It is well known that the production of transgenic bovine embryos is more difficult than the production of non-transgenic bovine embryos. We performed whether the quality of transgenic bovine embryos expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) can be improved when cultured for 4 days from day 4 until day 8 after activation with epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and flavonoid (F) supplements. The EGFP gene was introduced into bovine IVF embryos using microinjector. In experiment, transgenic bovine embryos were cultured in modified CR1aa medium containing 10% FBS at 38.8℃ in an incubator (5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2) for 8 days and embryos were equally divided into four groups [non-treated group (control), 1 μM IGF+EGF (IE), 10 μM F and 1 μM IGF+EGF+10 μ M F (IEF)] at day 4 embryos. In the result, development rate of F treatment group (41.8%) was higher than that of control (33.3%), IE (23.9%) and IEF groups (28.0%). However, hatching rate was significantly high in IE (53.0%) and IEF (65.0%) groups than in control (42.9%) and F group (42.8%) (p<0.05). The EGFP expression rate was not different among all groups (30.0~33.3%) at blastocyst stage. In comparison of total cell number, IE group (145.2±10.4) was significantly higher than control group (101.4±14.3). Apoptotic index of IE group (1.9%) was the lowest compared with that of control (3.3%), F (3.5%) and IEF groups (4.6%). This result demonstrate that the combination of IGF, EGF and flavonoid can be helpful to improve the development potential and the quality of transgenic bovine embryos.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein (Cas9) system can be applied to produce transgenic pigs. Therefore, we applied CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate FoxN1-targeted pig parthenogenetic embryos. Using single guided RNA targeted to pig FoxN1 genes was injected into cytoplasm of in vitro matured oocyte before electrical activation. In results, regardless of the concentrations of vector, the cleavage rate were significantly (p<0.05) decreased (4 ng/μl, 51.24%; 8 ng/μl, 40.88%; and 16 ng/μl; 45.22%) compared to no injection group (70.44%). The blastocyst formation rates were also decreased in vector injected 3 groups (4 ng/μl, 7.96%; 8 ng/μl, 6.4%; and 16 ng/μl; 9.04%) compared to no injection group (29.07%). In addition, the blastocyst formation rates between sham injected group (13.51%) and no injection group (29.07%) also showed significant difference (p<0.05). The mutation rates were comparable between groups (4 ng/μl, 18.4%; 8 ng/μl, 12.5%; and 16 ng/μl; 20.0%). The sequencing analysis showed that blastocysts derived from each group were successfully mutated in FoxN1 loci regardless of the vector concentrations. However, the deletion patterns were higher than the patterns of point mutation and insertion regardless of the vector concentrations. In conclusion, we described that cytoplasmic microinjection of FoxN1-targeted CRISPR/Cas9 vector could efficiently generate transgenic pig parthenogenetic embryos in one-step.

The purpose of this study is to improve production efficiency of vitrified-thawed transgenic bovine embryos. Transgenic bovine embryos were produced by injection of FIV-GFP lentiviral vector into perivitelline space of in vitro matured MІІ stage oocytes, and then in vitro fertilization. EGFP-expressing transgenic bovine blastocysts were cultured in serum-containing and serum–free medium. These blsatocysts were vitrified by pull and cut (PNC) container made with 0.25 cm plastic straw. Results indicate that total developmental rates of normal IVF embryo cultured in serumcontaining and–free medium into blastocyst were not significantly different (22.3 vs 21.5%) and those of GFPexpressing transgenic bovine embryo into blastocyst showed no significant difference between serum-containing (13.9%) and–free medium (13.1%). However, developmental rate of GFP transgenic embryo was significantly (P<0.05) lower than its of normal IVF embryos. In additional study, we vitrified GFP transgenic normal bovine blastocysts using PNC vitrification method. Survival rate of vitrified-thawed GFP transgenic blastocyst (23.1%) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than its of normal blastocysts (68.9%). Although, survival rate of vitrified-thawed GFP transgenic blastocyst was lower than its of normal blastocyst, our result may suggested that PNC vitrification method is feasible to cryopreserve transgenic embryos. Our next plan will be the production of GFP express transgenic bovine derived from vitrified-thawed embryos using PNC method.

