Interspecies implantation and mitochondria fate of panda-rabbit cloned embryos

Somatic cell nuclei of giant pandas can dedifferentiate in enucleated rabbit ooplasm, and the reconstructed eggs can develop to blastocysts. In order to observe whether these interspecies cloned embryos can implant in the uterus of an animal other than the panda, we transferred approximately 2300 panda-rabbit cloned embryos into 100 synchronized rabbit recipients, and none became pregnant. In another approach, we cotransferred both panda-rabbit and cat-rabbit interspecies cloned embryos into the oviducts of 21 cat recipients. Fourteen recipients exhibited estrus within 35 days; five recipients exhibited estrus 43-48 days after embryo transfer; and the other two recipients died of pneumonia, one of which was found to be pregnant with six early fetuses when an autopsy was performed. Microsatellite DNA analysis of these early fetuses confirmed that two were from giant panda-rabbit cloned embryos. The results demonstrated that panda-rabbit cloned embryos can implant in the uterus of a third species, the domestic cat. By using mitochondrial-specific probes of panda and rabbit, we found that mitochondria from both panda somatic cells and rabbit ooplasm coexisted in early blastocysts, but mitochondria from rabbit ooplasm decreased, and those from panda donor cells dominated in early fetuses after implantation. Our results reveal that mitochondria from donor cells may substitute those from recipient oocytes in postimplanted, interspecies cloned embryos.     

Comparison of developmental capacity for intra- and interspecies cloned cat (Felis catus) embryos

Interspecies nuclear transfer is an invaluable tool for studying nucleus-cytoplasm interactions; and at the same time, it provides a possible alternative to clone animals whose oocytes are difficult to obtain. In the present study, we investigated the possibility of cloning cat embryos using rabbit oocytes, and compared the developmental capacity; the timing of embryogenesis of the cat-rabbit cloned embryos with that of the cat-cat or the rabbit-rabbit cloned embryos. When cultured in M199, the rate of blastocyst formation of the cat-rabbit embryos was 6.9%, which was not significantly different than that of the cat-cat embryos (10.5%). However, the rate of blastocyst formation of rabbit-rabbit embryos (22.9%) was significantly greater than that of both the cat-rabbit and the cat-cat embryos (P < 0.05). The timing of the first three cleavages for the cat-rabbit embryos was similar to that of the rabbit-rabbit embryos, but significantly faster than that of the cat-cat embryos (P < 0.05), while the time to form blastocysts was similar to that of cat-cat embryos, but significantly slower than that of the rabbit-rabbit embryos (P < 0.05). Both M199 and SOF medium were evaluated for culturing cat-rabbit embryos; the rate of blastocyst formation in SOF (14.5%) was significantly greater than that in M199 (6.9%) (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that: (1) the cat-rabbit embryos possess equal developmental capacity as cat-cat embryos; (2) the timing of the first three cleavages for the cat-rabbit embryos is recipient-specific, while the time to form blastocysts is donor nucleus-specific; and (3) SOF medium may be beneficial to overcome the morula-to-blastocyst block for cat-rabbit cloned embryos.     

The effects of chemical enucleation combined with whole cell intracytoplasmic injection on panda-rabbit interspecies nuclear transfer

Conventional methods of somatic cell nuclear transfer either by electrofusion or direct nucleus injection have very low efficiency in animal cloning, especially interspecies cloning. To increase the efficiency of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer, in the present study we introduced a method of whole cell intracytoplasmic injection (WCICI) combined with chemical enucleation into panda-rabbit nuclear transfer and assessed the effects of this method on the enucleation rate of rabbit oocytes and the in vitro development and spindle structures of giant panda-rabbit reconstructed embryos. Our results demonstrated that chemical enucleation can be used in rabbit oocytes and the optimal enucleation result can be obtained. When we compared the rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation of subzonal injection (SUZI) and WCICI using chemically enucleated rabbit oocytes as cytoplasm recipients, the rates in the WCICI group were higher than those in the SUZI group, but there was no statistically siginificant difference (p > 0.05) between the two methods. The microtubule structures of rabbit oocytes enucleated by chemicals and giant panda-rabbit embryos reconstructed by WCICI combined with chemical enucleation were normal. Therefore the present study suggests that WCICI combined with chemical enucleation can provide an efficient and less labor-intensive protocol of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer for producing giant panda cloned embryos.     

