Cloned horse pregnancies produced using adult cumulus cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk K. Vanderwall ◽  
Gordon L. Woods ◽  
Kenneth I. Aston ◽  
Thomas D. Bunch ◽  
Guanpeng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Donor Cells ◽  
Follicle Aspiration

The objectives of the present study were to: (1) clone horses using adult cumulus cells; and (2) determine whether the cumulus cell donor affected the outcome. In vivo-matured cumulus–oocyte complexes were obtained using transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration; oocytes were used as cytoplasts, whereas cumulus cells (from one of three different mares) were used as donor cells. Immediately following nuclear transfer and activation procedures, cloned embryos were transferred surgically to the oviduct of recipient mares (n = 2–5 embryos per recipient) that had ovulated within 24 h prior to the transfer. An initial pregnancy examination was performed between Days 14 and 16 (Day 0 = surgery); subsequent examinations were then performed every 7–10 days. A total of 136 follicles were aspirated in 96 mares, from which 72 oocytes were recovered (53%). Sixty-two cloned embryos were transferred to recipient mares, which resulted in seven (11.3%) ultrasonographically detectable conceptuses between Days 14 and 16. All seven conceptuses were lost spontaneously between Days 16 and 80. Cumulus cells from Mare 160 tended (P = 0.08) to result in a higher embryo survival rate than cumulus cells from Mare 221 (4/17 v. 1/25 respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the establishment of cloned equine pregnancies derived from adult cumulus cells.

129 EFFECT OF DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE OF ICSI-PRODUCED EQUINE EMBRYOS ON PREGNANCY RATES

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Stokes ◽  
E. L. Squires ◽  
T. K. Suh ◽  
J. L. Altermat ◽  
E. M. Carnevale
Keyword(s):  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Optimal Time ◽  
San Jose ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Follicle Aspiration ◽  
Transfer Group

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be used to produce offspring from mares or stallions with fertility problems. Early embryos can be transferred into recipients’ oviducts or embryos can be cultured for nonsurgical transfer into recipients’ uteri. The aim of this research was to evaluate the optimal time to transfer ICSI-produced embryos into recipients’ uteri. The objective was to compare pregnancy rates after the nonsurgical transfer of early morulae, compact morulae, and blastocysts. Oocytes were collected by transvaginal, ultrasound-guided follicular aspirations between 20 and 24 h after administration of deslorelin (1.5 mg, i.v., Francks Pharmacy, Ocala, FL, USA) to donors. Oocytes were cultured for 16 to 18 h in M199 (Invitrogen, San Jose, CA, USA) with 10% FCS (HyClone, Logan, UT, USA), 0.2 mm pyruvate (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) and 25 μg mL–1 gentamycin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 38.5°C and 6% CO2. Cumulus cells were denuded by gentle pipetting, after oocytes were placed into hyaluronidase (500 U mg–1, Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA). Oocytes were injected with a single sperm from one of two stallions, with sperm being frozen or sex-sorted and refrozen (Squires EL et al. 2008). Forty-six of 62 (74%) injected oocytes cleaved. The presumptive zygotes were cultured in DMEM/F12 (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) with 10% FCS at 38.5°C and an atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2. Embryos were placed in fresh medium every 3 days. Injected oocytes were observed for cleavage at 2 days, and embryos were assigned to a transfer group. Embryos were transferred as early morulae (EM, 8-cell to precompaction stage, n = 14), compact morulae (CM, postcompaction, n = 10) or blastocysts (B, observed blastocoele, n = 9) into recipients at 3 to 5 days (EM), 3 to 6 days (CM) or 5 to 6 days (B) after the recipient’s ovulation or follicle aspiration. Pregnancy scans were performed on Day 12, 14, and 16 after ICSI, and pregnant recipients were examined until 30 days to detect the embryo proper and heartbeat. Number of embryonic vesicles detected per transferred embryo was determined by Fisher’s Exact Test. Pregnancy rates differed (P = 0.0017) among groups (EM, 1/14, 7%; CM, 4/10, 40%; B, 7/9, 78%), with fewer (P = 0.001) EM than B resulting in embryonic vesicles; however, pregnancy rates were not significantly different between CM and other embryo stages. An embryo proper with heartbeat was observed for all pregnancies, with the exception of one pregnancy resulting from the transfer of a blastocyst. In this study, all blastocysts were transferred prior to the embryo attempting to hatch from the zona pellucida, but after the appearance of a distinct blastoceole. In our study, pregnancy rates were higher after the transfer of later v. earlier stages of embryo development.

