Fusion of oocytes and development of oocyte fusion products in the mouse

Utilizing fusion techniques we demonstrated that 57-72% of meiotic mouse oocytes could be fused with polyethylene glycol. Activated oocyte fusion products (OFP) completed second meiosis and supported early embryonic development to the blastocyst stage (12%). Furthermore, when oocytes from MF1 strain that demonstrate a developmental block at the 2-cell stage when cultured from the zygote stage, were fused with oocytes of an F1 hybrid not demonstrating this block, the OFP overcame the 2-cell block and developed to blastocysts. Of the 20 blastocysts from OFPs that were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients 11 implanted and 1 F1 OFP developed to the 14-somite stage.