猪体细胞核移植重构胚的体外发育

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚率达到11．7％,囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞重构胚（P＜0．05）。本文还研究了卵母细胞的采集方法、激活程序和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导G0/G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33－44h,将卵丘细胞放至去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6d。研究表明,卵母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松驰素（CB）、激活程度并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,体外能发育至囊胚。     

影响猪体细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的若干因素

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚,卵裂率达到56．7％,发育至桑椹胚达11．7％、孵化囊胚率为6．7％,显著高于成纤维细胞组成的重构胚（P＜0．05）。我们研究了卵母细胞的采集方法,激活方法和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导至G0或G1期,抽吸法／解剖法采集卵母细胞,体外培养33或44h,将卵丘细胞置于去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中,重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电泳冲结合6－DMAP激活处理,体外培养6天,结果表明,卵 母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松弛素（CB）并不影响重构胚的发育（以卵龄44h的卵母细胞为受体）;而以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力（以卵龄33h的卵母细胞为受体）（P＜0．05）。本研究显示,以电脉冲结合6－DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚,能在体外发育至囊胚。     

猪体细胞核移植重构胚的体外发育(英文)

以卵丘细胞为核供体细胞组成重构胚 ,卵裂率达到 5 6.7% ,发育至桑椹胚率达到1 1 .7% ,囊胚率为 6.7% ,显著高于成纤维细胞重构胚 (P <0 .0 5 )。本文还研究了卵母细胞的采集方法、激活程序和卵龄对卵丘细胞核移植重构胚体外发育的影响。以血清饥饿法将卵丘细胞诱导至G0 G1 期 ,抽吸法 解剖法采集卵母细胞 ,体外培养 3 3～ 44h ,将卵丘细胞放至去核卵母细胞的卵周隙中 ,重构胚以钙离子载体A2 3 81 7或电脉冲结合 6 DMAP激活处理 ,体外培养 6d。研究表明 ,卵母细胞采集方法、激活液中细胞松弛素 (CB)、激活程序并不影响重构胚的发育 (以卵龄 44h的卵母细胞为受体 ) ;而以电脉冲结合 6 DMAP激活处理能提高重构胚发育能力 (以卵龄 3 3h的卵母细胞为受体 ) (P <0 .0 5 )。本研究显示 ,以电脉冲结合 6 DMAP激活卵丘细胞重构胚 ,体外能发育至囊胚     

化学联合激活可明显提高小鼠孤雌胚胎发育率

为探讨一种高效的小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活的方案,进一步提高孤雌囊胚发育率。用不同浓度的氯化锶及不同作用时间的乙醇,并分别联合6-DMAP对不同卵龄小鼠卵母细胞进行活化,统计小鼠卵母细胞卵裂率和体外发育状况。结果显示,15～16h、18～19h和20～21h卵龄组卵母细胞经6mmol/LSrCl2联合6-DMAP处理后,三组的激活率随卵龄增长而升高,其中20～21h卵龄组显著高于15～16h、18～19h组(P<0.05),激活胚胎的发育率以18～19h时最高;6mmol/L和10mmol/L的SrCl2联合6-DMAP均能有效地激活小鼠卵母细胞,激活率分别为76.4%和83.6%,桑葚胚率分别为50.0%和56.3%;70ml/L乙醇联合6-DMAP以处理7min组获得了较好的激活率和囊胚发育率,分别为77.1%和42.4%,囊胚率均显著高于4min和10min处理组(P<0.05)。6-DMAP与SrCl2或乙醇联合应用可以有效抑制第二极体的排出,提高激活胚的二倍体比率;孤雌囊胚的平均细胞数显著低于正常受精囊胚(P<0.05)。不同激活方案对孤雌活化胚的核型和发育能力的作用差异较大,小鼠卵母细胞孤雌激活率与卵龄...     