U2 small nuclear RNA localization and expression during bovine preimplantation development.

This study describes the localization of the U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and the major U snRNA group ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) during bovine preimplantation development. In vitro maturation, fertilization, and oviductal epithelial cell coculture methods were employed to produce several developmental series totalling over 2,000 preimplantation-stage bovine oocytes and embryos. These oocytes and preimplantation embryos were processed for in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence and Northern blotting methods. The U2 snRNA and the major U group snRNPS were localized initially over the germinal vesicle (GV) of preovulatory oocytes but following GV breakdown were released throughout the ooplasm. They subsequently reassociated with both pronuclei during fertilization. From the two-cell to the blastocyst stages, the U2 snRNA and U snRNPs were localized to the interphase nucleus of each blastomere. The levels of U2 snRNA throughout bovine preimplantation development were determined by probing a Northern blot containing total RNA isolated from the following preimplantation bovine embryo stages: one to two cell, eight to 16 cell, early morula (greater than 32 cell), and late morula/early blastocysts. The levels of U2 snRNA remained constant between the one-cell and eight- to 16-cell bovine embryo stages but increased 4.4-fold between the eight- to 16-cell stage and the late morula/early blastocyst stages. The results suggest that a maternal pool of snRNAs is maintained in mammalian preimplantation embryos regardless of the duration of maternal control of development.     

Feasibility of producing porcine nuclear transfer embryos by using G2/M-stage fetal fibroblasts as donors.

The type of donor cell most suitable for producing cloned animals is one of the topics under debate in the field of nuclear transfer. To provide useful information to answer this question, G2/M- and G0/G1-stage fetal fibroblasts were used as donor cells for nuclear transfer. In vitro-matured oocytes derived from abattoir ovaries were used as recipient cytoplasts. In both groups, nuclear envelope breakdown and premature chromosome condensation were completed within 1-2 h after donor cells were injected into the cytoplasm of oocytes. Microtubules were organized around condensed chromosomes and formed a spindle within 1-1.5 h after activation. Decondensation of chromosomes could be seen within 2-4 h after activation. Reformation of the new nuclear envelope occurred 4-6 h after activation and was followed by nuclear swelling and formation of a pronucleus-like structure (PN) 8-12 h after activation. Most (80.6%) of the reconstructed oocytes derived from G2/M cells extruded polar body-like structures (PB). However, a much lower frequency of PB (21.7%) was observed in the reconstructed oocytes derived from G0/G1 donors. A variety of PN and PB combinations were observed in reconstructed oocytes derived from G2/M-stage donors, including 1PN+0PB, 1PN+1PB, 1PN+2PB, 2PN+0PB, 2PN+1PB, 2PN+2PB, and 3PN+1PB. Chromosomes of most embryos (10/13) derived from G2/M stage were diploid. The percentage of cleavage and blastocysts and the average nuclear number of blastocysts in the G2/M and G0/G1 groups were not different. These results demonstrate that the G2/M stage can be morphologically remodeled by cytoplasm of MII oocytes in pigs. To maintain normal ploidy, the extra chromosomes derived from G2/M-stage cells could be expelled by oocytes as a second polar body. G2/M-stage fibroblast nuclei could direct reconstructed embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage.     

未经休眠处理的体细胞用于异种核移植（简报）

It is the point at issue in intraspecies nuclear transfer whether quiescence is necessary for development of nuclear transfer reconstructed embryos. In the interspecies nuclear transfer, some reports have proved that quiescent cell is able to support preimplantation development of the interspecies reconstructed embryos. Are non-quiescent cells able to support preimplantation development of the interspecies reconstructed embryos? We used non-quiescent somatic cells from C57BL/6 mice and giant pandas as donors to transfer into enucleated rabbit oocytes. After electrofusion (the electrofusion rates were 62.2% and 71.6%, respectively) and electrical activation, 5.1% of those mouse-rabbit reconstructed embryos developed to blastocyst in vitro, and 4.2% of panda-rabbit reconstructed embryos developed to blastocyst after transferring into ligated rabbit oviduct. These results indicate that non-quiescent cell from C57BL/6 mouse and giant panda could be dedifferentiated in enucleated rabbit oocytes and support early embryo development.     

