Increasing Histone Acetylation of Cloned Embryos, But Not Donor Cells, by Sodium Butyrate Improves Their In Vitro Development in Pigs

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziban Chandra Das ◽  
Mukesh Kumar Gupta ◽  
Sang Jun Uhm ◽  
Hoon Taek Lee
2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
L. Chacón ◽  
J. A. Jenkins ◽  
S. P. Leibo ◽  
G. Wirtu ◽  
B. L. Dresser ◽  
...  

The epigenetic status of donor cells is an important factor for their successful reprogramming during somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Environmental factors partly influence DNA methylation and histone modifications (Fraga et al. 2005 PNAS USA 102, 10 604–10 609; Ke et al. 2006 Carcinogenesis 27, 1481–1488; Rodenhiser and Mann 2006 CMAJ 174, 341–348); low temperatures have altered epigenetic events in plants (Amasino 2004 Plant Cell; Hao et al. 2002 Cryo Letters 23, 37–46). Because cryopreservation alters histone acetylation levels in donor cells and subsequent viability of cloned embryos (Gómez et al. 2008 Cloning Stem Cells, in press), similar alterations may occur in bovine cloned embryos reconstructed with donor cells thawed immediately before SCNT. The objectives of the present study were (1) to measure the relative levels of nuclear histone acetylation in bovine fibroblasts immediately after thawing (frozen/thawed) or following a period of culturing (cultured) and (2) to determine the influence of the epigenetic status of donor cells on the in vitro development of reconstructed, cloned bovine embryos by gauging blastocyst development. Cell cultures lines were derived from the skin of 3 adult cows and analyzed at passage 1 (P1), 2 (P2), and 10 (P10). For each of 3 passages, cells were cultured until reaching 100% confluence, followed by an additional 3 days of culture during which time acetylation levels were measured in cultured and frozen/thawed cells. For cryopreservation, cells at P1, P2, and P10 were disaggregated and resuspended in CryoStor™ (CS10; BioLife Solutions, Bothell, WA, USA) and cooled at 1.0°C min–1 to –80°C prior to storage in liquid nitrogen. Cells were fixed with ethanol for 12 h and incubated for 30 min with antibody directed against acetylated lysine 9 on histone 3 (H3K9). The cells were then incubated with a fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated secondary antibody and DNA stain and evaluated by flow cytometry. Cloned embryos were reconstructed with cultured or frozen/thawed cells at P1, P2, and P10 as described by Vajta et al. 2005 (Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 17, 791–797). Derived embryos were cultured until Day 8, and cleavage and development to the blastocyst stage were evaluated. Histone acetylation levels for all 3 cell lines, either fresh or frozen/thawed, were significantly higher at P1 than at P2 and P10 (Table 1), and cryopreservation reduced histone acetylation levels only in cell culture line 2 at P1. Higher development to the blastocyst stage (25%) was observed when embryos were reconstructed with cultured cells at P2 and with cells that had lower histone acetylation levels (Pearson correlation, r = –0.55; P = 0.01) Table 1.Relative levels of histone acetylation in bovine fibroblast culture and percentages of development to blastocyst stage after cloning


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
K. Nakano ◽  
M. Watanabe ◽  
H. Matsunari ◽  
T. Matsuda ◽  
K. Honda ◽  
...  

