSM/Ms is an inbred mouse strain established from the Japanese wild mouse, Mus musculus molossinus, which has been phylogenetically distinct from common laboratory mouse strains for about 1 million years. The nucleotide substitution rate between MSM/Ms and C57BL/6 is estimated to be 0.96%. MSM/Ms mice display unique characteristics not observed in the commonly used laboratory strains, including an extremely low incidence of tumor development, high locomotor activity, and resistance to high-fat-diet-induced diabetes. Thus, functional genomic analyses using MSM/Ms should provide a powerful tool for the identification of novel phenotypes and gene functions. We report here the derivation of germline-competent embryonic stem (ES) cell lines from MSM/Ms blastocysts, allowing genetic manipulation of the M. m. molossinus genome. Fifteen blastocysts were cultured in ES cell medium and three ES lines, Mol/MSM-1, -2, and -3, were established. They were tested for germline competency by aggregation with ICR morulae and germline chimeras were obtained from all three lines. We also injected Mol/MSM-1 ES cells into blastocysts of ICR or C57BL/6 × BDF1 mice and found that blastocyst injection resulted in a higher production rate of chimeric mice than did aggregation. Furthermore, Mol/MSM-1 subclones electroporated with a gene trap vector were also highly efficient at producing germline chimeras using C57BL/6 × BDF1 blastocyst injection. This Mol/MSM-1 ES line should provide an excellent new tool allowing the genetic manipulation of the MSM/Ms genome.