RNA synthesis in porcine blastomere nuclei introduced into in vitro matured ooplasm

The objective was to investigate the RNA synthesis in porcine blastomere nuclei upon transplantation into in vitro matured enucleated oocytes. Nuclei from 2- to 8-cell porcine embryos were introduced into the ooplasm of in vitro matured and enucleated porcine oocytes by electrofusion, and the resultant reconstructed embryos were cultured in vitro. Before fusion or at different intervals after this event embryos were incubated with [3H]-uridine, fixed, and histologically processed for autoradiography in order to detect RNA synthesis. About two thirds of the embryos were considered to depict normal development. All blastomeres displayed pronounced RNA synthesis before fusion, at 3 and 9 h after fusion the synthesis decreased or ceased, and at 24-49 h some embryos resumed synthesis at the 1- to 2-cell stage.