38 EFFECT OF OOCYTE MATURATION DURATION ON BLASTOCYST RATES AFTER EQUINE SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. H. Choi ◽  
I. C. Velez ◽  
B. Macías-García ◽  
K. Hinrichs
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Donor Cells

In equine cloning, the scarcity of equine oocytes places emphasis on development of the most efficient nuclear transfer (NT) methods possible. In other species, using oocytes matured for the shortest duration needed to reach metaphase II has increased NT efficiency. In the present study, we examined the effect of duration of oocyte maturation at the time of enucleation on equine cloned blastocyst production. Oocytes were collected from live mares by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of all visible follicles ≥5 mm in diameter. The oocytes were held overnight (16–22 h) at room temperature, matured in vitro, and reconstructed with donor cells as described in our previous study (Choi et al. 2013 Theriogenology 79, 791–796). In Experiment 1, oocytes were divided into 2 groups and matured for 20 or 24 h. After enucleation, oocytes were reconstructed by direct injection of donor cells. Reconstructed oocytes were held for 5 h and then activated by treatment with 5 μM ionomycin for 4 min, then injection with sperm extract, followed by incubation in 2 mM 6-DMAP for 4 h. The activated reconstructed oocytes were cultured in global human embryo culture medium under 5% CO2, 6% O2, and 89% N2 at 38.2°C for 7 to 11 days (20 mM glucose was added at Day 5) and blastocyst rate was recorded. Because a low maturation rate was found at 20 h in Experiment 1, in Experiment 2 oocytes were denuded at 20 h and those that were mature were enucleated and used for NT; those that had not cast out a polar body at 20 h were cultured for an additional 3 h (20 + 3h) and then evaluated for polar body formation and used for NT, which was conducted as in Experiment 1. Data were analysed by Fisher's exact test. In Experiment 1, 203 oocytes were collected in 46 aspiration sessions. The rate of oocyte maturation to metaphase II was significantly lower for oocytes cultured for 20 h (35/116, 30%), than for those cultured for 24 h (47/80, 59%). However, the rate of blastocyst development was significantly higher for oocytes cultured for 20 h (11/27, 41%) than for 24 h (2/38, 5%). In Experiment 2, 89 oocytes were collected in 18 aspiration sessions. After 20 h of maturation culture, 22 oocytes were mature (25%). After an additional 3 h of culture, 21 additional oocytes had matured. There were no significant differences between the two treatments (20 and 20 + 3h) in reconstruction rates (77%, 17/22, and 90%, 19/21, respectively) or blastocyst rates (24%, 4/17, and 32%, 6/19, respectively). These results indicate that duration of in vitro maturation, or the duration of presence of cumulus cells, influences blastocyst development after somatic cell NT in the horse. This appears to be due to a benefit of using oocytes immediately after they reach metaphase II; if this is ensured as in Experiment 2, the duration of maturation itself had no effect.This work was supported by the American Quarter Horse Foundation, the Link Equine Research Endowment Fund, Texas A&M University, and by Ms. Kit Knotts.

scholarly journals 76CLONED HORSE PREGNANCIES PRODUCED USING ADULT CUMULUS CELLS

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.K. Vanderwall ◽  
G.L. Woods ◽  
K.I. Aston ◽  
T.D. Bunch ◽  
G.-P. Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Line ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Fibroblast Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Fibroblast Cell Line ◽  
Embryonic Loss ◽  
Follicle Aspiration ◽  
Transfer Procedures