不同供体细胞及其处理对猪核移植重构胚体外发育的影响

系统探讨了体细胞的组织来源及培养代数对猪核移植重构胚发育的影响。体外成熟培养40~44 h的猪卵母细胞去核后, 将经血清饥饿(0.5%FBS)培养2~9天、0.1 mg/L Aphidicolin(APD)培养+0.5% FBS培养2~9天或一般培养法(10% FBS)培养的卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞、输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞, 直接注射到去核的卵母细胞质中, 或注射到卵周隙中, 再经电融合(100 V/mm, 30 [mu]s, 电脉冲1次)构建重构胚。重构胚以钙离子载体A23817 或电脉冲结合6-DMAP 激活处理, 体外培养6天。耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经0.1 mg/L APD + 0.5% FBS培养处理后的重组胚卵裂率, 均高于血清饥饿和一般培养处理的同种供体细胞(P<0.01)。卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞经0.1 mg/L APD + 0.5% FBS处理后进行核移植的分裂率和发育率均高于输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞(P<0.05)。以猪颗粒细胞为核供体时, 电融合法的重构胚分裂率显著高于胞质内注入法(P<0.05), 但囊胚发育率无显著差异(P>0.05)。培养3代和6代的猪颗粒细胞以及培养6代和10代的耳皮成纤维细胞, 其具有正常二倍染色体的细胞比例均无显著差异(P>0.05); 以这2种细胞不同培养代数做供体进行核移植时, 各代之间核移胚的体外分裂率、囊胚发育率无显著差异(P>0.05)。这些结果表明: (1) 猪耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经培养传代所建立起来的细胞系相对比较稳定; (2) 0.1 mg/L APD预培养处理供体细胞能提高猪体细胞核移植的效果, 血清饥饿培养则无明显效果; (3) 猪颗粒细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞等均可做供核细胞, 核移植后都能得到体细胞克隆的囊胚, 但前者的效果略优于后者, 且其核移植效果不受供核细胞培养代数的影响; (4) 电融合核移植胚胎的发育率高于胞质内直接注入法, 但两者的总体效率相近。     

改进的培养体系在小鼠体细胞核移植及重构胚ES细胞分离培养中的应用

取8周后的雌性昆明小鼠进行超排,取卵母细胞用作核受体,收集卵母细胞周围的卵丘细胞作核供体,进行体细胞核移植。核移植重构胚经SrCl2激活处理6h后,与改良的M16培养液和小鼠输卵管上皮细胞共培养;将发育到早期囊胚阶段的重构胚转移至小鼠胎儿成纤维细胞饲养层上,添加含心肌细胞培养液的ES细胞培养液;把孵出的ICM进行消化接种培养,对孵出的ES细胞集落进行鉴定培养。结果显示,以小鼠卵丘细胞为核供体,体细胞核移植重构胚激活率为65．23％,囊胚发育率为11．69％;9个核移植重构囊胚中分离出ES细胞集落,分离率为2．77％;分离出的核移植ES细胞集落具有岛屿状团状隆起结构、碱性磷酸酶染色呈阳性,体外分化可形成类胚体,并能分化成上皮样或梭形细胞。ES细胞集落经常规冻存和复苏后,显示出同冻存前相似的集落形态,并具有较强的增殖能力。实验证实小鼠输卵管上皮细胞、改良的M16培养液及含心肌细胞培养液的ES细胞培养液可以更为成功地运用于小鼠的体细胞核移植及ES细胞的分离培养研究。     