未经休眠处理的体细胞用于异种核移植

自“多莉”诞生以来,在全世界掀起了一场体细胞克隆的浪潮,许多体细胞克隆动物,如小鼠、山羊、牛、猪等纷纷问世。围绕体细胞克隆的供体细胞周期问题,学术界存在两种不同的观点,一是Wilmut等认为体细胞必须经过休眠处理,使细胞停滞在G0/G1期,或者采用以G0/G1期为主的活体细胞作为供体,这是克隆成功的关键,这一方面的报道已有很多。第二是Cibelli等认为不必对细胞作     

A simple method for producing tetraploid porcine parthenogenetic embryos

The objective was to produce porcine tetraploid parthenogenetic embryos using cytochalasin B, which inhibits polar body extrusion. Porcine cumulus-enclosed oocytes aspirated from antral follicles were cultured for 51 h, and treated with cytochalasin B from 35 h to 42 h after the start of culture. After maturation culture, 74.7% (2074/2775) of oocytes treated with cytochalasin B did not extrude a polar body (0PB oocytes). In contrast, 80.4% (1931/2403) of control oocytes extruded a polar body (1PB oocytes). The 0PB oocytes were electrically stimulated, treated with cytochalasin B again for 3 h, and then cultured without cytochalasin B. Six days after electrical stimulation, 49.8% (321/644) reached the blastocyst stage. The number of cells in these blastocysts derived from 0PB oocytes was significantly lower than that from 1PB oocytes (0PB: 24.9 ± 10.6; 1PB: 43.0 ± 17.1; mean ± SD). A porcine chromosome 1-specific sequence was detected in parthenogenetic 0PB embryos by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Typical pronucleus-stage samples derived from 0PB embryos had two pronuclei, each with two signals. In two-cell and blastocyst-stage embryos, four signals were detected in each nucleus derived from 0PB embryos. We inferred that 0PB oocytes, which had a tetraploid number of chromosomes, started to develop as tetraploid parthenotes after electrical stimulation, and that tetraploid status was stably maintained during early embryonic development, at least until the blastocyst stage.     

Production of cloned bovine embryos by somatic cell transfer into enucleated zona-free oocytes

Cloned bovine embryos were produced at the blastocyst stage. Prior to enucleation, oocytes were freed from the zona pellucida. Fibroblasts isolated from the bovine fetus were used as nuclear donors. Pairs of fetal fibroblasts and enucleated oocytes (cytoplasts) were glued in phytohemagglutinin solution under a binocular microscope. The subsequent electrofusion of 39 fetal fibroblast-cytoplast pairs yielded 36 reconstructed one-cell embryos (92.3%). After culturing in synthetic oviduct fluid for 7.5 days, seven cloned embryos developed to the blastocyst stage (19.4%) and six blastocysts were considered fit for transplantation. The applied technique of bovine embryo growth allowed 31.1% zona-free oocytes parthenogenetically activated by to reach the blastocyst stage.     

Cold storage of mouse embryos of different stages of development

Experiments were designed to evaluate the survival rates of preimplantation mouse embryos of different stages of development in cold culture at 4 degrees C. Several developmental stages, from one-cell to the blastocyst, were stored at 4 degrees C from 1 to 8 d. Viability following cold culture was determined by blastocyst expansion during culture in Whitten's medium at 37 degrees C. Blastocyst formation of nonstored controls ranged from 93 to 100% for all developmental stages tested. Only 3% of one-cell embryos survived 1 d and none survived 2 days at 4 degrees C. Survival improved using two-cell embryos, with 84, 69 and 15% forming expanded blastocysts following storage for 1, 2 and 3 d, respectively. Eighty five and 38% of eight-cell embryos formed expanded blastocysts following cold storage for 3 and 4 d, respectively. Survival rates for cold stored morulae and blastocysts remained above 75% for 6 d but decreased significantly to 30 and 36%, respectively, when stored for 8 d. A large percentage of blastocysts were observed to collapse when placed in cold storage from 1 to 8 d but almost all expanded when placed in culture at 37 degrees C. This study showed that one-cell embryos were particularly sensitive to cold storage compared to later-stage mouse embryos. Cold storage survival increased with increasing age of the embryo; morula and blastocyst survival rate was similar.     

