Blastocyst development rate influences implantation and live birth rates of similarly graded euploid blastocysts.

Objective: To determine whether the blastocyst development rate, as assessed by the day of trophectoderm biopsy (day 5 vs. day 6), affects the live birth rate (LBR) of similarly graded euploid blastocysts.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Cloned Guangxi Bama minipig (Sus scrofa) and its offspring have normal reproductive performance.

Xenotransplantation is a rapidly expanding field of research, and cloned miniature pigs are considered to be good model animals for its development. Although many animal species have been cloned, the success rate is very low, especially in the pig. To optimize the protocols for somatic cell nuclear transfer in the Guangxi Bama minipig, the relationship between cell cycle synchronization and nuclear histone acetylation levels were investigated.

Fibroblasts from the new-born male testicle of Guangxi Bama mini-pig ( Sus scrofa) can support nuclear transferred embryo development in vitro.

Miniature pigs are valuable for research in xenotransplantation and as models for investigating human diseases. Although many mammalian species have been cloned, the success rates have been very low, especially in the pig. In the present study, an attempt was made to optimize somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) protocols for use in the production of the Guangxi Bama mini-pig.