化学激活和季节对克隆猪出生率的影响

为了解化学激活对克隆猪出生效率的影响, 研究了体外成熟的猪卵母细胞被激活恢复减数分裂到克隆猪出生的整个过程. 首先研究了电激活(Ele), Ele+CHX+CB和Ele+6-DMAP 3种激活方法对猪卵母细胞孤雌激活(parthenogenetic, PA)和核移植(nuclear transfer, NT)重构胚体外发育的影响. 比较了Ele或Ele+CHX+CB激活方法对克隆猪出生效率的影响. 实验中单独列出了PA胚的扩张囊胚率或NT优质囊胚率来代表囊胚的质量. 结果表明: 化学联合激活提高了PA的囊胚率和扩张囊胚率, 但对PA胚的卵裂率和囊胚细胞数没有显著影响(P>0.05). Ele+6-DMAP对PA胚的囊胚率和扩张囊胚率有显著提高(P<0.05), 但对NT胚的囊胚率和优质囊胚率没有提高甚至降低了NT胚的发育. Ele+CHX+CB虽然提高了NT胚的囊胚率(P<0.05), 但对优质囊胚率没有影响. Ele+CHX+CB激活方法使克隆猪出生率有所提高但不显著. 本文还研究了季节对猪孤雌发育和克隆猪出生率的影响. 结果表明, 春季收集的猪卵母细胞使用3种激活方法卵母细胞的孤雌囊胚率均高于冬季收集的猪卵母细胞的囊胚率. 春季和冬季进行移植, 克隆猪出生率没有区别. 综上, 在PA中获得的结果与NT胚中获得的结果不一定完全匹配, 说明孤雌激活和重构胚的激活机制还是有区别的. 化学联合激活虽然能提高囊胚率, 但它的作用相当于降低囊胚形成的门槛, 却不是从本质上改变囊胚发育能力, 因此不能显著提高克隆猪出生效率. 春季收集的卵母细胞在体外培养中的发育能力好于冬季收集的卵母细胞, 但季节对克隆猪出生率没有显著影响.     

猪卵母细胞体外成熟的发育潜力及核移植重构胚构建方法的研究

为了提高猪体细胞核移植重构胚发育潜力,本研究对体外成熟28 h、32 h、36 h、40 h、44 h、48 h、52 h和56 h的猪卵母细胞分别进行去核构建重构胚.研究结果表明,成熟44 h的卵母细胞核移植后有较高的融合率(58.99%)、卵裂率(67.52%)和囊胚率(22.78%),而成熟48 h的卵母细胞则分别为56.51%、65.73%和15.96%;且卵龄为44 h的卵母细胞核移植后分裂率与囊胚率显著高于卵龄为40 h、36 h、32 h、28 h的卵母细胞的分裂率与囊胚率(P＜0.05).卵龄为48 h的卵母细胞融合率高于卵龄为52 h卵母细胞的融合率(P＜0.05).同时我们还探讨了不同去核方法(盲吸法、Hochest33342染色法和Spindle-view system)对猪体细胞核移植重构胚发育能力的影响.研究结果发现,盲吸法、Hoechest33342染色法和Spindle-view system法的去核率分别达到76.33%,100.00%和98.40%.Hoechest染色法去核率显著高于盲吸法的去核率(P＞0.05),而与Spindle-view法去核率没有差异(P＞0.05).三种方法在融合率和囊胚率方面差异不显著(P＞0.05),但Hoechest染色法的分裂率较低,差异显著(P＜0.05).进一步的研究表明,细胞质内注射进行核移植构建重构胚的分裂率和囊胚率分别为68.13%和6.44%;透明带下注射法则为60.37%和8.08%,两者差异不显著(P＜0.05);两者均可运用于猪体细胞的核移植,这为建立有效的猪体细胞核移植体系提供了参考.     

影响山羊体外受精的因素

以屠宰山羊卵母细胞为材料研究了公羊个体、附睾不同部位精子、成熟培养和受精时卵丘存在与否、卵丘扩展程度及卵龄对山羊体外受精的影响。结果表明 :1)不同公羊精液在受精、卵裂和桑椹 /囊胚率上都有显著差异 ;2 )附睾尾精子和鲜精的受精、卵裂和桑椹 /囊胚率无显著差异 ,但显著高于附睾体和附睾头精子 ;3)成熟培养 2 4和 2 7h卵母细胞的的桑椹胚 /囊胚率显著高于培养 2 1和 30h卵母细胞 ;4 )卵丘扩展 3和 4级卵母细胞受精和桑椹胚 /囊胚率显著高于扩展 0和 1级卵母细胞 ;5 )成熟培养前机械去卵丘严重影响卵母细胞体外受精和桑椹胚 /囊胚率 ;6 )受精前完全去掉卵丘显著影响桑椹胚 /囊胚率     