Pig parthenotes were able to develop in vivo for 30 days with normal morphology. In pig, during blastocyst elongation between day 10 and 12 of gestation, estrogen production and secretion by conceptus increases, serving not only as the signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy, but also as a stimulus for the production of proteins and growth factors within the uterine environment that initiate implantation. Cloning efficiency is still very low regardless of species. To increase the productive efficiency of (transgenic, TG) clones, an advanced somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) method may need. Here we report the productions of transgenic cloned pigs using cloned embryos and parthenotes simultaneously. Fibroblasts were isolated from an ear skin of a 10‐day‐old NIH miniature pig. The ear fibroblast cells were transfected with the alpha1,3‐ Galactosyltransferase knock‐out/human CD46 knock‐in (GalT KO/hCD46 KI). For SCNT, the TG somatic cells were used as donor cells. Immediately after fusion confirmation, the TG cloned embryos and parthenotes were transferred into both oviducts of surrogates. The mean number of TG cloned embryos and parthenotes was 137 (±15.2) and 123(±27.1), respectively. The pregnancy and delivery rate was (55.6%, 10/ 18) (44.4%, 8/18), respectively. Totally 19 GalT KO/hCD46 KI cloned piglets were delivered. Among them, 11 piglets were survived and 8 piglets were born stillbirth. The healthy 5 piglets are still survived.

The production of transgenic animals using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been widely described. A critical problem in the production of transgenic animals is the uncontrolled constitutive expression of the foreign gene which occasionally results in serious physiological disorders in the transgenic animal. In this study, we designed three different expression vectors that express the hEPO gene. hEPO is a hormone produced by the kidney that promotes the formation of red blood cells by the bone marrow. For the in vitro production of transgenic embryos, the different expression vectors were transduced into holstein ear fibroblast cells, respectively, and GFP expressed donor cells were transferred into enucleated oocytes, and then the reconstructed SCNT embryos were developed into pre-implantation stage. From three replicates, GFP expressed 112 transgenic SCNT embryos were produced. When their cleavage rate and blastocyst rate were compared with non-transgenic SCNT embryos, the results were presented into 73.2% vs. 76.9% and 26.8% vs. 30.6%, respectively, there were no differences. Also, total cell number and ICM cell numbers of day 8 blastocysts were statistically not different between the transgenic SCNT groups (120.6±7.9 and 31.4±8.2) and control SCNT group (128.3±4.8 and 35.3±4.0). The GFP expression levels were presented consecutively high during the culture of transgenic SCNT embryos. By analysis of semi-quantitative RT-PCR, the relative expression levels of hEPO mRNA and pluripotent gene were determined. These results demonstrated that the hEPO expressed transgenic bovine embryos can be efficiently produced in vitro by SCNT technique, while their potential of cloned animal production have to be examined in further study.

본 연구는 소 형질 전환 체세포 핵이식에서 용이한 탈핵을 위해 demecolcine을 이용할 시 탈핵율과 핵이식란의 발육능을 높이기 위한 최적의 조건을 알아보고자 실시되었다. 도축장 유래 미성숙 난자를 18시간 체외성숙 후 제1극체가 확인된 성숙 난자를 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 및 0.8 ug/ml의 demecolcine이 첨가된 배지에서 1시간 더 처리한 다음 세포막이 돌출되어 있는 난자를 체세포 핵이식에 공여하여 각 군간 배반포로의 발육능을 비교하였

본 연구의 목적은 요를 통해 hFSH를 발현하는 형질 전환 소의 생산이다. 요의 분비와 관련 있는 유전자로서 mUII promoter를 사용하여 hFSH유전자를 구성했다. 태아섬유아세포(KbFF)는 임신 45일령의 태아(male)에서 채취하였다. hFSH gene은 pcDNA3(neo) vector와 같이 KbFF 세포에 electroporation 방법으로 transfection하였다. 유전자를 transfection한 세포는 G-418로 2주 동안

