Cloned pigs derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos cultured in vitro at low oxygen tension

• Published in: Chinese science bulletin Vol. 51; no. 7; pp. 839 - 844
• Main Authors: Pan, Dengke, Zhang, Yunhai, Sun, Xiuzhu, Zhang, Jian, Li, Xuyang, Li, Yan, Gu, Zhiliang, Dai, Yunping, Wu, Changxin, Li, Ning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China%State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China%Animal Clinical Hospital, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China%Hebei Minghui Group of Pigs Breeding, Sanhe 065200, China%College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China 01.04.2006; State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
• Subjects: 体外发育; 体细胞克隆; 卵母细胞; 无性繁殖; 迁移晶胚; in vitro maturation of oocyte; low oxygen; nuclear transfer; embryo culture; pig
• ISSN: 1001-6538; 2095-9273; 1861-9541; 2095-9281
• DOI: 10.1007/s11434-006-0839-4

Pig cloning has great potential to human xenotransplantation. The present study was designed to establish a more efficient system for producing cloned pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer （SCNT）. Our approach was as follows： SCNT embryos were reconstructed by using fetal fibroblasts of Chinese miniature pig as donors and in vitro matured oocytes of prepubertal gilts as recipients. Reconstructed embryos were induced by electrical fusion/activation and cultured in BSA-containing North Carolina State University 23 medium （NCSU-23） or Porcine Zygote Medium （PZM-3） at the gas condition of 5% CO2, 7% O2, 88% N2. A total of 230 cloned embryos were transferred to three surrogate sows, producing three piglets. One of them is apparently healthy. The clonal provenance of the piglet was indicated by its coat color and confirmed by DNA microsatellite analysis. These results indicate that the use of in vitro matured oocytes from prepubertal gilts as recipient, combined with cloned embryos cultured at low oxygen tension is an effective way to produce cloned pigs.