卵丘细胞核移植技术生产克隆牛犊

分别以短期培养的5头牛卵丘细胞(1~5 BCC)为细胞核供体, 共用1188枚体外成熟的去核卵母细胞构建了931枚重构胚(78.4%).体外培养后,763枚(82%)发育至2-细胞期,627枚(67.3%)发育至8-细胞期,最后获得囊胚275枚(29.5%).囊胚的平均细胞数为124±24.5 (n = 20).分析不同个体来源的卵丘细胞,同一个体卵丘细胞饥饿与否以及饥饿时间的长短、融合后核/质相容时间(融合到激活的时间长短)等因素对核移植效率的影响发现,5个个体的体细胞核移植囊胚率(14.1%,45.2%,27.3%,34.3% vs 1.5%)有显著差异(P<0.05).同一供体细胞饥饿与否(47.1% vs 44.4%)、饥饿11~12 d (52.5%)和18~19 d (41.6%)均不影响核移植囊胚率(P≥0.05).核/质相容2~3 h的囊胚率(20.3%)显著低于3~6 h组(31.0%,P<0.05). 3~6 h范围内,囊胚率无差异(P≥0.05).其中63枚冷冻的核移植囊胚解冻后移植给31头受体牛,妊娠4例,最后顺利获得2头克隆牛犊.结果表明,牛卵丘细胞饥饿不是核移植成功的关键因素,核质相容程度和供体细胞的个体差异对核移植效率有一定影响.卵丘细胞能够获得全程发育的克隆牛犊.     

体细胞的组织来源及培养代数对猪核移植重构胚发育的影响

本研究系统探讨了体细胞的组织来源及培养代数对猪核移植重构胚发育的影响。体外成熟培养40-44h的猪卵母细胞去核后,将经血清饥饿(0．5?s)培养2-9d、0．1mg/L Aphidicolin (APD)培养 0．5?S培养2-9d或一般培养法(10?S)培养的卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞、输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞,直接注射到去核的卵母细胞质中,或注射到卵周隙中。再经电融合(100V/mm,30μs,电脉冲1次)构建重构胚。重构胚以钙离子载体A23817或电脉冲结合6- DMAP激活处理,体外培养6天。耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经0．1mg/L APD 0．5?S培养处理后的重组胚卵裂率,均高于血清饥饿和一般培养处理的同种供体细胞(P＜0．01)。卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞经0．1mg/L APD 0．5?S处理后进行核移植的分裂率和发育率均高于输卵管上皮细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞(P＜0．05)。以猪颗粒细胞为核供体时,电融合法的重构胚分裂率显著高于胞质内注入法(P＜0．05),但囊胚发育率无显著差异(P＞0．05)。培养3代和6代的猪颗粒细胞以及培养6代和10代的耳皮成纤维细胞,其具有正常二倍染色体的细胞比例均无显著差异(P＞0．05);以这2种细胞不同培养代数做供体进行核移植时,各代之间核移胚的体外分裂率、囊胚发育率无显著差异(P＞0．05)。这些结果表明：(1)猪耳皮成纤维细胞和颗粒细胞经培养传代所建立起来的细胞系相对比较稳定;(2)0．1mg/L APD预培养处理供体细胞能提高猪体细胞核移植的效果,血清饥饿培养则无明显效果;(3)猪颗粒细胞和耳皮成纤维细胞等均可做供核细胞．核移植后都能得到体细胞克隆的囊胚,但前者的效果略优于后者,且其核移植效果不受供核细胞培养代数的影响;(4)电融合核移植胚胎的发育率高于胞质内直接注入法,但两者的总体效率相近。     

Effects of maturational age of recipient oocytes and activation conditions on the development of porcine fetal fibroblast nuclear transfer embryos

This study was conducted to evaluate the nuclear remodeling patterns and the developmental potential of porcine fetal fibroblast nuclear transfer embryos (NTs) following the maturational age of recipient oocytes and activation conditions. Donor cells were transferred into the enucleated oocytes that were matured for 36 or 44h. Electrofused embryos were cultured in PZM-3 for 6 days without activation treatment (EF group). Some of these embryos were additionally activated by electric stimulus (ES; EF+ES group) or a combination of ES and DMAP (EF+ES+D group) before culture. The reconstituted embryos were fixed 2.5h after fusion to evaluate the nuclear remodeling patterns. The nuclear remodeling pattern of NTs reconstituted with 44 h-matured recipients showed a tendency to form a pronucleus-like structure, while that of NTs reconstituted with 36 h-matured recipients showed a tendency to undergo a premature chromosome condensation (PCC) and form one set of chromatin clump. In EF+ES+D group, blastocyst development was significantly increased regardless of maturational age of recipient oocytes (P<0.05). The result indicates that additional activation treatment is necessary to induce the activation of embryos reconstituted with 36 h-matured recipients, and treatment with the combination of electrical stimuli and DMAP could enhance the blastocyst formation rate of porcine NTs reconstituted with both 36 h- and 44 h-matured recipient oocytes.     

