Growth retardation of inner cell mass cells in polyspermic porcine embryos produced in vitro

The in vitro viability of polyspermic pig eggs was investigated. Immature oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro. Approximately 10 h after insemination, the eggs were centrifuged at 12 000 x g for 10 min and individually classified into two (2PN)- and poly-pronuclear (PPN, 3 or 4 pronuclei) eggs. The classified eggs were cultured in vitro or in vivo. Nuclei numbers of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) were compared between 2PN- and PPN-derived blastocysts. The frequency of development in vitro of 2PN and PPN eggs to the blastocyst stage was 53.6% and 40.7%, respectively. The mean number (8.2 +/- 0.7, n = 48) of ICM nuclei of 2PN-derived blastocysts was higher than that (4.2 +/- 0.8, n = 37) of PPN-derived blastocysts (p < 0.001), whereas there was no difference (p > 0.05) in mean numbers of total (46.7 +/- 3.4 vs. 39. 9 +/- 3.9) and TE nuclei (38.5 +/- 2.9 vs. 35.7 +/- 3.3) between the two groups. Development of 2PN and PPN eggs cultured in vivo to the blastocyst stage was 33.3% and 27.4%, respectively. The numbers of ICM and TE nuclei of these embryos cultured in vivo showed a pattern similar to that for the in vitro-produced blastocysts. Additionally, fetuses were obtained on Day 21 from both the 2PN and the PPN groups. This suggests that polyspermic pig embryos develop to the blastocyst stage and beyond, although showing a smaller ICM cell number as compared to normal embryos.     

Development of androgenetic mouse embryos produced by in vitro fertilization of enucleated oocytes

Enucleated mouse oocytes were successfully fertilized in vitro, and the resultant androgenetic eggs developed to the blastocyst stage. The proportion of enucleated oocytes fertilized in vitro was high (87–99%) at sperm concentrations ranging from 10–100 × 10⁴/ml. At high sperm concentrations (100–1,000 × 10⁴), 35–45% of the fertilized eggs resulted in heterozygous bispermic androgenones. The proportion of hemizygous haploid and heterozygous diploid androgenones developing to blastocysts was 11% and 43%, respectively. Hemizygous diploidization, however, showed no positive effect on development. These results clearly show that the procedure reported here is efficient and reliable for the production of androgenetic eggs. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Bacterial overgrowth affects urinary proteome analysis: recommendation for centrifugation, temperature, duration, and the use of preservatives during sample collection

Bacterial overgrowth is one of the major concerns in collection and storage of biofluids, particularly 24-h urine. However, there is no previous systematic analysis of effects of bacterial overgrowth on urinary proteome analysis, and necessity, type, and appropriate concentration of preservatives to prevent bacterial overgrowth in the urine remain unclear. We, therefore, performed such systematic evaluation. Pooled normal urine was either centrifuged at 1500 g (to remove cell debris) or uncentrifuged. The samples were then added with either sodium azide (NaN3) or boric acid with various concentrations, and kept at room temperature (RT) or at 4 degrees C. Bacterial overgrowth was determined by UV-visible spectrophotometry (lambda620 nm) and Gram staining. At both temperatures, centrifugation to remove cell debris could effectively delay the bacterial overgrowth. At RT, both centrifuged and uncentrifuged samples without any preservative had the detectable overgrowth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci and bacilli as early as 12 and 8 h, respectively, whereas 0.1-1 mM NaN3 and 2-20 mM boric acid could delay bacterial overgrowth, which started at 16-20 h in the centrifuged urine and 12-16 h in the uncentrifuged urine. Greater delay (for at least 48 h) was achieved with 10 mM NaN3 and 200 mM boric acid. At 4 degrees C, no bacterial overgrowth was detected in all centrifuged samples. However, it was observed at 20 h in the uncentrifuged urine without preservative, and at 48 h for the uncentrifuged urine with 0.1 mM NaN3 or 2 mM boric acid. There was no bacterial overgrowth detectable in the uncentrifuged urine preserved with higher concentrations of NaN3 or boric acid. 2-DE showed obvious changes in the urinary proteome profile of the sample with bacterial contamination, and the bacterial proteins could be identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Our data suggest that the urine should be centrifuged to remove cell debris and kept at 4 degrees C, rather than at RT, during the collection interval prior to long-term storage in the freezer. Moreover, the addition of 200 mM boric acid or 10 mM NaN3 is highly recommended for the prevention of bacterial overgrowth in the urine.     

