We attempted to control the maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity and investigated the subsequent reprogramming of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Serum‐starved adult skin fibroblasts were fused to enucleated oocytes treated with 2.5 mM caffeine or 150 μM roscovitine. The MPF activity, nuclear remodeling patterns, chromosome constitutions and development of SCNT embryos were evaluated. Methylated DNA of embryos was detected at various developmental stages. The MPF activity was increased by caffeine treatment or reduced by roscovitine treatment (p<0.05). Blastocyst development was higher in the caffeine‐treated groups (27.6%) than that of the roscovitine‐treated group (8.3%, p<0.05). There was no difference in the apoptotic cell index among the three groups. However, the mean cell number of blastocysts was increased in the caffeine‐treated group (p<0.05). Higher methylation levels were observed in the Day 3 embryos of the roscovitine‐treated group (50.8%), whereas lower methylation levels were noted at Day 5 in the caffeine‐treated group (12.5%, p<0.05). These results reveal that the increase in MPF activity via a caffeine‐treatment creates a more suitable condition for nuclear reprogramming after SCNT.

본 연구는 이종간 핵이식란의 생산성 향상에 기여하기 위한 기초연구로서 핵이식 수정란의 융합과 활성화 과정에 있어서 수핵난자 및 전기적 융합조건이 핵이식 수정란의 융합 및 체외 발달에 미치는 요인들을 조사하기 위하여 실시하였다. 도축되어지는 소 및 돼지의 난소에서 난포란을 채취하여 TCM-199 및 NCSU-23에 혈청 및 호르몬을 첨가하여 39℃, 5% CO₂ 배양기내에서 24 및 48시간 체외성숙을 실시하여 수핵난자를 준비하고, 공여세포의 준비는 산양의 귀세포를 채취하여 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA의 처리로 세포를 분리, 배양하여 사용하였으며, 계대배양과 함께 세포는 TCM-199 ＋ 10% FBS ＋ 10% DMSO로 동결을 실시하였다. 핵이식은 성숙된 난자의 극체 및 전핵을 laser system으로 투명대를 drilling 하여 제거하고 준비된 공여세포를 핵이 제거된 난자에 주입하여 전기적 자극으로 융합을 실시하여 융합된 난자는 전기적 자극으로 활성화를 유도하였다. 활성화가 이루어진 복제 수정란은 수핵란이 소난자의 경우 monolayer가 형성된 10% FBS가 첨가된 TCM199 배양액에서 7∼9일 동안 체외배양하였으며, 수핵란이 돼지의 경우 10% FBS가 첨가된 NCSU-3 배양액으로 6∼8일 동안 체외배양을 실시하여 배반포기로 유도하였다. 본 연구에서 얻은 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 전기자극의 세기를 1.95 kv/cm와 2.10 kv/cm로 주었을 때 수핵란이 소 난자의 경우 융합율은 47.7및 44.6%였으며, 분할율도 41.9 및 54.5%로써 차이가 없었다. 수핵란이 돼지 난자인 경우는 융합율은 51.3 및 46.1%로써 차이가 없었으며, 분할율도 75.0및 84.9%로써 차이가 없었다. 전기자극 시간을 30 또는 60μsec, 횟수는 1 또는 2회 주었을 때 수핵란이 소 난자의 경우 융합율은 30 μsec 1회(50.8%) 와 2회(31.0%) 간에 차이가 없었으나, 60μsec 1회(19.3%)가 가장 낮았다(P＜0.05). 융합란의 분할율은 30μsec 1회(53.3%)와 2회(50.0%) 간에 차이가 없었으나, 60μsec 1회(18.2%)보다 유의적(P＜0.05)으로 높게 나타났다. 돼지 난자의 경우 융합율은 30μsec 1회(48.1%), 2회(45.2%)및 60μsec 1회(48.6%)간에 차이가 없었으며, 분할율은 30μsec 1회(78.4%)와 60μsec 1회 (79.4%)간에 차이가 없었으나, 30μsec 2회(53.6%)보다 유의적(P＜0.05)으로 높게 나타났다. 이종간 핵이식란의 체외발달에 있어서 수핵란이 소 난자의 경우 상실배와 배반포기로의 발달율이 22.6%로써 단위발생란 30.6%와 차이가 없었으며, 돼지 난자의 경우는 이종간 핵이식란이 5.1%로써 단위발생란 37.4%보다 유의적(P＜0.05)으로 낮게 나타났다. 이상의 실험결과로 보아 산양의 체세포를 이용한 이종간 핵이식 복제수정란의 생산을 위하여 수핵란으로 소와 돼지를 사용하여 복제수정란의 발달을 확인할 수 있었으며, 이종간 핵이식에 있어서 수핵란, 공여세포, 융합, 활성화 및 배양조건 등 아직 초보 수준에 있으며, 앞으로 보다 많은 연구를 통하여 이러한 문제들이 해결되면 멸종위기 상태에 있는 동물들의 종 보존에도 활용이 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

