Derivation of embryonic stem cell lines from parthenogenetically developing rat blastocysts

This study was undertaken to establish rat embryonic stem (ES) cells from parthenogenetically developing blastocysts. Ten blastocysts were prepared by treatment of ovulated rat oocytes with ionomycin and cycloheximide, and three alkaline phosphatase-positive ES cell lines were established using the N2B27 medium supplemented with mitogen activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD0325901, glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor CHIR99021, rat leukemia inhibitory factor, and forskolin. Expression of stem cell marker genes (Oct-4, rNanog, Fgf-4, and Rex-1) was confirmed in all three ES cell lines by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Combined bisulfite restriction analysis showed that the differentially methylated region locus of five imprinted genes (H19, Meg3IG, Igf2r, Peg5, and Peg10) in these ES cells remained to be demethylated or was hypomethylated, which was similar to that in control ES cells established from normal blastocysts. Characteristics of the parthenogenetic blastocyst-derived ES cells were successfully transmitted to the next generation through a chimeric rat for one of the three ES cell lines. This is the first report on germline-competent (genuine) ES cells derived from parthenogenetically developing rat blastocysts.