Effects of oocyte quality, oxygen tension, embryo density, cumulus cells and energy substrates on cleavage and morula/blastocyst formation of bovine embryos

Various factors, such as quality of the oocyte, oxygen tension, embryo density, and kind of energy substrate during in vitro production of embryos may affect the rate of preimplantation embryo development. In the present study we used 12553 bovine oocytes aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries to evaluate various culture conditions that would increase in vitro production of advanced stages of preimplantation embryos. The morphological quality of the oocyte based on the compactness and number of layers of cumulus cells had significant positive effects on the rates of in vitro maturation, fertilization and development to the morula and blastocyst stages. None of the corona-enclosed or nude oocytes progressed beyond the 8- to 16-cell stage. The level of oxygen (5 or 20%) did not affect the proportion of one-cell embryos undergoing cleavage or progressing to morula and blastocyst stages. The rate of development of one-cell embryos originating from inferior quality oocytes was significantly improved when cultured in groups of 40 instead of 20 embryos per 0.5 mL medium. In the presence of cumulus cells, glucose had beneficial effects on in vitro maturation and subsequent development of IVM-IVF zygotes. The presence of serum improved the rate of in vitro development of one-cell embryos. Minimum Essential Medium supplemented with energy substrates according to the findings of metabolic studies was less effective in supporting in vitro maturation and subsequent development than TCM-199. In conclusion, morphological grading of immature oocytes is an appropriate selection criterion for their developmental ability. Embryo yields from low quality oocytes can be increased by culturing them in large groups. Serum is not essential for in vitro generation of embryos but its addition improves rates of success.     

Open-pulled straw vitrification differentiates cryotolerance of in vitro cultured rabbit embryos at the eight-cell stage

The objective was to determine cryotolerance of in vitro cultured rabbit embryos to the open-pulled straw (OPS) method. Overall, 844 rabbit embryos at pronuclear, 2- to 4-cell, 8-cell, and morula/blastocyst stages were vitrified, and ≥ 1 mo later, were sequentially warmed, rehydrated, and subjected to continuous culture (n = 691) or embryo transfer (ET, n = 153). Embryos vitrified at the 8-cell stage or beyond had greater survival, expanded blastocyst and hatched blastocyst rates in vitro, and better term development than those vitrified at earlier stages. The 8-cell group had 70.1% expanded blastocysts, 63.7% hatched blastocysts, and 25.7% term development, as compared to 1.5-17.7%, 1.5-4.3% and 2.8-3.7% in the pronuclear, 2-cell and 4-cell embryos, respectively (P < 0.05). The expanded and hatched blastocyst rates in vitrified morula/blastocyst post-warming were higher than that in the 8-cell group; however, their term development after ET was similar (8-cell vs morula/blastocyst: 25.7 vs 19.4%, P > 0.05). Development after ET was comparable between vitrified-warmed embryos and fresh controls at 8-cell and morula/blastocyst stages (19.4-25.7 vs 13.7-26.6%, P > 0.05). For embryos at pronuclear or 2- to 4-cell stages, however, term rates were lower in the vitrified-warmed (2.8-3.7%) than in fresh controls (28.6-35.6%, P < 0.05). Therefore, cultured rabbit embryos at various developmental stages had differential crytolerance. Under the present experimental conditions, the 8-cell stage appeared to be the critical point for acquiring cryotolerance. We inferred that for this OPS cryopreservation protocol, rabbit embryos should be vitrified no earlier than the 8-cell stage, and stage-specific protocols may be needed to maximize embryo survival after vitrification and re-warming.     

