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Manipulating early pig embryos
1Institut für Tierzucht und Tierverhalten (FAL) Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany.
Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. Supplement
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Pig embryo biotechnology shows promise for genetic preservation and enhancement. While some techniques like cryopreservation of hatched blastocysts are successful, others like freezing intact embryos remain challenging, highlighting areas for future research.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Developmental biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Established surgical procedures enable early pig embryo manipulation.
- These manipulations aim for genetic material preservation, identical multiplet generation, sex determination, and genetic alteration.
- Current biotechnological procedures in pigs lag behind those in cattle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of early pig embryo manipulation techniques.
- To assess the potential and limitations of various biotechnological applications in swine reproduction.
- To identify areas for future research and development in pig embryo biotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Cryopreservation of hatched pig blastocysts.
- Microsurgical bisection of morula and blastocyst stage embryos.
- Isolation and in vitro culture of pig blastomeres.
- Nuclear transfer into pig oocytes.
- Spermatozoa-based gene transfer.
- Parthenogenetic activation of pig oocytes.
- Sex determination via flow cytometry or HY antigen analysis.
Main Results:
- Normal piglets born after cryopreservation of hatched blastocysts; intact embryos unsuccessful.
- Demi-embryos show high in vitro but impaired in vivo development; reduced litter size and low twinning rate.
- Isolated blastomeres up to 16-cell stage can form normal blastocysts; totipotency confirmed at 8-cell stage.
- Nuclear transfer and parthenogenetic activation show low developmental rates.
- Transgenic pigs produced for pharmaceutical protein production and disease resistance.
- Spermatozoa can bind foreign DNA, suggesting efficient gene transfer.
Conclusions:
- Early pig embryo manipulation offers potential for genetic applications, but practical application is limited.
- Cryopreservation and blastomere isolation show success, while intact embryo freezing and nuclear transfer require further development.
- Transgenic technology in pigs is advancing, with potential for pharmaceutical production and disease resistance.
- Further research is needed to advance pig embryo biotechnology, particularly in establishing totipotent embryonic stem cells.