Meiotic maternal chromosomes introduced to the late mouse zygote are recruited to later embryonic divisions

In vitro development and chromosomal configuration of bovine somatic cloned embryos with nonenucleated metaphase II oocytes

This study was designed to examine the effects of the presence of oocyte nuclei on the donor cell nuclear remodeling, including premature chromosome condensation (PCC) and DNA configuration, and subsequent embryo development. The results showed that: (1) the presence of oocyte MII spindles was more likely to induce donor cell PCC. (2) The positional relationship between the fused donor cell and the oocyte metaphase spindle had an effect on oocyte PB2 extrusion. When the fused donor cell was widely separated from the MII spindle, 94.4% of the reconstructed oocytes expelled a PB2. When the donor cell was fused adjacently to the MII spindle, almost all of the reconstructed oocytes did not expel the PB2; the majority (67.9%) formed a very large M-phase spindle in which the oocyte and the donor cell chromosomes merged. (3) After activation, the oocyte and donor nuclei exhibited a variety of pronuclear patterns and asynchronous development. (4) The embryos reconstituted with nonenucleated oocytes resulted in a similar cleavage rate as observed in the control embryos reconstituted with enucleated oocytes. Blastocyst developmental rates were no different between nonenucleated and enucleated cloned embryos; however, the development rates from early to hatching blastocysts significantly decreased in the nonenucleation group compared to enucleation controls (0 vs. 23.1%; 27.5 vs. 67.8%), regardless with either cumulus cells or fibroblasts as donor cells. (5) All nonenucleated oocyte-derived blastocysts contained mixed polyploidy with a variety of compositions that included 2n/4n, 2n/6n, 2n/8n, and 2n/4n/8n. (6) Nuclear transfer preceding the oocyte enucleation experiment indicated that prolonged presence of oocyte nuclei induced abnormal DNA configuration and reduced in vitro development of transferred somatic nuclei, but short time presence of oocyte nuclei did not affect the in vitro development of cloned embryos. We conclude that oocyte MII spindles induce donor cell PCC, the developmental capacity of cloned embryos reconstituted with nonenucleated oocytes is inferior to those with enucleated oocytes, and that all such derived blastocysts are polyploidy.

An organism arises from every nucleus

The fact that, cloning using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) method has been performed, opened new horizons for cloning, and changed the way of our understanding and approach to cell and nucleus. The progress in cloning technology, brought the anticipation of the ability to clone an organism from each somatic cell nucleus. Therefore, the 'Cell Theory' is about to take the additional statement as "An organism arises from every nucleus". The development of gene targeting procedures which can be applied with SCNT, showed us that it may be possible to obtain different versions of the original genetic constitution of a cell. Because of this opportunity which is provided by SCNT, in reproductive cloning, it would be possible to clone enhanced organisms which can adapt to different environmental conditions and survive. Furthermore, regaining the genetic characteristics of ancestors or reverse herediter variations would be possible. On the other hand, in therapeutic cloning, more precise and easily obtainable alternatives for cell replacement therapy could be presented. However, while producing healthier or different organisms from a nucleus, it is hard to foresee the side effects influencing natural processes in long term is rather difficult.