We recently reported the birth of the first clone of an equine species, a mule, which was produced using a fetal fibroblast cell line (Woods GL et al., 2003 Science 301, 1063). Since the birth of the first foal, two more identical cloned mule foals have been born. All three foals were delivered spontaneously without assistance, and have been healthy and vigorous since birth. Even more recently, the birth of a horse foal cloned from an adult fibroblast cell line was reported (Touchette N, 2003 Nature 424, 635). Despite these successes, the efficiency of equine nuclear transfer (NT) continues to be very low. The objective of this study was to use NT to clone adult horses using cumulus cells. Cumulus-oocyte complexes used for NT were obtained using transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration (TVA) 24hrs after hCG treatment; oocytes were used as cytoplasts, while cumulus cells (from one of three different mares) were used as donor cells. Cumulus cells were recovered from TVA fluid, washed two times by suspension in PB1 medium (Whittingham DG, 1974 J. Reprod. Fertil. 37, 159–162), followed by centrifugation (200g) and placement in Glasgow MEM BHK-21 containing 10% FBS. Nuclear transfer procedures were performed as described (Woods GL et al., 2003 Science 301, 1063). Immediately following NT and activation procedures, cloned embryos were surgically transferred to the oviduct of recipient mares (n=2 to 5 embryos/recipient) that had ovulated within 24hrs prior to the transfer. An initial pregnancy examination was performed between Days 14 and 16 (Day 0=surgery); subsequent examinations were then performed at approximately weekly intervals. A total of 136 follicles were aspirated in 96 mares, from which 72 oocytes were recovered (53%). Sixty-two cloned embryos were subsequently transferred to recipient mares, which resulted in 7 (11.3%) ultrasonographically-detectable pregnancies. Cumulus cells from Mare 160 tended (P=0.08) to result in more pregnancies than cumulus cells from Mare 221 (4/17 v. 1/25, respectively). All seven cloned pregnancies underwent spontaneous pregnancy loss between Days 16 and 80. An embryo-proper and heartbeat were detected in three conceptuses. Of four conceptuses in which an embryo-proper was not observed, three did not develop past Day 24; therefore, they were lost before the time at which an embryo-proper generally becomes readily apparent. One conceptus developed to Day 28, yet still failed to form an embryo-proper. There were no premonitory signs of impending embryonic loss in the conceptuses that did not develop an embryo-proper; the conceptus was simply not evident at the subsequent examination. Signs of impending embryonic loss were observed in the three conceptuses in which an embryo-proper was observed, and included: (1) loss of embryonic heartbeat, (2) disorganization of the conceptus membranes, and (3) increased echogenicity of conceptus fluids. One or more of these signs were observed in all three conceptuses prior to pregnancy loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the establishment of cloned horse pregnancies produced using adult cumulus cells.

scholarly journals 75 RABBIT NUCLEAR TRANSFER WITH CULTURED SOMATIC CELLS

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Yang ◽  
B. Kessler ◽  
S. Ewerling ◽  
E. Wolf ◽  
V. Zakhartchenko
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Cell Stage ◽  
Electric Pulses ◽  
Donor Cells ◽  
Fetal Fibroblasts

Cloned rabbits have been obtained by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) only with fresh, non-cultured cumulus cells (Chesne et al. 2002 Nat. Biotechnol. 20, 366–369). For the purpose of generating transgenic animals by SCNT, donor cells must be cultured and modified prior to use as nuclear donors. The objective of this study was to optimize the SCNT procedure using cultured cumulus or fibroblast cells. MII oocytes were harvested from superovulated Zika rabbits, and maternal chromosomes were removed by demecolcine-assisted enucleation (Yin et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 67, 442–446). Two types of somatic cells originating from Ali/Bass rabbits were used as nuclear donors: cumulus cells collected from in vivo-matured oocytes and cultured for 1–5 passages, and primary fetal fibroblasts obtained from Day 16 fetuses and grown to confluence or starved for 4–5 days. Somatic donor cells and recipient cytoplasts were fused with 2 electric pulses (1.95 kV/cm, 25 μs each, 1 s interval). Twenty to 40 min after fusion, cloned embryos were activated first with the same electropulses as for fusion, and then immediately followed by 1 h incubation in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine and 5 μg/mL cytochalasin B in culture medium (B2 medium supplemented with 10% FCS). Cloned embryos were either transferred at the 2- and 4-cell stage to asynchronized recipients or cultured in vitro for 6 days. Data were compared using chi-square test, and differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. Our results demonstrate that cloned rabbits can be produced by SCNT with cultured cells but the efficiency of this technique is still very low irrespective of the type of donor cells. Table 1. Development of cloned embryos derived from somatic cells This research was supported by the Therapeutic Human Polyclonals, Inc.