Comparison of hybrid and purebred in vitro-derived cattle embryos during in vitro culture

Frozen-thawed spermatozoa collected from a beef bull (Japanese Black) were used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) of matured oocytes obtained from dairy (Holstein) and beef (Japanese Black) females. Embryos were examined for fertilization, cleavage rate, interval between insemination and blastocyst production (experiment I), total cell number per embryo and sex ratio during blastocyst formation (experiment II), and blastocyst production rate of zygotes that developed to 2-, 4-, and 8-cell stages at 48h post-fertilization (experiment III). Fertilized oocytes were cultured in vitro on a cumulus cell co-culture system. The fertilization and cleavage rate of oocytes groups were similar, however, the blastocyst production rate was greater (P<0.05) in hybrid than from purebred embryos (27% versus 20%). Development of blastocysts produced from hybrid embryos developed at a faster rate than blastocysts produced from the straightbred embryos. In hybrid embryos, blastocyst production was significantly greater on day 7 (56%) and gradually decreased from 20% on day 8 to 17% on day 9. In contrast, blastocyst production rate from the purebred embryos was lower on day 7 (17%), increasing on day 8 to 59% and then decreased on day 9 to 24%. The total number of cells per embryo and sex ratio of in vitro-produced blastocysts were not different between hybrid and purebred embryos. The number of blastocysts obtained from embryos at the 8-cell stage of development by 48h post-fertilization (94%) was greater (P<0.01) than the number of zygotes producing blastocysts that had developed to the 4-cell stage (4%) and the 2-cell stage (2%) during the same interval. These results show that the blastocyst production rate and developmental rate to the blastocyst stage were different between hybrid and purebred embryos, and that almost all of the in vitro-produced blastocysts were obtained from zygotes that had developed to the 8-cell stage 48h post-fertilization.     

The development of preimplantation mouse parthenogenones in vitro in absence of glucose: Influence of the maternally inherited components

Mouse preimplantation embryo development is characterized by a switch from a dependence on the tricarboxylic acid cycle pre-compaction to a metabolism based on glycolysis post-compaction. In view of this, the role of glucose in embryo culture medium has come under increased analysis and has lead to improved development of outbred mouse embryos in glucose free medium. Another type of embryo that has proven difficult to culture is the parthenogenetic (PN) mouse embryo. With this in mind we have investigated the effect of glucose deprivation on PN embryo development in vitro. Haploid and diploid PN embryos were grown in medium M16 with or without glucose (M16-G) and development, glycolytic rate, and methionine incorporation rates assessed. Haploid PN and normal embryo development to the blastocyst stage did not differ in either M16 or M16-G. In contrast, although diploid PN embryos formed blastocysts in M16 (28.3%), they had difficulty in undergoing the morula/blastocyst transition in M16-G (7.6%). There was no significant difference in mean cell numbers of haploid PN, diploid PN and normal embryos cultured in M16 and M16-G at the morula and blastocyst stage. Transfer of diploid PN embryos from M16-G to M16 at the four- to eight-cell stage dramatically increased blastocyst development. At the morula stage diploid PN embryos grown in M16-G exhibited a higher glucose metabolism and protein synthesis compared to those grown in M16 and to haploid PN embryos. Difficulties of diploid PN embryos in undergoing the morula/blastocyst transition in absence of glucose infer the existence of a link between the maternally inherited components and the preimplantation embryos dependence on glucose. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

In vitro development to blastocysts of early porcine embryos produced in vivo or in vitro

