[The distribution of parthenogenetic clones of epidermal melanoblasts in chimeric mice C57BL/6(PG) <--> BALB/c]

The death of diploid parthenogenetic mammalian embryos, specifically mouse embryos, is related to the effects of genomic imprinting. But in mouse chimeras, many parthenogenetic cell clones retain their viability for long periods of development. We obtained 12 chimeric mice by aggregating diploid parthenogenetic C57BL/6 (C/C) embryos with normal BALB/c (c/c) embryos at the 8-cell stage. Distribution of parthenogenetic clones of the melanoblasts in the hair follicles of chimeric mice was estimated by the presence of pigmented regions of the hair cover. The proportion of pigmented regions of the hair cover did not exceed 35% in any of 12 parthenogenetic chimeras C57BL/6(PG) <--> BALB/c. In most chimeras, pigmented regions were present in the anterior and posterior parts of the body. At the same time, the middle part of the body was, as a rule, not pigmented, possible due to the death of parthenogenetic melanoblasts in this area. In many chimeras, bilateral distribution of pigmented regions was disturbed, possibly due to accidental death of individual parthenogenetic clones of the melanoblasts. The absence of pigmentation of the ventral body side and distal parts of the limbs in most obtained chimeras appears to be due to decreased proliferative activity of the parthenogenetic melanoblasts, as compared with the normal situation.