Development and calcium level changes in pre-implantation porcine nuclear transfer embryos activated with 6-DMAP after fusion

This study investigated the effect of treatment with 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) following fusion on in vitro development of porcine nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. Frozen thawed ear skin cells were transferred into the perivitelline space of enucleated oocytes. Reconstructed oocytes were fused and activated with electric pulse in 0.3 M mannitol supplemented with either 0.1 or 1.0 mM CaCl(2). In each calcium concentration, activated oocytes were divided into three groups. Two groups of them were exposed to either ionomycin (I + 6-DMAP or 6-DMAP alone. In experiment 2, fused NT embryos in 0.3 M mannitol containing 1.0 mM CaCl(2) were exposed to 6-DMAP either immediately or 20 min after fusion/activation. For 0.1 mM CaCl(2), oocytes activated with either I + 6-DMAP or 6-DMAP alone showed a higher (P < 0.05) developmental rate to the blastocyst stage than those activated with an electric pulse alone (26.7 and 22.5 vs. 12.5%). For 1.0 mM CaCl(2), oocytes activated with either I + 6-DMAP or 6-DMAP alone showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) developmental rate to the blastocyst stage (35.6 and 28.3 vs. 19.8%). Developmental rate to the blastocyst stage was (P < 0.05) increased in NT embryos activated with 6-DMAP 20 min after fusion. 6-DMAP made a higher and wider Ca(2+) transient compared to that induced by electric pulses (Fig. 3). The fluctuation lasted during the time that oocytes were cultured in 6-DMAP. Regardless of Ca(2+) concentration in fusion medium, activation with 6-DMAP following electric pulses supported more development of porcine NT embryos. Activation of NT embryos with 6-DMAP after fusion in the presence of 1.0 mM CaCl(2) could support better developmental rate to the blastocyst stage.     

Cloned piglets born after nuclear transplantation of embryonic blastomeres into porcine oocytes matured in vivo

Nuclear transplantation in the pig is more difficult than in other domestic animals and only one embryonic nuclear transplantation (NT) pig has been born to date. In this study, reconstituted porcine embryos were produced by electrofusion of blastomeres from in vivo four-cell embryos to enucleated in vivo or in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes. Nuclear transfer using cumulus cells as nuclear donors was also conducted. When blastomeres were used as donors, the electrofusion rate was significantly higher in oocytes matured in vivo (91.5%) than in those matured in vitro (66.1%) (p < 0.01). After fusion, the NT embryos reconstituted from in vivo matured oocytes developed to blastocysts at a rate of 10.3% after culture in rabbit oviducts for up to 5 days, while only 5.9% of the NT embryos reconstructed from in vitro matured oocytes developed to blastocyst stage. Electrofusion rate of cumulus cell nuclei with enucleated IVM oocytes was lower (47.6%) and only 1.5% (2/136) of the reconstituted eggs developed in vitro to morula stage, and 1.9% developed to blastocysts when cultured in the ligated rabbit oviducts. Transfer of 94 embryos reconstructed by blastomere NT with in vivo matured oocytes to five synchronous recipients resulted in the birth of two cloned piglets. No piglet was born following transfer to two recipients of embryos (n = 39) derived from NT with in vitro matured oocytes. The results demonstrate that in vivo matured oocytes are better recipients than those matured in vitro for pig cloning.     