scholarly journals Rabbit somatic cell cloning: effects of donor cell type, histone acetylation status and chimeric embryo complementation

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feikun Yang ◽  
Ru Hao ◽  
Barbara Kessler ◽  
Gottfried Brem ◽  
Eckhard Wolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Donor Cell ◽  
Epigenetic Mark ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Acetylation Status ◽  
Donor Cells ◽  
Donor Cell Type

The epigenetic status of a donor nucleus has an important effect on the developmental potential of embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In this study, we transferred cultured rabbit cumulus cells (RCC) and fetal fibroblasts (RFF) from genetically marked rabbits (Alicia/Basilea) into metaphase II oocytes and analyzed the levels of histone H3-lysine 9-lysine 14 acetylation (acH3K9/14) in donor cells and cloned embryos. We also assessed the correlation between the histone acetylation status of donor cells and cloned embryos and their developmental potential. To test whether alteration of the histone acetylation status affects development of cloned embryos, we treated donor cells with sodium butyrate (NaBu), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Further, we tried to improve cloning efficiency by chimeric complementation of cloned embryos with blastomeres fromin vivofertilized or parthenogenetic embryos. The levels of acH3K9/14 were higher in RCCs than in RFFs (P<0.05). Although the type of donor cells did not affect development to blastocyst, after transfer into recipients, RCC cloned embryos induced a higher initial pregnancy rate as compared to RFF cloned embryos (40 vs 20%). However, almost all pregnancies with either type of cloned embryos were lost by the middle of gestation and only one fully developed, live RCC-derived rabbit was obtained. Treatment of RFFs with NaBu significantly increased the level of acH3K9/14 and the proportion of nuclear transfer embryos developing to blastocyst (49 vs 33% with non-treated RFF,P<0.05). The distribution of acH3K9/14 in either group of cloned embryos did not resemble that inin vivofertilized embryos suggesting that reprogramming of this epigenetic mark is aberrant in cloned rabbit embryos and cannot be corrected by treatment of donor cells with NaBu. Aggregation of embryos cloned from NaBu-treated RFFs with blastomeres fromin vivoderived embryos improved development to blastocyst, but no cloned offspring were obtained. Two live cloned rabbits were produced from this donor cell type only after aggregation of cloned embryos with a parthenogenetic blastomere. Our study demonstrates that the levels of histone acetylation in donor cells and cloned embryos correlate with their developmental potential and may be a useful epigenetic mark to predict efficiency of SCNT in rabbits.

Differential effects of culture and nuclear transfer on relative transcript levels of genes with key roles during preimplantation

Zygote ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.N. Moreira ◽  
R. Fernández-Gonzalez ◽  
M.A. Ramirez ◽  
M. Pérez-Crespo ◽  
D. Rizos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Glut 1 ◽  
Mouse Somatic Cell

It is well known that the preimplantation culture environment to which embryos are exposed influences the expression of developmentally important genes. Recently, it has been reported that MEMα, a culture medium commonly used for somatic cells, allows high rates of preimplantation development and development to term of mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. The objective of this study was to compare the differential effects of this medium and of the nuclear transfer procedure on the relative mRNA abundance of several genes with key roles during preimplantation. The relative mRNA levels of nine genes (Glut 1, Glut 5, G6PDH, Bax, Survivin, Gpx 1, Oct4, mTert and IGF2bp1) were quantified at blastocyst stage on cumulus cell cloned embryos cultured in MEMα, as well as on in vivo cultured and MEMα cultured controls. Only three of the nine transcripts analysed (Glut 5, Gpx 1 and Igf2bp1) were significantly down-regulated at blastocyst stage in in vitro produced controls. However, most genes analysed in our MEMα cultured cloned embryos showed altered transcription levels. Interestingly, between cloned and in vitro produced controls only the transcription levels measured for Glut 1 were significantly different. This result suggests that Glut 1 may be a good marker for embryo quality after cumulus cell nuclear transfer.

