Generation of mouse embryonic stem cell lines from zona-free nuclear transfer embryos.

Pluripotent stem cells would have great potential in cell therapies and drug development when genetically matched with the patient; thus, histocompatible cells could be used in transplantation therapy or as a source of patient-specific cells for drug testing. Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs)-generated via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or parthenogenesis (pESC)-are potential sources of histocompatible cells and tissues for transplantation. Earlier studies used the piezoelectric microinjection (PEM) technique for nuclear transfer (NT) in mouse.