Effects of duration, concentration, and timing of ionomycin and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) treatment on activation of goat oocytes

The protocol of ionomycin followed by 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) is commonly used for activation of oocytes and reconstituted embryos. Since numerous abnormalities and impaired development were observed when oocytes were activated with 6-DMAP, this protocol needs optimization. Effects of concentration and treatment duration of both drugs on activation and development of goat oocytes were examined in this study. The best oocyte activation (87-95%), assessed by pronuclear formation, was obtained when oocytes matured in vitro for 27 hr were treated with 0.625-20 microM ionomycin for 1 min before 6-hr incubation in 2 mM 6-DMAP. Progressional reduction of time for 6-DMAP-exposure showed that the duration of 6-DMAP treatment can be reduced to 1 hr from the second up to the fourth hour after ionomycin, to produce activation rates greater than 85%. Activation rates of oocytes in vitro matured for 27, 30, and 33 hr were higher (P < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured for 24 hr when treated with ionomycin plus 1-hr (the third hour) 6-DMAP, but a 4-hr incubation in 6-DMAP enhanced activation of the 24-hr oocytes. Goat activated oocytes began pronuclear formation at 3 hr and completed it by 5-hr post ionomycin. An extended incubation in 6-DMAP (a) impaired the development of goat parthenotes, (b) quickened both the release from metaphase arrest and the pronuclear formation, and (c) inhibited the chromosome movement at anaphase II (A-II) and telophase II (T-II), leading to the formation of one pronucleus without extrusion of PB2. In conclusion, duration, concentration, and timing of ionomycin and 6-DMAP treatment had marked effects on goat oocyte activation, and to obtain better activation and development, goat oocytes matured in vitro for 27 hr should be activated by 1 min exposure to 2.5 microM ionomycin followed by 2 mM 6-DMAP treatment for the third hour.     

in vitro development of porcine enucleated oocytes reconstructed by the transfer of porcine fetal fibroblasts and cumulus cells

In the pig little information is available on cytoplasmic events during the reprogramming of oocytes reconstructed with somatic nuclei. The present study was conducted to determine the developmental potential of porcine cumulus cells (CC) and fetal fibroblasts (FF) after they were transferred into enucleated oocytes. Non-quiescent FF were fused to the enucleated oocytes using electrical pulse, whereas CC were directly injected into the oocytes. Transferred nuclei from both CC and FF underwent premature chromosome condensation (PCC), nuclear swelling and pronucleus formation. The remodeled oocytes developed to the mitotic and 2-cell stage at 18 to 24 h after nuclear transfer. The pattern of nuclear remodeling was similar regardless of the sources of karyoplasts or nuclear transfer methods. However, using FF, 24% of nuclear transferred embryos developed to the morula or blastocyst stage, whereas only 8% of those using CC developed to the morula or blastocyst stage. These results suggest that porcine oocyte cytoplasm can successfully reprogram somatic cell nuclei and support the development of nuclear transferred embryos to the blastocyst stage.     

Development and apoptosis of pre-implantation porcine nuclear transfer embryos activated with different combination of chemicals

Artificial activation of oocytes is a pre-requisite for successful cloning by nuclear transfer (NT). This study investigated effect of different combination of activation chemicals such as electric pulse (E), thimerosal (Thi) + dithiothreitol (DTT), 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), or cycloheximide (CH) on the developmental ability and the frequency of apoptosis of porcine NT embryos during the culture in vitro. NT embryos activated with chemicals showed significantly higher developmental rate to blastocyst stage compared to embryos activated with E alone (21.5%-26.6% vs. 15.7%, respectively). Of chemicals, Thi + DTT supported higher development to blastocyst stage as compared to 6-DMAP or CH (26.6% vs. 21.5%-23.4%, respectively). Apoptosis of NT embryos were analyzed by using a terminal deoxynucleatidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The onset of apoptosis of embryos activated E alone was on Day 4, whereas embryos activated with chemicals showed apoptosis on Day 3 post-activation NT embryos exposed to chemicals for activation had higher frequency of apoptosis compared to that of embryos exposed to E alone from Day 3 to Day 7 during the culture. In conclusion, this study shows that chemical activation after fusion could increase not only the developmental ability of porcine NT embryos but also the mean cell number with an increased ratio of inner cell mass (ICM) to trophectoderm (TE) cells. However, the chemical activation also could increase the frequency of apoptosis and induced apoptosis earlier in porcine NT embryos.