Improvement of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology for the Production of Disease Model Mouse: I. Optimization of Oocyte Enucleation and Reconstruction
This study was undertaken to optimize enucleation and reconstitution methods for the production of cloned mice by somatic cell nuclear transfer Outbred ICR mouse oocytes at the metapahse- II stage were retrieved from female mice superovulated by PMSG and hCG. In Experiment 1, oocytes were enucleated in medium supplemented with cytochalasin B (CCB) of 3 levels (0, 7.5 or 15 /mL), and higher rate of encleation was obtained at 7.5 and 15 /mL than at /mL. In Experiment 2, oocytes enucleated in 7.5 /mL CCB-containing medium were reconstituted with different types of somatic cell by following methods; 1) cumulus cells by direct cell injection, 2) cumulus cells by electric fusion (1.25 kV/cm, 2 pulses for each 70 ) or 3) STO cells by the electrofusion. Electrofusion of STO cells with enucleated oocytes yielded the greatest (P<0.05) rate of reconstitution without lysis (76%) than any other combinations. Although significant decrease in the rate of somatic cell introduction was found, the electrofusion of cumulus cells yielded better rate of reconstitution than direct injection (0 vs. 18%). In Experiment 3, the duration of electric stimulation for the fusion was changed to either 50 or 90 , but no significant improvement of reconstitution efficacy was obtained. In conclusion, this study showed that ICR mouse oocytes could be used for the production of reconstituted oocytes and a fusion method of 1.25 KV/cm with 2 pulses using 570 cell was the optimal.