The objective of this study was to compare the development of porcine embryos from the 2- and 4-cell stages to the blastocyst stage after in vivo or in vitro fertilization and in vivo or in vitro culture. Early-stage embryos were collected either from superovulated gilts 36 h after the second mating or after in vitro fertilization (IVF) of in vivo-matured oocytes, both followed by in vitro culture to the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts collected from superovulated donors served as controls. In the first experiment, a total of 821 2- and 4-cell embryos derived from in vivo-fertilized oocytes was cultured either in medium NCSU 23, modified Whittens' medium or modified KRB for 5 d. Significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001) more embryos overcame the 4-cell block and developed to the blastocyst stage in medium NCSU 23 than in the 2 other culture media. Hatching was only observed in medium NCSU 23. In the second experiment, embryos derived from in vivo-matured oocytes fertilized in vitro were cultured in medium NCSU 23. Of 1869 mature oocytes 781 (41.8%) cleaved within 48 h after in vitro fertilization. A total of 715 embryos was cultured to the morula and blastocyst stages, and 410 (57.3%) overcame the developmental block stage, with 358 embryos (50.1%) developing to the morula and blastocyst stages. None of the embryos hatched, and the number of nuclei was significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with that of in vivo-fertilized embryos (18.9 +/- 9.8 vs 31.2 +/- 5.8). In the third experiment, 156 blastocysts derived from in vitro fertilization and 276 blastocysts derived from in vivo fertilization and in vitro culture were transferred into synchronized recipients, while 164 blastocysts were transferred immediately after collection into 6 recipients, resulting in a pregnancy rate of 83.3%, with 35 piglets (on average 7.0) born. From the in vitro-cultured embryos, 58.3% (7/12) of the recipients remained pregnant at Day 35 after transfer, but only 33.3% maintained pregnancy to term, and 14 piglets (on average 3.5) were born. In contrast, the transfer of embryos derived from in vitro-fertilized oocytes did not result in pregnancies. It is concluded that 1) NCSU 23 is superior to modified Whittens' medium and modified KRB and 2) blastocysts derived from in vitro fertilization have reduced viability as indicated by the lower number of nuclei and failure to induce pregnancy upon transfer into recipients.     

人-牛异种克隆胚构建及其线粒体来源

通过人-牛异种核移植技术获得异种克隆囊胚, 便于在不消耗人类卵母细胞的情况下从异种克隆胚中分离出人类干细胞。通过透明带下注射法将人胎儿成纤维细胞和牛耳成纤维细胞分别注入去核牛卵母细胞中构建异种和同种胚胎, 并比较两者之间的融合率、卵裂率、8-细胞发育率以及囊胚率。并对处于2-细胞、4-细胞、8-细胞、桑椹胚、囊胚阶段的异种克隆胚的线粒体DNA来源进行检测。结果表明, 异种克隆胚体外各个阶段的发育率均低于同种克隆胚, 尤其是8-细胞到囊胚阶段的发育率, 以及囊胚率都显著低于同种克隆胚(P<0.05)。异种克隆胚在2-细胞到桑椹胚阶段检测到人、牛线粒体DNA共存, 囊胚阶段只检测到牛线粒体DNA。结果表明: 牛卵母细胞可以重编程人胎儿成纤维细胞, 完成异种克隆胚植入前的胚胎发育, 异种克隆胚由于核质相互作用的不谐调, 影响其发育能力, 使其囊胚率显著低于同种克隆胚。牛线粒体DNA存在于植入前异种胚胎发育的各个阶段。异种克隆胚胎用于人类胚胎干细胞分离具有可行性。     

Pregnancies after in-vitro fertilization of cow follicular oocytes, their incubation in rabbit oviduct and their transfer to the cow uterus

Cow embryos fertilized in vitro (1-8-cell) (n = 113) were transferred surgically to the ligated oviduct of pseudopregnant female rabbits (31 +/- 4 h after 75 i.u. hCG). Rabbits were killed 99 +/- 5 h later and 67 embryos were recovered: 45 (67%) had cleaved at least once, 15 had reached the morula stage and 2 blastocysts were obtained. Transfer of cleaved embryos (2-8-cell) led to a high recovery rate (84%) compared to 39% for one-cell embryos. Of the embryos incubated for more than 99 h in the rabbit oviduct, 41% were at the morula stage. Embryos incubated in vivo (n = 21) (8-cell to blastocyst) were transferred to the uterus of 14 synchronized recipient heifers by a surgical (N = 5) or a non-surgical (N = 9) procedure: 6 pregnancies resulted (4 from the non-surgical procedures). In addition, 27 (2-8-cell) cow embryos developed in vitro were transferred to the oviduct of synchronized heifers by a paralumbar surgical approach on a standing animal, but no pregnancies resulted. It is therefore concluded that (1) the rabbit oviduct can be used to obtain cow eggs at an embryonic stage sufficiently advanced to permit transfer to the uterus of a synchronized recipient; and (2) the pregnancy rate after in-vitro fertilization and incubation in the rabbit oviduct are similar to results with fertilization in vivo.     