This study was conducted to investigate the developmental ability of caprine embryos after somatic cell interspecies nuclear transfer. Donor cells were obtained from an ear-skin biopsy of a caprine, digested with 0.25% trypsin-EDTA in PBS, and primary fibroblast cultures were established in TCM-199 with 10% FBS. After maturation, expanded cumulus cells were removed by vigorous pipetting in the presence of 0.3% hyaluronidase. The matured oocytes were dipped in D-PBS plus 10% FBS＋7.5 ㎍/ml cytochalasin B and 0.05 M sucrose. The reconstructed oocytes were electrically fused with donor cells in 0.3 M mannitol fusion medium. After the electofusion, embryos were activated by electric stimulation. Interspecies nuclear transfer embryos with bovine cytoplasts were cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% FBS including bovine oviduct epithelial cells for 7∼9 day. On the other hand, the NT embryos with porcine cytoplasts were cultured in NCSU-23 medium supplemented with 10% FBS for 6∼8 day at 39℃, 5% CO₂ in air. In caprine-bovine NT embryos, the cleavage(2-cell) rate was 36.8% in confluence and 43.8% in serum starvation. The developmental rate of morula- and blastocyst-stage embryos was 0.0% in confluence and 18.8% in serum starvation. In caprine-porcine NT embryos, the cleavage(2-cell) rate was 76.7% in confluence and 66.7% in serum starvation. The developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos was 3.3% in confluence and 3.0% in serum starvation, and no significant difference was observed in synchronization treatment between donor cells. In caprine-bovine NT embryos, the cleavage(2-cell) rate of cultured donor cells was 30.8% and 17.6% in 5∼9 and 10∼14 passage(P＜0.05). The developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos were significantly higher(P＜0.05) in 5∼9 passage(23.1%) than in 10∼14 passage(0.0%) of cultured donor cells. In caprine-porcine NT embryos, the cleavage rate was significantly higher(P＜0.05) in 5∼9 passage(86.7%) than in 10∼14 passage(50.0%) of cultured donor cells. The developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos were 3.3 and 0.0% in 5∼9 and 10∼14와 passage of cultured donor cells. In caprine-bovine NT embryos, the developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos were 22.6% in interspecies nuclear transfer, 33.9% in in vitro fertilization and 28.1% in parthenotes, which was no significant differed. The developmental rate of morula and blastocyst stage embryos with caprine-porcine NT embryos were lower(P＜0.05) in interspecies nuclear transfer(5.1%) than in vitro fertiltzation(26.9%) and parthenotes(37.4%).

핵 이식에 공여되는 수핵난자의 효과적인 동결보존을 위하여 한우 성숙난자를 1.0 M dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO) 또는 1.0 M glycerol이 함유된 동결보호제를 이용하여 처리하거나, 동결보호제 처리 후 완만동결법을 이용한 동결융핼르 시행하여 상기 실험처리로 야기되는 투명대 경화현상을 관찰하였다. 도축장 유래의 난소에서 미성숙난자를 채취한 후 10% 소 태아혈청을 함유한 TCM-199을 이용하여 22∼24 시간 동안 체외성숙배양을 이해

The present study was undertaken to determine the optimal condition for parthenogenetic activation of rabbit oocytes by electric stimulation in vitro in an attempt to develop nuclear transplantation techniques for cloning mammalian embryos and animals. Freshly ovulated oocytes were collected from superovulated rabbits from 13 to 26 hrs. after hCG injection. The cumulus-free oocytes were activated parthenogetically by repeated stimuli of square direct electric pulses in O.3M mannitol solution. After applying electric stimulations of different voltages, pulse durations and pulse times, all of the oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 with 10% FCS for 96 hours in a 5% incubator, and their developmental potential in vitro was examined. The higher activation rate (68.9%) was achieved at the voltage of 2.0kv/cm, the pulse duration of 60 sec and three pulse times and the activation rate of 100% was achieved at the pulse duration of 100 and 200 sec, the voltage of 1.5kv/cm and three pulse times. Although the higher rates of activation of oocytes were achieved at 100 and 200 sec, none of them developed to blastocyst in vitro. The oocytes collected 18~20 hours post hCG injection showed the highest rate of activation and development to blastocyst in vitro than the oocytes collected 13~15 or 25~26 hours post hCG injection. Therefore, it can be suggested that the application of electric stimulation of 2.0kv/cm, 60 sec and three pulse times to the oocytes collected at 18~20 hours post hCG injection would be more beneficial for the parthenogenetic activation of oocytes in rabbits.