Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Electrofusion of mouse blastomeres.

J Z Kubiak, A K Tarkowski

    Experimental Cell Research
    |April 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    Electric pulses effectively fuse mouse embryo blastomeres, enabling tetraploid blastocyst development. Optimal fusion occurs with specific electrical parameters and solutions, though fused embryos do not survive post-implantation.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Effects of confinement on the self-organization of microtubules and motors.

    Current biology : CB·2009
    Same author

    How many blastomeres of the 4-cell embryo contribute cells to the mouse body?

    The International journal of developmental biology·2001
    Same author

    Cell cycle regulation in early mouse embryos.

    Novartis Foundation symposium·2001
    Same author

    Mouse singletons and twins developed from isolated diploid blastomeres supported with tetraploid blastomeres.

    The International journal of developmental biology·2001
    Same author

    Human infertility, reproductive cloning and nuclear transfer: a confusion of meanings.

    BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology·2001
    Same author

    Mos activates MAP kinase in mouse oocytes through two opposite pathways.

    The EMBO journal·2000

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental Biology
    • Embryology
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Blastomere fusion is a key process in early embryonic development.
    • Understanding and controlling blastomere fusion can offer insights into developmental potential.
    • Previous methods for inducing fusion were limited or less efficient.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the induction of blastomere fusion in 2-cell mouse embryos using electric pulses.
    • To determine optimal parameters for electric pulse-induced blastomere fusion.
    • To assess the developmental viability of fused blastomeres and embryos.

    Main Methods:

    • Applied direct current electric pulses to 2-cell mouse embryos within an intact zona pellucida.
    • Varied field strength (1 kV/cm) and pulse duration (100-250 microseconds).
    • Utilized both electrolyte (PBS) and non-electrolyte (0.3 M mannitol) solutions for fusion.
    • Assessed blastomere viability and subsequent embryonic development, including implantation.

    Main Results:

    • Fusion was most frequent under specific electrical conditions (1 kV/cm, 100-250 microsec pulses).
    • Both PBS and mannitol solutions supported similar blastomere viability post-fusion.
    • Fused blastomeres developed into tetraploid blastocysts but failed to survive after implantation.
    • Control embryos (diploid) developed normally to term.
    • The technique was applicable to 3- and 4-cell embryos and zona-free oocytes/blastomeres.

    Conclusions:

    • Electric pulse-induced blastomere fusion is feasible in early mouse embryos.
    • Tetraploid embryos generated through fusion exhibit developmental arrest post-implantation.
    • The technique holds potential for further research in developmental biology and assisted reproduction.

    Related Experiment Videos