Porcine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are considered to be an invaluable research tool in translational research with pigs as a large animal model. Pluripotency of the iPS cells needs to be verified by their competence to contribute to chimera formation. The aim of the present study is to establish feasible system to create chimeric pig fetuses using parthenogenetic embryos. In Experiment 1, inner cell mass (ICM) was isolated by immunosurgery from Day 6 blastocysts obtained by parthenogenetic activation of in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes. Isolated ICM were used as the donor cells after staining with fluorescent carbocyanine dye (DiI). Using parthenogenetic morulae or 4- to 8-cell embryos as the host embryos, chimeric embryos were prepared by injection or aggregation method. Injection of ICM was performed by micromanipulation: a single ICM was directly injected into the centre portion of the host morulae. In the aggregation method, a single ICM was aggregated with blastomeres isolated from 2 host embryos at the morula or 4- to 8-cell stage in a micro-well (400 µm diameter, 300 µm deep). The chimeric embryos were cultured in PZM-5 (Yoshioka et al. 2008) for 2 to 3 days to examine development to blastocysts and incorporation of donor ICM cells into the resultant blastocysts ICM (ICM chimerism). In Experiment 2, donor blastomeres isolated from a parthenogenetic morula or 4- to 8-cell embryo were stained by DiI and aggregated with a parthenogenetic host embryo at the morula or 4- to 8-cell stage, and the in vitro development to the blastocyst stage and the ICM chimerism were examined. In Experiment 3, ICM isolated from IVF blastocysts harboring humanized Kusabira-Orange (huKO) gene were used as donor cells. Donor ICM were aggregated with the host embryos at the morula or 4- to 8-cell stage, and the resultant blastocysts were transferred to 4 recipient gilts to collect fetuses on Day 18. Results of Experiments 1 and 2 are summarised in Table 1. Combination of the donor ICM and host morulae yielded high rates of blastocyst formation (~95%) and ICM chimerism (~85%), regardless of the method used (injection or aggregation). Transfer of 73 blastocysts developed from host morulae to 2 recipients (Experiment 3) gave rise to 25 (34.2%) fetuses, of which 6 (24.0%) were confirmed to be chimeric by their clear orange fluorescence and immunostaining by anti-huKO antibody. Of 22 (40.7%) fetuses obtained after transfer of 54 blastocysts derived from 4- to 8-cell host embryos to 2 recipients, 3 (13.6%) were chimeric. Contribution of the donor cells in the tissues of the chimeric fetuses measured by image analysis software (ImageJ, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA) ranged between 16.1 and 65.2%. These results demonstrate that the aggregation method using parthenogenetic host embryos is an efficient means to produce chimeric pig fetuses, and thereby feasible for verification of pluripotent cells such as iPS cells. Table 1.In vitro development of injected or aggregated porcine embryos


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
K. Naruse ◽  
Y. M. Shin ◽  
Y. S. Quan ◽  
C. S. Park ◽  
D. I. Jin

Streptolysin O (SLO) is known to bacterial proteins that form very large pores in the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. SLO has been used in the delivery of proteins into living cells following permeabilization. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of permeabilization of donor cells using SLO on in vitro development of porcine reconstructed embryos. Porcine fetal fibroblast cells were treated with Ca2+-free DMEM medium containing 200 ng mL−1 of SLO for 50 min before or after trypsinization. Those SLO-treated donor cells were injected into enucleated oocytes, fused with 2 DC pulses (1.2 kV cm−1, 30 µs) and cultured in procine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3) for 6 days. In vitro development of the reconstructed embryos was examined. SLO treatment after trypsinzation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of fusion rates and blastocyst developmental rates compared with that before trypsinization or in the nontreated group. Additionally there were no significant differences in fusion rates, cleavage rates, blastocyst developmental rates, and total cell number of blastocysts between the SLO-treated group before trypsinzation and the nontreated group. Next, after the trypsinzation treatment, fetal fibroblast cells were incubated in Ca2+-free DMEM containing 200 ng mL−1 of SLO for 0, 30, 50, and 70 min and SLO-treated donor cells were also tested for fusion rate and developmental capability following reconstruction. The 50-min group of SLO-treated cells significantly increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of fusion rates (90.6 vs. 77.6, 85.4, and 78.5%) and blastocyst developmental rates (24.7 vs. 13.5, 11.2, and 13.5%) compared with the other groups (Table 1). However, there was no significant difference in the total cell number of blastocysts among SLO-treated groups. Although cleavage rates the in SLO-treated groups were not significantly different from those of the nontreated group, there the cleavage rates were slightly in SLO-treated groups. In conclusion, permeabilization of porcine fetal fibroblast cells with SLO improves the fusion rates and in vitro development of porcine reconstructed embryos. Table 1.Effects of SLO treatment of fetal fibroblasts by different exposure times on in vitro development of porcine reconstructed embryos


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Galiguis ◽  
C. E. Pope ◽  
M. N. Biancardi ◽  
C. Dumas ◽  
G. Wang ◽  
...  

