Secondary SCNT doubles the pre-implantation development rate of reconstructed interspecies embryos by using cytoplasts of Sannen dairy goat ova.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether ova of Sannen goat could support the pre-implantation development of interspecies embryos constructed through somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT) embryos and whether secondary SCNT (SSCNT) could improve the pre-implantation development of those embryos. The primary SCNT (PSCNT) embryos were produced by using Sannen goat ovum cytoplasts as recipients and fibroblast cells, derived from human, rabbit and Boer goat skins, as nucleus donors. The blastomeres of 8 to 16 cells stage of PSCNT embryos were subsequently used as nucleus donor cells and Sannen goat ovum cytoplasts as recipients to evaluate the effect of SSCNT on the pre-implantation development rate of these reconstructed interspecies embryos.

Development of oocytes from synchronized follicles of early prepubertal goats under exotic hormone control.

The aim of this study was to establish whether early prepubertal Sannen dairy goat could provide a large source of ova for SCNT. The effects of different hormonal treatments including untreated control, FSH alone, estadiol plus progesterone (E2-P4), and E2-P4 and FSH (E2-P4-FSH) on ovary size, follicle number and size were studied using the early prepubertal goats aged 39-60 days. Then prepubertal goats aged 39-120 days were categorized into three groups to study the effect of age on recruited follicle number.

Effect of cytoplast on the development of inter-subspecies nuclear transfer reconstructed goat embryo.

The aim of this study was to investigate effect of cytoplast on the development competence of reconstructed embryos derived from inter-subspecies somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT). First, the development potency of reconstructed embryos produced by transferring Boer goat fibroblast cell nucleus of different ages into enucleated Sannen goat ova was evaluated in order to determine which age of nuclear donor is favorable for the reconstructed embryos development. Secondly, the another component of reconstructed embryos, "cytoplast," was evaluated by comparing the effect of ovum cytoplast derived from Sannen male symbol x Boer female symbol descendant on the reconstructed embryos development to that of Sannen goat ovum cytoplast.

Factors derived from mouse embryonic stem cells promote self-renewal of goat embryonic stem-like cells.

Goat embryonic stem (ES)-like cells could be isolated from primary materials-inner cell masses (ICMs) and remain undifferentiated for eight passages in a new culture system containing mouse ES cell conditioned medium (ESCCM) and on a feeder layer of mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). However, when cultured in medium without mouse ESCCM, goat ES-like cells could not survive for more than three passages. In addition, no ES-like cells could be obtained when ICMs were cultured on goat embryo fibroblasts or the primary materials-whole goat blastocysts were cultured on MEFs.

[Effect on development in NT embryos after transplantation of nuclei derived from transfected goat fetal fibroblasts suffering different treatments into enucleate eggs].

In order to improve the development rate of preimplantation nuclear transfer embryos (NT embryos) after transplanting nuclei derived from transgenic goat fetal cells, the donor fetal fibroblasts starved for 5 days in DMEM containing 0.5% FCS were divided into three groups and treated with different methods respectively before using as donor cell. Group 1 was frozen at -80 degrees C or in liquid nitrogen for several days or months.