Metabolism of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) in ovine ruminal fluid under anaerobic conditions.

The ability of ovine ruminal fluid to metabolize pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) from Senecio jacobaea under anaerobic conditions was evaluated. Four fistulated sheep fed PA served as individual sources of ruminal fluid, which was incubated in a defined minimal salts medium under two different anaerobic conditions, denitrifying and methanogenic. Anaerobic cultures amended with ovine ruminal fluids (20%), PA (100 micrograms/ml), and a defined minimal salts medium were monitored for a period of several days. These cultures revealed that while PA was not depleted in sterile, autoclaved controls or under denitrifying conditions, it was metabolized during periods of active methanogenesis under methanogenic conditions. In addition, samples of ruminal fluid were separated by differential centrifugation under anaerobic conditions, and the resultant supernatants were tested for their ability to metabolize PA as compared with those of the respective uncentrifuged control fluids. Uncentrifuged controls exhibited a PA depletion rate of -4.04 +/- 0.17 micrograms of PA per ml per h. Supernatants 1 (centrifuged at 41 x g for 2 min), 2 (centrifuged at 166 x g for 5 min), and 3 (centrifuged at 1,500 x g for 10 min) exhibited significantly slower depletion rates, with slopes of data representing -1.64 +/- 0.16, -1.44 +/- 0.16, and -1.48 +/- 0.16 micrograms of PA metabolized per ml per h, respectively, demonstrating no statistically significant difference among the supernatant cultures. Microscopic evaluations revealed that protozoa were present in the control whole ruminal fluid and to a lesser extent in supernatant 1, while supernatants 2 and 3 contained only bacteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metabolism of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) in ovine ruminal fluid under anaerobic conditions.

The ability of ovine ruminal fluid to metabolize pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) from Senecio jacobaea under anaerobic conditions was evaluated. Four fistulated sheep fed PA served as individual sources of ruminal fluid, which was incubated in a defined minimal salts medium under two different anaerobic conditions, denitrifying and methanogenic. Anaerobic cultures amended with ovine ruminal fluids (20%), PA (100 micrograms/ml), and a defined minimal salts medium were monitored for a period of several days. These cultures revealed that while PA was not depleted in sterile, autoclaved controls or under denitrifying conditions, it was metabolized during periods of active methanogenesis under methanogenic conditions. In addition, samples of ruminal fluid were separated by differential centrifugation under anaerobic conditions, and the resultant supernatants were tested for their ability to metabolize PA as compared with those of the respective uncentrifuged control fluids. Uncentrifuged controls exhibited a PA depletion rate of -4.04 +/- 0.17 micrograms of PA per ml per h. Supernatants 1 (centrifuged at 41 x g for 2 min), 2 (centrifuged at 166 x g for 5 min), and 3 (centrifuged at 1,500 x g for 10 min) exhibited significantly slower depletion rates, with slopes of data representing -1.64 +/- 0.16, -1.44 +/- 0.16, and -1.48 +/- 0.16 micrograms of PA metabolized per ml per h, respectively, demonstrating no statistically significant difference among the supernatant cultures. Microscopic evaluations revealed that protozoa were present in the control whole ruminal fluid and to a lesser extent in supernatant 1, while supernatants 2 and 3 contained only bacteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Parthenogenetic activation of mouse and rabbit eggs by electric stimulation in vitro

The present study was undertaken to determine conditions for parthenogenetic activation of mouse and rabbit eggs by electric stimulation in vitro. The cumulus-free eggs were submitted to square direct current pulses at output voltage of 1.0 to 2.5 kV/cm for 25 to 200 μsec. The best conditions for the activation of mouse eggs were 1.5 kV/cm for 100 μsec, in which 78% of eggs were activated, 32% of which developed to blastocysts in vitro. When the nonelectric solution (0.3M mannitol) was used for electric stimulation, the activation rate was quite low (16%). Optimal conditions for activation of rabbit eggs were 1.5 kV/cm for 200 μsec, in which 77% of eggs were activated, 25% of which developed to blastocysts. Unlike mouse eggs, rabbit eggs frequently had three pronuclei after electric stimulation. It is clearly shown that electric stimulus can induce parthenogenetic activation of the mouse and rabbit eggs in vitro.     