Vitrification remains a promising technique in the preservation of valuable genetic material; however, in the cat, success has varied. Live kittens have been produced from embryos vitrified at early cleavage stages, but phenotypic abnormalities in some kittens suggest possible epigenetic effects of the vitrification process. It has been reported that cryopreservation alters epigenetic events in somatic donor cells, which indirectly influences physical status of cloned offspring. However, extending post-warming in vitro culture of donor cells corrects these epigenetic modifications, resulting in normal embryos/clones. Accordingly, in the present study, vitrification was performed at the pronuclear stage to lengthen pretransfer culture time, and vitrified cat zygotes were assessed by analysing (1) histone acetylation/methylation, (2) global DNA methylation, (3) pluripotent gene expression, (4) in vitro development, and () in vivo viability. In vivo matured/IVF oocytes were vitrified in 15% dimethyl sulfoxide, 15% ethylene glycol, and 0.5 M sucrose at 16 h post-insemination (PI). After warming in 1.0 M sucrose at 38°C, embryos were fixed at 18 h or 40 h PI, and the nuclear intensity of either acetyl/dimethyl-H3K9 or 5-methylcytosine was determined by immunofluorescence. Results showed that at 18 h PI, mean H3K9ac intensity of vitrified embryos (11.8; n = 6) was higher than that of corresponding nonvitrified (fresh) controls (4.5; n = 6) and the fresh (3.2; n = 11) and vitrified (0.6; n = 7) 40-h groups (2-way ANOVA; P < 0.05). H3K9me2 in the fresh (36.9) and vitrified (32.5) 18-h embryos was similar but increased relative to both fresh (10.7) and vitrified (9.2) 40-h groups (P < 0.05). Mean DNA methylation (5MeC) in the fresh (31.6; n = 1) and vitrified (24.7; n = 3) 18-h groups was similar to that of the fresh 40-h group (19.8; n = 4) but higher than that of the vitrified 40-h group (15.0; n = 5; P < 0.05). To assess expression of POU5F1 and Nanog, qRT-PCR was performed on Day 8 blastocysts. Relative to controls (n = 9), mean POU5F1 and Nanog levels in vitrified blastocysts (n = 24) were 1.38- and 1.98-fold higher, respectively (one-way ANOVA; P > 0.05). In terms of in vitro development, Day 2 cleavage of vitrified zygotes (59%; n = 508) was similar to that of controls (66%; n = 340), but Day 8 blastocyst formation was reduced (9 v. 31%; t-test; P < 0.05). In vivo viability was assessed by oviducal transfer of 41 Day 1 embryos into 2 recipients. One pregnancy was established (50%), with 3 live kittens weighing 70, 79, and 131 g delivered without assistance on Day 65 of gestation. The 2 smaller kittens died within a few hours of birth, with the smallest exhibiting an umbilical hernia and organ exteriorization. The third kitten developed into a normal, healthy adult. In summary, mean H3K9me2, 5MeC, and POU5F1/Nanog expression of vitrified zygotes was similar to corresponding controls. H3K9ac increased at 18h PI as a result of vitrification, but was reduced after culture to 40 h PI. Although vitrified zygotes cleaved in vitro at rates similar to controls, blastocyst development was reduced. In vivo viability was demonstrated; however, postnatal survival of kittens produced was low.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
S. Akagi ◽  
E. Mizutani ◽  
Y. Inaba ◽  
M. Kaneda ◽  
T. Somfai ◽  
...  