102 RABBIT CLONING: HISTONE ACETYLATION STATUS OF DONOR CELLS AND CLONED EMBRYOS

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
V. Zakhartchenko ◽  
F. Yang ◽  
R. Hao ◽  
E. Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Histone Acetylation ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Epigenetic Mark ◽  
Cloning Efficiency ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Acetylation Status ◽  
Donor Cells ◽  
Fetal Fibroblasts

Epigenetic status of the genome of a donor nucleus is likely to be associated with the developmental potential of cloned embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Prevention of epigenetic errors by manipulation of the epigenetic status of donor cells is expected to result in improvement of cloning efficiency. In this study, we transferred cultured rabbit cumulus cells (RCC) and fetal fibroblasts (RFF) from genetically marked rabbits (Ali/Bas) into metaphase II (MII) oocytes and analyzed the levels of histone H3K9 acetylation in donor cells and cloned embryos. We also assessed the correlation between the histone acetylation status of donor cells and cloned embryos and their developmental potential. To test whether alteration of the histone acetylation status affects development of cloned embryos, we treated donor cells with sodium butyrate (NaBu), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Further, we tried to improve cloning efficiency by chimeric complementation of cloned embryos with one or two blastomeres from in vitro-fertilized or parthenogenetic embryos. Histone acetylation in donor cells and cloned embryos was detected by anti-acH3K9 antibody using Western immunoblot analysis or immunochemistry, respectively. Data were analyzed by chi-square (developmental rates) or Student-Newman-Keuls (histone acetylation) test. The levels of acetylated histone H3K9 were higher in RCCs than in RFFs (P &lt; 0.05). Although the type of donor cells did not affect development to blastocyst, after transfer into recipients, RCC-cloned embryos induced a higher initial pregnancy rate as compared to RFF-cloned embryos (40% vs. 20%; P &lt; 0.05). However, almost all pregnancies with either type of cloned embryos were lost by the middle of gestation and only one fully developed; a live RCC-derived rabbit was obtained. Treatment of RFFs with NaBu significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increased the level of histone H3K9/14 acetylation and the proportion of nuclear transfer embryos developing to blastocyst (49% vs. 33% with non-treated RFF; P &lt; 0.05). The distribution of signals for acH3K9 in either group of cloned embryos did not resemble that in in vivo-fertilized embryos, suggesting that reprogramming of this epigenetic mark is aberrant in cloned rabbit embryos and cannot be corrected by treatment of donor cells with NaBu. Aggregation of embryos cloned from NaBu-treated RFFs with blastomeres from in vivo-derived embryos improved development to blastocyst, but no cloned offspring were obtained. Two live cloned rabbits were produced from this donor cell type only after aggregation of cloned embryos with a parthenogenetic blastomere. Our study demonstrates that the levels of histone acetylation in donor cells and cloned embryos correlate with their developmental potential and can be a useful epigenetic mark to predict efficiency of SCNT rabbits. This work was supported by the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung and by Therapeutic Human Polyclonals, Inc.

58 EFFICIENCY OF OVUM PICKUP AND EMBRYO PRODUCTION IN VITRO IN CLONED CATTLE

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
A. Lucas-Hahn ◽  
E. Lemme ◽  
K.-G. Hadeler ◽  
H.-G. Sander ◽  
H. Niemann
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Embryo Production ◽  
Fetal Fibroblasts ◽  
Developmental Rates ◽  
In Vitro Embryo Production