Development of porcine ova that were centrifuged to permit visualization of pronuclei and nuclei

The obscured pronuclei or nuclei in living one- and two-celled pig ova were revealed after centrifugation for 3 min at 15,000 X g. To determine viability of centrifuged ova, one- and two-celled pig ova were collected from superovulated gilts; half of the ova were centrifuged and all ova were transferred into recipient gilts. Prior to transfer all embryos were stained with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC) to distinguish the experimental embryos from the recipients's own ova. Centrifuged ova were transferred into one oviduct of recipient gilts and uncentrifuged ova were deposited into the opposite oviduct. Embryos were recovered 4 days after transfer and were stained with lacmoid or Hoechst 33342 to assess their stage of development. Centrifugation had no detectable influence on survival of the recovered embryos to 4 days. Centrifugation is a simple, reliable method for revealing pronuclei and nuclei of one- and two-celled pig ova and apparently does not alter subsequent preimplantation development.     

Preimplantation embryonic development of spontaneous mouse parthenotes after oocyte meiotic maturation in vitro

Of eggs ovulated in LT/Sv mice, 10–20% undergo spontaneous parthenogenetic activation, and 40–50% of the parthenotes develop to blastocysts when cultured in simple defined medium from the one-cell stage. Similar percentages of oocytes isolated from Graafian follicles undergo parthenogenetic activation after spontaneous maturation in simple defined medium, but embryonic development proceeds no further than the two-cell stage. The simple defined medium that supported preimplantation development of ovulated eggs and spontaneous maturation of extrafollicular oocytes contained no serum, free amino acids, or vitamins. The present experiments were conducted to determine what conditions during spontaneous maturation of extrafollicular oocytes could promote the ability of oocytes to develop to blastocysts after parthenogenetic activation and mimic the environment of preovulatory follicles. Cumulus-enclosed oocytes that were matured in simple medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) developed to blastocysts after spontaneous parthenogenetic activation. Furthermore, minimum essential medium (MEM), a complex medium containing free amino acids and vitamins, could substitute completely for FBS for maturing oocytes from (C57BL/6J × LT/Sv)F₁ mice, and to a lesser extent for maturing LT/Sv oocytes. Therefore, even though germinal vesicle breakdown in mouse oocytes and preimplantation development of mouse eggs can occur in the absence of an exogenous supply of free amino acids and vitamins, a complete, or normal, mouse oocyte maturation cannot. These results also demonstrated that gonadotropins are not necessary during oocyte meiotic maturation for parthenogenetically activated eggs to develop through the preimplantation stages. Luteinizing hormone or 17β-estradiol in MEM during oocyte maturation had no effect on the subsequent development of parthenotes. In contrast, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and progesterone in the maturation medium decreased the number of ova that subsequently cleaved, and FSH decreased the number of cleaved eggs that developed to blastocysts.     

Differential sensitivity of mouse pronuclei and zygote cytoplasm to Hoechst staining and ultraviolet irradiation

The exposure of mouse zygotes pre-stained with Hoechst 33342 to u.v. irradiation for 20-30 sec significantly or completely inhibited development to blastocysts in vitro. However, development to the blastocyst stage of enucleated eggs receiving pronuclei from untreated eggs was as good as that of control reconstituted eggs when the cytoplasm originated from eggs exposed to u.v. irradiation for 20-30 sec, but was significantly lower when the cytoplasm was from eggs exposed for 40 sec. The chromosomes at the second metaphase stage could be removed with 15 sec of exposure to u.v. irradiation under a fluorescence microscope. Most eggs enucleated at the second metaphase that received a single inner cell mass nucleus (75%) showed pronuclear formation 6 h after activation; 23% of them developed to morphologically normal 2-cell eggs and 5% developed to blastocysts. These results demonstrate that the cytoplasm of mouse zygotes is more resistant to u.v. irradiation after Hoechst staining. Eggs at the second metaphase, from which chromosomes have been removed under a fluorescence microscope, can therefore be used as cytoplasm recipients for nuclear transplantation of inner cell mass nuclei.     

