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Nuclear transplantation in early pig embryos
R S Prather1, M M Sims, N L First
1Department of Meat and Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
Biology of Reproduction
|September 1, 1989
Summary
Nuclear transfer in pigs shows promise, with pronuclear exchange embryos developing to blastocysts and producing piglets. Further research on early-stage nuclei transfer to oocytes is ongoing.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Nuclear transfer is a key technique in assisted reproduction.
- Optimizing nuclear transfer efficiency in porcine embryos is crucial for livestock breeding and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate nuclear transfer techniques in early porcine embryos.
- To assess the developmental potential of pronuclear exchange and early-stage nuclei transferred to oocytes.
Main Methods:
- Pronuclear transfer involved enucleation, karyoplast insertion, and electrofusion.
- Early-stage nuclei (2-, 4-, 8-cell) were transferred to enucleated, activated metaphase II oocytes.
- Embryo development was monitored in vitro and in vivo.
Main Results:
- Pronuclear exchange embryos showed in vitro cleavage and in vivo development to blastocysts, resulting in 7 piglets.
- Nuclear transfer using early-stage nuclei resulted in morula/blastocyst development, with higher rates for 8-cell nuclei.
- A single piglet was born from a 4-cell nucleus transfer to an activated oocyte.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear transfer is feasible in early porcine embryos, yielding viable offspring.
- Developmental potential varies with the stage of the transferred nucleus.
- Further refinement of nuclear transfer protocols is warranted for porcine applications.