The efficiency of somatic cell cloning is very low, probably because of incomplete reprogramming of the somatic cell nucleus. In recent studies, it is suggested that transient exposure of donor somatic cells to mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) extract enhances pluripotency of the cells in vitro (Bru et al. 2008 Exp. Cell Res. 314, 1634–1642; Xu et al. 2009 Anat. Rec. 292, 1229–1234). In the present study, we examined the effect of treatment of donor cells with mouse ESC extract on the in vitro development of bovine NT embryos. First, in order to examine effect of treatment of donor cells with streptolysin O (SLO), which reversibly permeabilizes the plasma membrane, we compared the in vitro development of NT embryos using donor cells treated with 5 μg mL–1 SLO (SLO group) and untreated donor cells (control group). As donor cells for NT, bovine fibroblast cells of passages 3 to 5 were used. Fibroblasts were treated with 5 μg mL–1 SLO for 45 min, and then incubated for resealing in DMEM including 2 mM CaCl2 for 60 min. NT was performed as previously described (Akagi et al. 2003 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66, 264–272). After in vitro culture for 8 days, blastocyst formation and cell number of blastocysts were examined. There were no significant differences between SLO and control groups in the fusion rate (80% and 72%, respectively), cleavage rate (60% and 65%, respectively), developmental rate to the blastocyst stage of NT embryos (31% and 28%, respectively), and blastocyst cell number (127 ± 6 and 112 ± 14, respectively). These results suggest that SLO treatment of donor cells has no negative effect on the in vitro development of NT embryos. Next, we examined the in vitro developmental ability of NT embryos using donor cells treated with mouse ESC extract (ES extract group). After SLO treatment for 45 min, permeabilized fibroblast cells were treated with mouse ESC extract for 45 min, and then incubated in DMEM including 2 mM CaCl2 for 60 min, and used for producing NT embryos. There were no differences between ES extract and control groups in the fusion rate (68% and 69%, respectively), cleavage rate (86.7% and 80.6%, respectively), and developmental rate to the blastocyst stage of NT embryos (39.8% and 43.5%, respectively). The cell number of NT embryos at the blastocyst stage in ES extract group (201 ± 30) was significantly (t-test; P < 0.05) higher than that in control group (140 ± 14). In conclusion, treatment of bovine donor cell with mouse ESC extract did not affect the in vitro developmental ability of NT embryos, but improved the quality of blastocysts.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Kang ◽  
J. Y. Choi ◽  
S. J. Park ◽  
S. J. Kim ◽  
J. H. Moon ◽  
...  

Despite great advances in the field of cloning techniques, the efficiency of production of cloning animals is very low. Maybe the poor outcome of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is thought to be a consequence of incomplete reprogramming of the donor cell or cloned embryos. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of treatment with S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), the reversible nontoxic inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), on porcine female fibroblast donor cells and in vitro development of cloned embryos. We hypothesized that SAH targeting DNA methylation could alter chromatin configuration and turn it more amenable to reprogramming. Thus, the female fibroblast donor cells were cultured in media containing respective concentrations of SAH [0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM) for 2 passages. One-way ANOVA was used to determine significant differences in the data and a Tukey test was done to determine statistical differences among groups. Compared with nontreated controls, the cells treated with SAH, especially 1 mM, revealed significantly (P < 0.05) reduced global DNA methylation, proved by commercial kit and immunocytochemistry analysis, and elevation of transcript levels for X chromosome-linked genes (XIST and HPRT), estimated by real-time PCR analysis compared with the control group. It was suggested that treatment with SAH in female cells could make cells into more valuable donor cells for cloning. In another trial, cloned embryos using normal donor cells were cultured in media containing 1 mM SAH for 0 (control), 12, and 24 h after activation on different time interval of DNMT inhibition, transferred to PZM5 media, and subsequently cultured for 7 days. Treatment with SAH for 12 h resulted in 13.0 ± 1.9% blastocyst production, which was significantly greater than cloned embryos treated with SAH for 24 h (11.2 ± 2.1%) and control cloned embryos (9.1 ± 1.2%). It was suggested that the appropriate DNMT inhibition might have an important role in in vitro development of porcine SCNT, and improving effects on developmental competency of cloned embryos. We concluded that SAH induced global DNA demethylation that partially reactivated the X chromosome and that a hypomethylated genome may facilitate the nuclear reprogramming process. This study was supported by IPET (no. 311011-05-1-SB010), MKE (no. 10033839-2012-21), Institute for Veterinary Science, the BK21 program, and TS Corporation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
G. V. Landschoot ◽  
V. Savy ◽  
N. Canel ◽  
S. Ferraris ◽  
D. Salamone