본 연구의 목적은 inbred 마우스 (C57BL/6J)의 수정란을 이용하여 형질전환마우스를 생산할 때, 수정란이식의 효율성을 증진시키기 위한 것이다. C57BL/6J 및 BCF1 마우스로부터 과배란처리 방법에 의해 수정란을 얻고, DNA를 1 세포기 수정란에 미세 주입한 다음, 1세포기 또는 2 세포기의 수정란을 가임신된 마우스의 한쪽 또는 양쪽 난관에 각각 이식하였다. 1세포기의 수정란을 0.75 d.p.c. 가임신된 마우스의 한쪽 난관에 이식했을 때, 임신율이 C57BL/6J는 68.8±7.83%, BCF1은 48.3±14.22% 이었고, 이식한 수정란 당 산자의 발달율은 C57BL/6J가 11.9±5.51%, BCF1은 10.5±8.03%로 성적이 저조하였다. 그러나, 2세포기의 수정란을 0.5 d.p.c. 가임신된 마우스의 양쪽 난관에 이식했을 때, 임신율이 C57BL/6J는 94.4±9.64%, 13CFl은 100±0% 이었고, 이식한 수정란 당 산자의 발달율은 C57BL/6J가 22.1 ±0.4%, BCF1은 21.8±0.38%였다. 따라서 C57BL/6J 마우스의 2세포기 수정란을 0.5 d.p.c. 가임신된 마우스의 양쪽 난관에 이식하는 것이, BCF1마우스와 유사한 성적을 얻어 경쟁력이 있는 것으로 판단되었다. 이러한 결과에 영향을 미치는 인자가 여러 가지 있을 것으로 판단되지만, C57BL/6J 마우스의 2세포기 수정란을 0.5 d.p.c.가임신된 마우스의 양쪽 난관에 이식하는 방법이 다른 방법보다 형질전환마우스를 생산하는데 효율성이 더 높은 것으로 본 실험에서 확인되었다.

The present study was conducted for the production of transgenic cloned cows by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that secrete human prourokinase into milk. To establish an efficient production system for bovine transgenic SCNT embryos, the offset was examined of various conditions of donor cells including cell type, size, and passage number on the developmental competence of transgenic SCNT embryos. An expression plasmid far human prourokinase (pbeta-ProU) was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and a human prourokinase target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Three types of bovine somatic cells including two adult cells (cumulus cells and ear fibroblasts) and fetal fibroblasts were prepared and transfected using a lipid-meidated method. In Experiment 1, developmental competence and rates of GFP expression in bovine transgenic SCNT embryos reconstructed with cumulus cells were significantly higher than those from fetal and ear fibroblasts. In Experiment 2, the effect of cellular senescence in early (2 to 4) and late (8 to 12) passages was investigated. No significant differences in the development of transgenic SCNT embryos were observed. In Experient 3, different sizes of GFP-expressing transfected cumulus cells [large (>30 ) or small cell (<30 )] were used for SCNT. A significant improvement in embryo development and GFP expression was observed when small cumulus cells were used for SCNT. Taken together, these results demonstrate that (1) adult somatic cells could serve as donor cells in transgenic SCNT embryo production and cumulus cells with small size at early passage were the optimal cell type, and (2) transgenic SCNT embryos derived from adult somatic cells have embryonic development potential.

Production of u 1-antitrypsin (AT) in transgenic cows has a great value in the field of medicine. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of chemically defined KSOM media on in vitro development of bovine transgenic nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. An expression plasmid for human AT was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and a human AT target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Cumulus cells as donor nuclei in NT were collected from a Holstein cow and transfected by lipid-mediated method using FuGene6 (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, USA) as reagent. GFP expressed cumulus cells were introduced into recipient oocytes under DIC microscopy equipped with FITC filter set. After electrical fusion and chemical activation, reconstructed embryos were cultured in 1) SOF + 0.8% BSA, 2) KSOM + 0.8% BSA, 3) KSOM + 10% FBS and 4) KSOM +0.01% PVA for 192 h at 39 with 5% , 5% and 90% in humidified condition. The development of the embryos was recorded and the GFP expression in blastocyst was determined under FITC filter. The average fusion rate was 73.8% (251/340; n=8). The development rates to 2-4 cells, morula, blastocysts and expression rates in blastocysts varied from 70.3 to 76.5%, 30.2 to 33.8%, 25.4 to 33.8% and 11.8 to 15.6%, respectively. The difference in development and expression rates of embryos among 4 culture groups was not significant (P>0.05). This study indicates that chemically defined KSOM medium is also able to support development of bovine transgenic NT embryos at similar rate of SOF or KSOM supplemented with BSA or serum.