The reproductive performance of cloned cattle was investigated by assessing the efficiency of transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum pickup (OPU) and embryo production in vitro. Fetal fibroblasts from the endangered species, German Blackpied Cattle, had been used for nuclear transfer to produce three live cloned offspring (Lucas-Hahn et al. 2002 Theriogenology 57, 433). In the three cloned animals at 12–20 months of age, OPU was performed once per week and the total number of collected oocytes was recorded. In the case of Blondie, the procedure was terminated due to too small ovaries associated with insufficient function. Oocytes suitable for IVF were matured in vitro for 24 h and fertilized in vitro with the semen of a fertile bull. Oocytes derived from abbatoir ovaries were processed in parallel as controls. Embryos were in vitro-cultured in SOFaaBSA medium. Cleavage and developmental rates up to the morula/blastocyst stage were recorded in all groups. Statistical significance was tested using ANOVA and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The results are presented in Table 1. Embryos from clones had lower cleavage and blastocyst rates compared to those derived from abattoir oocytes. However, results may have been confounded by potential OPU effects. Some of the blastocysts produced from Blacky (n = 5) and Paula (n = 2) were transferred to recipients. Two pregnancies resulted from the Paula transfers. The two male calves were delivered normally. After the completion of this experiment, all three cloned animals were artificially inseminated, became pregnant, delivered healthy calves, and are pregnant again at present. Further studies are needed to explore the fertility of cattle derived from somatic cloning. Table 1. OPU and in vitro embryo production in cloned cattle

44 IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SURVIVABILITY ON VITRIFIED EMBRYOS OBTAINED BY BOVINE SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
K. Kaneyama ◽  
S. Kobayashi ◽  
S. Matoba ◽  
Y. Hashiyada ◽  
K. Imai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Calf Serum ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Nuclear Transplantation ◽  
Embryo Cryopreservation

Although many studies have been conducted on somatic cell nuclear transfer, there are only a few reports on cryopreservation of reconstructed embryos after nuclear transplantation. The objective of this study was to examine in vitro or in vivo development of vitrified blastocysts obtained by nuclear transfer. Nuclear transfer was carried out according to the procedure of Goto et al. (1999 Anim. Sci. J. 70, 243–245), and conducted using abattoir-derived oocytes and cumulus cells derived by ovum pickup from Holstein and Japanese Black cows. Embryos were vitrified as described by Saito et al. (1998 Cryobiol. Cryotech. 43, 34–39). The vitrification solution (GESX solution) was based on Dulbecco's PBS containing 20% glycerol (GL), 20% ethylene glycol (EG), 0.3 M sucrose (Suc), 0.3 M xylose (Xyl), and 3% polyethylene glycol (PEG). The blastocysts were equilibrated in three steps, with 10% GL, 0.1 M Suc, 0.1 M Xyl, and 1% PEG for 5 min (1); with 10% GL, 10% EG, 0.2 M Suc, 0.2 M Xyl, and 2% PEG for 5 min (2) and GESX solution (3). After transfer to GESX, equilibrated embryos were loaded to 0.25-mL straws and plunged into liquid nitrogen for 1 min. The vitrified blastocysts were warmed in water (20°C) and diluted in 0.5 M and 0.25 M sucrose for 5 min each. Equilibration and dilution procedures were conducted at room temperature (25–26°C). After dilution, the vitrified blastocysts were cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum and 0.1 mM β-mercaptoethanol at 38.5°C under gas phase of 5% CO2 in air. In Experiment 1, survival rates after vitrification were compared between the nuclear transfer and the IVF blastocysts. Survival rates of vitrified nuclear transfer blastocysts (n = 60, Day 8) at 24 and 48 h were 70.0% and 56.7%, respectively, and those of vitrified IVF blastocysts (n = 41) were 82.9% and 82.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in survival rates at 24 and 48 h between the two groups. In Experiment 2, one (VIT-single) or two (VIT-double) vitrified and one (nonVIT-single) or two (nonVIT-double) nonvitrified reconstructed blastocysts per animal were transferred into Holstein dry cows. The result of Experiment 2 is shown in Table 1. This experiment demonstrated that the vitrification method in this study can be used for cloned embryo cryopreservation but the production rate should be improved. Table 1. Comparison of survival rates of vitrified or nonvitrified cloned embryos after transfer

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