Cloning of domestic species by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) continues to be inefficient, probably due to an incomplete reprogramming of the reconstituted embryo. The ability of the embryonic cytoplasm to support reprogramming fluctuates within the cell cycle (Egli et al. 2007 Nature 447, 679–85). In this context, we compared the development capability and second polar body (2PB) extrusion of embryos produced by metaphase (M) cells, in comparison with G0/G1 cells, which are commonly used as nuclear donors. Because M cells have 2 sets of chromosomes (in contrast with G0/G1 cells, which have only 1 set), an activation protocol that impedes 2PB extrusion is required to produce reconstituted embryos with the correct ploidy. Therefore, we performed SCNT with M or G0/G1 cells, followed by different activation protocols, and evaluated in vitro development and 2PB extrusion of the reconstituted embryos. Cow oocytes were in vitro matured and enucleated as described by Gambini et al. (2014 PLoS One 14, 9). A group of cells at 70 to 80% confluence was synchronized in M stage using 0.05 μg mL−1 demecolcine for 3 to 4 h and used as nuclear donors for SCNT (M group). Another group of cells was induced into quiescence by serum starvation for 3 to 4 days before SCNT (G0/G1 group). For activation, reconstituted embryos were treated with 5 µM ionomycin (Io) for 4 min followed by 5-h incubation in 50 μM roscovitine for M group, or in 50 μM roscovitine and 5 μg mL−1 cytochalasin B for G0/G1 group. Parthenogenetic controls were activated with Io followed by 50 μM roscovitine alone (ROSCO) or with 5 μg mL−1 cytochalasin B (ROSCO/CB). Hoescht 33342 staining was performed 16 h post-Io to evaluate 2PB extrusion. Other activated oocytes were cultured in SOFaa medium and rates of cleavage, morulas, and blastocysts were evaluated at Days 2, 5 and 7 of in vitro development, respectively. Data were analysed by Fisher’s exact test (P < 0.05). Rates of 2PB extrusion were 72.72 (n = 33), 65.63 (n = 32), 80 (n = 15), and 42.86 (n = 14) for M, G0/G1, ROSCO, and ROSCO/CB, respectively. Results of in vitro development are shown in Table 1. In conclusion, somatic M cells can be used as donors to produce cloned embryos. The M and G0/G1 groups were able to induce cloned blastocysts, even though rates did not differed statistically from controls groups (ROSCO and ROSCO/CB). The M group was as effective as G0/G1. Although further analysis is required to establish the quality of the embryos, our results are encouraging for use in SCNT. Table 1.In vitro development of NT embryos produced with M and G0/G1 donor cells


2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangho Roh ◽  
Hosup Shim ◽  
Woo-suk Hwang ◽  
Jong-taek Yoon