The effect of equilibration time on survival and development rates of mouse pronuclear-stage embryos vitrified in solid surface (SSV) and convential straws: in vitro and in vivo evaluations

The objective of this study was to improve the efficiency of cryopreservation of pronuclear-stage (PN) mouse embryos. A novel vitrification technique (solid surface vitrification, SSV) was compared with a convential one in straws both for cryosurvival and obtaining progeny from cryopreserved PN mouse embryos. In the SSV method, 15-20 PN embryos were exposed to vitrification solutions for approximately 20 sec after equilibration, and then they were dropped in 2 microl drops onto a pre-cooled (-150 to -180 degrees C) metal surface. In the straws method, groups of 5-10 PN embryos were loaded in a single straw after equilibration. In experiment I, it was compared the effect of the vitrification solutions alone, without vitrification. No reduction was detected in survival, cleavage and blastocysts rates and the lowest development rate was obtained from hatched blastocyst for 20 min equilibration (24.5%). In experiment II, SSV method resulted in significantly higher survival and cleavage rates than that of in-straw vitrified 15-20 min group (87% vs. 60%, 83% vs. 67%, respectively; P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences among any of the blastocyts groups. However, there was a statistical difference in hatched blastocysts between 15 to 5, 10, and 20 min (P < 0.05). In experiment III, it was found no major effect among equilibration time periods in toxicity groups according to the mean cell number of blastocysts developed from PN embryos. But, there was a significant differences between 15 min SSV and 10 min in straw vitrified according to the mean cell number of blastocysts developed from PN embryos following vitrification (P < 0.05). The good results were obtained from 15 min equilibration group for SSV and 10 min equilibration group for straw vitrification. In the last experiment, embryo transfer after vitrification and toxicity was investigated. There were significant differences between SSV and straw just on the rate of pups born (30% and 20.5% respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, vitrification of PN mouse embryos by SSV can result in high rates of in vitro development to expanded and hatched blastocyst stage and in vivo development to live pups.     

Expression of nuclear lamins during mouse preimplantation development

The expression of nuclear lamins during mouse preimplantation development was studied by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Two sera were used, specific either for lamin B or lamins A and C. Both sera gave a positive staining of the nuclear periphery throughout preimplantation development (fertilized eggs to late blastocysts). Immunoblots revealed that the three lamins were present in eggs and blastocysts. However, lamin A from eggs was found to have a higher apparent Mr than lamin A from blastocysts and other mouse cells. Using immunoprecipitation, synthesis of lamin A was detected in eggs while synthesis of lamin B was detected in 8-cell embryos and blastocysts, indicating that at least some of the lamins used during early development do not come from a store in the egg. These results are discussed in relation to the possible role of lamins during cell differentiation.     

Effect of cutting the zona pellucida on the pronuclear transplantation in the mouse

A new and reliable pronuclear transplantation procedure for the mouse egg has been developed by McGrath and Solter ('83). To overcome the technical difficulties of such a procedure, especially in uniformly preparing enucleation pipettes and in reducing damages during micromanipulation, we have examined the effect of cutting the zona pellucida of the eggs. By making a slit in the zona of an egg, the time for pipetting and exchange of pronuclei between eggs was shortened because the sharp tip of the pipette was not necessary. Although the proportion of pregnant recipients and young obtained after transfer of pronuclear transplanted eggs cultured for 1 day or 3 days was quite low, it was significantly increased (70% for pregnancy rate and 32% for the young) following transfer of eggs cultured for 4 days. These values were comparable with those after transfer of unoperated eggs cultured to morulae and blastocysts.     

Survival of rapidly frozen hatched mouse blastocysts

The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of rapid freezing on the in vitro and in vivo survival of zona-pellucida-free hatched mouse blastocysts. Hatched blastocysts were rapidly frozen in a freezing medium containing either ethylene glycol (EG) or glycerol (G) in 1.5 M or 3 M concentration. Prior to freezing, embryos were equilibrated in the freezing medium for 2 min, 10 min, 20 min or 30 min at room temperature. To freeze them, embryos were held in liquid nitrogen vapour [approximately 1 cm above the surface of the liquid nitrogen (LN2)] for 2 minutes and then immersed into LN2. After thawing, embryos were transferred either to rehydration medium (DPBS + 10% foetal calf serum +0.5 M sucrose) for 10 minutes or rehydrated directly in DPBS supplemented with foetal calf serum. In vitro survival of embryos frozen with EG was higher than those frozen with G. The highest survival was obtained with 3 M EG and 2 min or 10 min equilibration prior to freezing, combined with direct rehydration after thawing. Frozen blastocysts developed into normal foetuses as well as unfrozen control ones did, with averages of 30% (control), 26% (EG) and 15% (G). The results show that hatching and hatched mouse blastocysts can be cryopreserved by a simple rapid freezing protocol in EG without significant loss of viability. Our data indicate that the mechanical protection of the zona pellucida is not needed during freezing in these stages.     

