Evaluation of different doses of UV irradiation to loach eggs for genetic inactivation of the maternal genome

Genetic inactivation of the egg nucleus is an indispensable step in the production of androgenetic embryos in teleosts. However, few experimental studies have focused on determining the most effective means of achieving complete inactivation of the maternal genome. Here, we sought to identify the optimum conditions of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for complete inactivation of the loach egg nucleus. Unfertilized eggs were UV irradiated from above with a dose in the range 0-200 mJ/cm2. Successful inactivation of the maternal genome was evaluated by the exclusive expression of a paternally inherited color phenotype. The presence or absence of putative maternal chromosome fragments was screened by flow cytometry of DNA content and by cytogenetic analysis. The majority of the larvae derived from irradiated eggs had an abnormal appearance. Haploid individuals were detected by measurement of DNA content flow cytometry and by chromosome counting in the groups that received more than 75 mJ/cm2 groups. Although the coefficient of variation of DNA content was apparently reduced in the 125-200 mJ/cm2 groups, chromosome fragments were still detected in all the groups from irradiated eggs. Inactivation of the egg nucleus was also histologically elucidated by the presence or absence of residual nuclear material in anuclear embryos that developed from UV-irradiated eggs fertilized with UV-irradiated sperm. Embryos that were completely or near-completely anuclear were found in the 150 and 200 mJ/cm2 groups. We conclude that the optimum UV dose for complete genetic inactivation of the egg nucleus is more than 150 mJ/cm2.