Nuclear transfer using transfected donor cells provides an efficient new strategy for the production of transgenic farm animals. The present study assessed in vitro development of nuclear transfer embryos using green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene-transfected bovine fetal fibroblasts. In experiment 1, bovine fetal fibroblasts (BFF) were transfected with linearized pEGFP-N1 by electroporation, and the enucleated oocytes were reconstructed by nuclear transfer of transfected cells (BFF-GFP). The rates of blastocyst formation did not differ significantly between BFF and BFF-GFP (18.2% v. 15.6%). In experiment 2, before nuclear transfer, the donor cell stage was synchronized by serum deprivation or forming a confluent monolayer. The rates of cleavage (67.1% v. 71.8%) and blastocyst formation (15.8% v. 15.5%) did not differ between confluent and serum-starved cells after nuclear transfer. In experiment 3, the effects of different passages of donor fibroblast cells on the development of nuclear transfer embryos were investigated. Donor cells from ‘early’ (at passage 8–16) showed better blastocyst development (18.9%) than those from ‘late’ (at passage 17–32; 10.5%). In conclusion, this study suggests that transgenic somatic cell nuclei from early passages can be reprogrammed more effectively than those from late passages. In addition, GFP, a non-invasive selection marker, can be used to select transgenic nuclear transfer embryos.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
H. Oh ◽  
O. J. Koo ◽  
M. J. Kim ◽  
J. Park ◽  
S. Hong ◽  
...  

The coordination between the cell cycle stages of nuclear donor cells and host oocytes has a critical effect on the development of embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Here, we investigated (1) whether roscovitine, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) could arrest canine somatic cells at S/G2 phase of the cell cycle; (2) whether IVM metaphase II (MII) oocyte could be induced to telophase II (TII) after activation. Last, we investigated embryo development ability of nonactivated oocytes (MII) or activated oocytes (TII) fused with somatic cells at different stages of the cell cycle. Dog fetal fibroblasts were treated with roscovitine (30 or 60 μg mL-1 at 24, 48, or 72 h) and a control group of donor cells was cultured to reach confluency. The cells were then fixed and stained with 1 mg mL-1 propidium iodide for flow cytometric analysis. For SCNT, IVM dog oocytes were obtained by flushing (approximately 72 h after ovulation) from the oviducts of oocyte donor dog (Canis familiaris) and divided into 2 groups; nonactivated oocytes (MII) and activated oocytes (TII) by 10 μg mL-1 calcium ionophore for 4 min. Following preparation of each donor cell arrested in G0 and G2/M phase, cells of G0 stage were placed into enucleated MII oocytes (MII-G0) and cells of G2/M-phase were placed into enucleated TII oocytes (TII-G2/M). After fusion by electric stimulation, the MII-G0 group was chemically activated and cultured in modified SOF medium (mSOF), and the TII-G2/M group was cultured in mSOF without activation. The embryo developmental competence was estimated by assessing in vitro development under the microscope. Data were analyzed using a statistical analysis system program. Based on flow cytometry, the frequency of cells arrested at G2/M-phase in the 30 and 60 μg mL-1 roscovitine groups was significantly higher than that in control (31.95 and 25.99% v. 19.79%, respectively), but differences were not observed between the 30 and 60 μg mL-1 roscovitine groups (P > 0.05). Also, a significant increase in the proportion of cells at G2/M-phase was observed at 48 and 72 h in both roscovitine groups compared with the group not treated with roscovitine. The proportion of cells at G2/M-phase in the 60 μg mL-1 group at 48 h and the 30 μg mL-1 group at 72 h was the highest among all treatments. For the TII-G2/M group, we injected into enucleated TII oocyte and selected a large cell that arrested at G2/M-phase in cells cultured with 60 μg mL-1 roscovitine for 48 h. For the result of in vitro development of cloned embryo from MII-G0 and TII-G2/M, TII-G2/M group (39.4 and 7.8%) showed an increased cleavage rate and development to 8 cells compared with MII-G0 (23.5 and 2.9%). In the present study, we demonstrated that, in combination with nuclear donor cells at specific cell cycle stages, MII and TII dog oocytes are similarly effective in supporting the reprogramming of somatic cell nuclei. This study was supported by Korean MEST through KOSEF (grant # M10625030005-09N250300510) and BK21 program, RNL BIO, and Natural Balance Korea.


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