Effects of carbon dioxide acidification of mouse oocytes before in vitro fertilization,culture, and transfer

The effects of varying pH levels on superovulated mouse oocytes before in vitro fertilization, culture, and transfer were investigated. Mouse oocytes acidified for 1 hour with 20% CO₂ (pH 6.9) exhibited a wide range of alterations. Five hours after insemination, 25% of these eggs showed different degrees of cytolysis and their perivitelline space contained numerous spermatozoa. At 12 hours normal-looking eggs from this group showed a higher proportion of polypronuclear zygotes than the control group (exposed, 51%; controls, 18%). Acidification thus markedly increased the permeability of the zona pellucida and/or interfered with the normal block to polyspermy. Fewer eggs achieved the two-cell stage among groups submitted to acidotic pH levels (6.9 to 6.6). In contrast, alkaline conditions (pH 7.8) did not reduce the proportion of two-cell embryos. However, only eggs maintained at pH 7.5 were capable of producing 80% of blastocysts. In other groups developmental blockage occurred mainly between stages 2 and 4. A significant reduction was found in the proportion of recipient females becoming pregnant after intrauterine transfer of blastocysts originating from CO₂-treated oocytes. This difference might be related to the existence of a large polyploid population among experimental eggs.     

In vitro culture of bovine egg fertilized either in vivo or in vitro

Three-quarters of in vivo and one-third of in vitro fertilized bovine eggs reached blastocyst stage when cultured on tubal cell monolayers (TCM), but no hatching occurred in B2 medium supplemented with estrous cow serum. When after 3 days of culture on TCM, morulae were transferred on endometrial cell monolayers (UCM), the same proportion of blastocysts was obtained and one-third of them hatched. Histological studies of hatched blastocysts showed that the number of inner cells was significantly lower than in hatched blastocysts recovered in vivo 8-8.5 days after ovulation. Moreover, the number of pycnotic cells was higher than normal, although mitosis were present. On the contrary, there was no difference in either the number or the appearance of trophoblastic cells between blastocysts obtained in vitro and in vivo. The addition of transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) to either TCM or UCM co-cultures at the very beginning of blastocyst formation specifically stimulated growth of the inner cell mass (ICM). The number of cells at hatching was about double (120) and significantly higher than that found in 8-8.5-day blastocysts in vivo. Moreover, hatching percentages were similar to the controls, even when eggs were cultured for 8 days only on TCM. However the proportion of pycnotic cells remained higher than normal, although many mitotic cells were unevenly distributed in ICM) In vivo during hatching, there were always pycnotic cells in ICM, but their number was limited and approximately similar to the number of mitosis. The uterine factors which control both mitosis and pycnosis in ICM remain to be discovered.     

Effects of in-vitro fertilization, culture, freezing and transfer on the ability of mouse embryos to implant and survive

The survival after transfer of frozen-thawed mouse blastocysts obtained from culture of in-vitro fertilized oocytes or 1- and 2-cell ova was compared. About 10% of transferred embryos developed to term in each group and there was no difference between embryos fertilized in vitro or in vivo. In addition to embryonic loss due to transfer, in-vitro cultivation and freezing reduced the proportion of fetuses considered viable at Day 15 of pregnancy (29.8 versus 50.7% and 26.3 versus 50.7% respectively). When used together these procedures had an additive effect on fetal wastage (18.4 versus 50.7%). In-vitro culture also entailed a significant increase of resorbing implantation sites (10.2 versus 4.3%). The re-expansion rate after freezing and thawing of blastocysts grown in vitro was paradoxically greater than that of blastocysts grown in vivo (85.8 versus 54.6%).     