The present study was conducted for the production of transgenic cloned cows those secrete human lactoferricin into milk by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT). To estimate detrimental effects of gene transfection on transgenic cloned embryo production, development rates of NT embryos were compared between transfected and non-transfected cumulus and ear fibroblast cells. An expression plasmid for human lactofericin (pbeta-LFC) was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and human lactoferricin target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Two bovine somatic cell lines (cumulus cell and ear fibroblast) were established and transfected with the expression plasmid using a liposomal transfection reagent, Fugene6 as a carrier. Cumulus cell and ear fibroblast were transfected at the passage of 2 to 4, trypsinized and GFP-expressing cells were randomly selected and used for somatic cell NT. Developmental competences (rates of fusion, cleavage, and blastocyst formation) in bovine transgenic somatic cell NT embryos reconstructed with non-transfectecd cells were significantly higher than those from transfected cells in cumulus cell and ear fibroblast (P＜0.05). This study indicated that transfection of done. cell has detrimental effect on embryo development in bovine transgenic NT.

Human Prourokinase (proUK) offers potential as a novel agent with improved fibrin specificity and, as such, may offer advantages as an attractive alternative to urokinase that is associated with clinical benefits in patients with acute peripheral arterial occlusion. For production of transgenic cow as human proUK bioreacotor, we conducted this study to establish efficient production system for bovine transgenic embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) using human prourokinase gene transfected donor cell. An expression plasmid for human prourokinase was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and human prourokinase target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Cumulus cells were used as donor cell and transfected with the expression plasmid using the Fugene 6 as a carrier. To increase the efficiency for the production of transgenic NT, development rates were compared between non-transfected and transfected cell in experiment 1, and in experiment 2, development rates were compared according to level of GFP expression in donor cells. In experiment 1, development rates of non-transgenic NT embryos were significantly higher than transgenic NT embryos (43.3 vs. 28.4％). In experiment 2, there were no significant differences in fusion rates (85.4 vs. 78.9％) and cleavage rates (78.7 vs. 84.4％) between low and high expressed cells. However, development rates to blastocyst were higher in low expressed cells (17.0 vs. 33.3％), and GFP expression rates in blastocyst were higher in high expressed cells (75.0 vs. 43.3％), significantly.

The principal objective of this study was to clone transgenic embryos in order to improve the efficiency of transgenic animal production by the combination of microinjection and nuclear transplantation techniques. Mature female New Zealand White rabbits were superovulated by eCG and hCG treatments, fllowed by natural mating. Zygotes were collected from the oviducts at 18∼22 h after hCG injection by flushing with D-PBS containing 5% fetal calf serum(FCS). Two to three picoliters of green fluorescent protein(GFP) gene wa microinjected into male pronucleus. The foreign gene-injected zygotes were cultured in TCM-199 or RD medium containing 10% FCS with a monolayer of rabbit oviductal epithelial cells in a 5% CO2 incubator. The morulae expressing GFP gene were selected and their blastomeres were separated for the use of nuclear donor. Following nuclear transplantation of fluorescence-positive morula stage blastomeres, 13 (21.3%) out of 61 fused oocytes developed to blastocyst stage and all of the cloned blastocysts expressed GFP. The results indicate that the screening of transgene in rabbit embryos by GFP detection could be a promisible method for the preselection of transgenic embryos. Also the cloning of preselected transgenic embryos by nuclear transplantatin could be efficiently applied to the multiple production of transgenic animals.