Induction of triploidy in the mouse by cytochalasin B

Mouse eggs fertilized in vivo were treated with cytochalasin B in vitro (5 mug/ml of culture medium) at the moment of extrusion of the second polar body (2-5, 3-0, 3-5 h after copulation). Cytochalasin B inhibits cytokinesis of the second maturation division, so that triploid digynic eggs are formed in over 50% of treated eggs. Triploid eggs were transplanted to the oviducts of recipients. On the 4th and 5th day of development 41-7% of transplanted eggs were recovered. All embryos recovered on the 4th day were morulae, while on the 5th day blastocysts predominated. Recovered embryos were studied for cell number and ploidy. Twenty-three of 27 embryos with analysable metaphase plates were triploid and four were diploid (the latter were found in females into which both triploid and control diploid eggs were transplanted). Sex chromosome constitution was determined in seven cases: four triploids were XXY and three were XXX. Preliminary observations showed that triploid embryos obtained by the use of cytochalasin B can implant and survive at least to the 9th day.