Induction of pluripotency by injection of mouse trophectoderm cell nuclei into blastocysts following transplantation into enucleated oocytes

Pluripotency of mouse trophectoderm (TE) cells was examined using a nuclear transfer technique. We transferred a TE cell to an enucleated oocyte and cultured the reconstituted oocyte to be blastocyst stage. Then a portion of the inner cell mass (ICM) isolated from the TE-origin blastocyst was injected into the cavity of a fertilized blastocyst to produce a chimeric embryo, which was transferred to a recipient female. Of 319 oocytes reconstituted with TE cells, 263 (82.4%) had a single nucleus (1PN), 3 (0.9%) had 2 nuclei (2PN) and 53 (16.6%) had a nucleus with a polar body (1PN1PB). Although the oocytes with 1PN and 2PN developed to blastocysts (81 of 263, 30.8% and 1 of 3, respectively), only those with 1PN were used to produce chimeric blastocysts. After the transfer of chimeric embryos to recipient females, 7 (28%) of 25 conceptuses analyzed at midgestation showed chimerism. Of those 5 (71%), 6 (86%) and 4 (57%) chimeric conceptuses showed distribution of donor nuclei in the fetus, membrane and placenta, and the distributions were 10 to 65, 10 to 50 and 10 to 15%, respectively. Of the 23 young obtained, 7 (30%; 2 males and 5 females) were coat color chimeras. The contributions of donor nuclei were detected in the brain, lung, heart, liver, kidney, testis, ovary and blood. Each coat-color chimeric mouse was mated with CD-1 male or female mice, but no germ line chimera was obtained. When ICM cells were used as the control nuclear donor, the contribution was equivalent to those of TE cells. In conclusion, pluripotency of mouse TE cells on a somatic line was induced, and chimeric young were obtained using a nuclear transplantation technique.     

Differential development of rabbit embryos following microinsemination with sperm and spermatids

Microinsemination is the technique of delivering male germ cells directly into oocytes. The efficiency of fertilization after microinsemination and subsequent embryo development may vary with the animal species and male germ cells used. The present study was undertaken to observe the in vitro and in vivo developmental ability of rabbit embryos following microinsemination with male germ cells at different stages. First, we assessed their oocyte-activating capacity by injecting them into mouse and rabbit oocytes. The majority of mouse oocytes were activated irrespective of the type of rabbit male germ cell injected (61-77%), whereas rabbit oocytes were activated differently according to the type of male germ cells (89%, 75%, and 29% were activated by spermatozoa, elongated spermatids, and round spermatids, respectively; P < 0.05). After 120 hr in culture, 66%, 45%, and 13%, respectively, of these activated rabbit oocytes (pronuclear eggs) developed into blastocysts (P < 0.05). Additional electric pulse stimulation of round spermatid-injected oocytes increased the blastocyst rate to 43%. After 24 hr in culture, some four to eight cell embryos were transferred into the oviducts of pseudopregnant females. Normal pups were born from spermatozoa and elongated spermatids, but not from round spermatids. Karyotypic analysis at the morula/blastocyst stage revealed that the majority of round spermatid-derived embryos had abnormal ploidy (8 out of 12 embryos). Our study indicates that rabbit male germ cells acquire the ability to activate oocytes and to support subsequent embryo development as they undergo spermiogenesis. As these differential developmental patterns are similar to those reported for humans in vitro and in vivo, rabbits may provide an alternative small animal model for studying the biological nature and molecular basis of human microinsemination techniques, especially those using immature male germ cells.