One-step dilution of open-pulled-straw (OPS)-vitrified mouse blastocysts in sucrose-free medium

Embryos vitrified by the open-pulled-straw (OPS) method are only briefly exposed to cryoprotectants and not fully equilibrated with the cryoprotectant. That being the case, conceivably the post-thawing de- and rehydration processes may be omitted. This would render thawing and dilution in a single step and direct transfer to recipients possible without the need for a microscope and other laboratory equipment. Morphologically intact mouse blastocysts from superovulated 5- to 8-week-old virgin female NMRI mice were vitrified according to a protocol [6] slightly modified from the classical OPS-procedure of Vajta et al. [29] consisting of exposure to 10% dimethyl-sulfoxide (Me₂SO) + 10% ethylene glycol (EG) for 1 min, followed by 20% Me₂SO + 20% EG for 20 s before loading into straws that are plunged into liquid nitrogen. In Group 1, 75 blastocysts were exposed to the standard thawing and dilution regimen involving exposure to three solutions of decreasing sucrose content (Control). In Groups 2, 3 and 4, 75 blastocysts each were transferred, in a single step, to medium at 37 °C containing 0.66, 0.33 or 0 M sucrose, respectively. After 48 h of in vitro culture the proportion of hatched blastocysts was determined. In Group 1, this proportion amounted to 82.7%, in Groups 2, 3 and 4 to 76.0%, 73.3% and 78.7%, respectively (P > 0.05). To examine their potential to continue development in vivo, OPS-vitrified blastocysts thawed according to the regimens of Groups 1 and 4 were transferred to recipients (10 embryos/recipient). In Group 1, 9/10 recipients got pregnant with 4.7 ± 0.6 (mean ± SEM) fetuses, in Group 4, 8/10 recipients with 5.0 ± 0.5 fetuses. The overall embryo survival rate per group was 42% for Group 1 and 40% for Group 4. All fetuses were normally developed and viable and there were no significant differences between groups (P > 0.05). It may be concluded that warming and transfer of OPS-vitrified mouse embryos in a single step in medium devoid of sucrose is feasible, which is tantamount to a substantial simplification of embryo transfer operations.     

Survival of porcine inner cell masses in culture and after injection into blastocysts

Isolation of embryonic stem cells has been documented only in the mouse and perhaps the hamster and cow. We report results of experiments designed to determine the effect of age of porcine embryos (6 through 10 d after the first day of estrus) on isolation of cell lines with embryonic stem cell-like morphology. The capacity of fresh and short-term cultured inner cell mass (ICM) cells to differentiate into normal tissues after injection into blastocysts was also measured. Few Day-6 ICM survived in culture to the first passage onto fresh feeder cells, but cell lines with embryonic stem cell-like morphology developed from Day-7 through Day-10 ICM. Isolation of embryonic stem cell-like colonies was achieved at a higher frequency from ICM isolated from older embryos, but embryonic stem cell-like colonies from older embryos also tended to differentiate spontaneously in culture. Viable porcine chimeras were born after injection of fresh ICM into blastocysts that were transferred to recipients for development to term; no chimeras were born from blastocysts injected with ICM subjected to short-term (1 to 6 d) culture. Germ-cell chimerism was confirmed in one of the chimeras. These results document that undifferentiated cells can be removed from porcine blastocysts, transplanted to other embryos, and contribute to development of normal differentiated tissues, including germ cells. Cells with embryonic stem-like morphology can be isolated in culture from ICM at various embryonic ages, but ICM from young blastocysts (e.g., Day-7 embryos) yield embryonic stem cell-like colonies at lower frequency than do ICM from older blastocysts (e.g., Day-10 embryos).     

Development of one or two blastomeres from eight-cell mouse embryos to term in the presence of parthenogenetic eggs

This study was undertaken to develop a new technique to produce identical offspring by aggregating a quarter or eighth embryo with a parthenogenetically activated egg in the mouse. One or two blastomeres from 8-cell embryos were aggregated with a parthenogenetic 4-cell egg from which one or two blastomeres had been removed. After micromanipulation and culture for 2 d in vitro, the morphologically normal blastocysts were transferred to the uterus of recipient females. The success rate in micromanipulation of eggs was 93 to 100%: aggregation of blastomeres occured about 60% of the time and the proportion of live young after transfer of aggregated eggs was 11 to 33% for the quarter and 2 to 24% for the eighth egg. The proportion of chimaeras as judged by coat color was 10% for the quarter and 20% for the eighth egg. However, GPI-1 analysis and progeny testing could not detect a parthenogenetic contribution in all offspring. The mean number of young obtained from one embryo was 1.7 for the quarter and 1.6 for the eighth embryo. The maximal number of young obtained from splitting one 8-cell embryo into quarters was three and into eighths was four. The mice of each set derived from a single embryo were of the same sex. Our study clearly demonstrates that the parthenogenone can assist development of the quarter and eighth mouse embryo to term. The proportion of chimaeras is low compared with that obtained when two fertilied eggs are combined.