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McGraw MS, Bishman JA, Daigneault BW. Efficiency of embryo complementation and pluripotency maintenance following multiple passaging of in vitro-derived bovine embryos. Reprod Fertil Dev 2024; 36:RD24018. [PMID: 38902907 DOI: 10.1071/rd24018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Current methods to obtain bovine embryos of high genetic merit include approaches that require skilled techniques for low-efficiency cloning strategies. Aims The overall goal herein was to identify the efficacy of alternative methods for producing multiple embryos through blastomere complementation while determining maintenance of cell pluripotency. Methods Bovine oocytes were fertilised in vitro to produce 4-cell embryos from which blastomeres were isolated and cultured as 2-cell aggregates using a well-of-the-well system. Aggregates were returned to incubation up to 7days (Passage 1). A second passage of complement embryos was achieved by splitting 4-cell Passage 1 embryos. Passaged embryos reaching the blastocyst stage were characterised for cell number and cell lineage specification in replicate with non-reconstructed zona-intact embryos. Key results Passage 1 and 2 embryo complements yielded 29% and 25% blastocyst development, respectively. Passage 1 embryos formed blastocysts, but with a reduction in expression of SOX2 and decreased size compared to non-reconstructed zona-intact embryos. Passage 2 embryos had a complete lack of SOX2 expression and a reduction in transcript abundance of SOX2 and SOX17, suggesting loss of pluripotency markers that primarily affected inner cell mass (ICM) and hypoblast formation. Conclusions In vitro fertilised bovine embryos can be reconstructed with multiple passaging to generate genetically identical embryos. Increased passaging drives trophectoderm cell lineage specification while compromising ICM formation. Implications These results may provide an alternative strategy for producing genetically identical bovine embryos through blastomere complementation with applications towards the development of trophoblast and placental models of early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura S McGraw
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jordan A Bishman
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Bradford W Daigneault
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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2
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Qiu X, Xiao X, Martin GB, Li N, Ling W, Wang M, Li Y. Strategies for improvement of cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/an17621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a powerful tool that is being applied in a variety of fields as diverse as the cloning and production of transgenic animals, rescue of endangered species and regenerative medicine. However, cloning efficiency is still very low and SCNT embryos generally show poor developmental competency and many abnormalities. The low efficiency is probably due to incomplete reprogramming of the donor nucleus and most of the developmental problems are thought to be caused by epigenetic defects. Applications of SCNT will, therefore, depend on improvements in the efficiency of production of healthy clones. This review has summarised the progress and strategies that have been used to make improvements in various animal species, especially over the period 2010–2017, including strategies based on histone modification, embryo aggregation and mitochondrial function. There has been considerable investiagation into the mechanisms that underpin each strategy, helping us better understand the nature of genomic reprogramming and nucleus–cytoplasm interactions.
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Buemo CP, Gambini A, Moro LN, Hiriart MI, Fernández-Martín R, Collas P, Salamone DF. Embryo Aggregation in Pig Improves Cloning Efficiency and Embryo Quality. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146390. [PMID: 26894831 PMCID: PMC4760708 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we analyzed the effects of the cloned embryo aggregation on in vitro embryo development and embryo quality by measuring blastocyst diameter and cell number, DNA fragmentation levels and the expression of genes associated with pluripotency, apoptosis, trophoblast and DNA methylation in the porcine. Zona-free reconstructed cloned embryos were cultured in the well of the well system, placing one (1x non aggregated group) or three (3x group) embryos per microwell. Our results showed that aggregation of three embryos increased blastocyst formation rate and blastocyst diameter of cloned pig embryos. DNA fragmentation levels in 3x aggregated cloned blastocysts were significantly decreased compared to 1x blastocysts. Levels of Oct4, Klf4, Igf2, Bax and Dnmt 1 transcripts were significantly higher in aggregated embryos, whereas Nanog levels were not affected. Transcripts of Cdx2 and Bcl-xl were essentially non-detectable. Our study suggests that embryo aggregation in the porcine may be beneficial for cloned embryo development and embryo quality, through a reduction in apoptotic levels and an improvement in cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Paola Buemo
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Gambini
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucia Natalia Moro
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Inés Hiriart
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rafael Fernández-Martín
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Philippe Collas
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, and Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel Felipe Salamone
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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4
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Akagi S, Matsukawa K, Takahashi S. Factors affecting the development of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos in Cattle. J Reprod Dev 2015; 60:329-35. [PMID: 25341701 PMCID: PMC4219988 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2014-057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear transfer is a complex multistep procedure that includes oocyte maturation, cell cycle synchronization of donor
cells, enucleation, cell fusion, oocyte activation and embryo culture. Therefore, many factors are believed to contribute to
the success of embryo development following nuclear transfer. Numerous attempts to improve cloning efficiency have been
conducted since the birth of the first sheep by somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, the efficiency of somatic cell
cloning has remained low, and applications have been limited. In this review, we discuss some of the factors that affect the
developmental ability of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Akagi
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Research Division, NARO Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
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5
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Gambini A, De Stefano A, Bevacqua RJ, Karlanian F, Salamone DF. The aggregation of four reconstructed zygotes is the limit to improve the developmental competence of cloned equine embryos. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110998. [PMID: 25396418 PMCID: PMC4232247 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryo aggregation has been demonstrated to improve cloning efficiency in mammals. However, since no more than three embryos have been used for aggregation, the effect of using a larger number of cloned zygotes is unknown. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine whether increased numbers of cloned aggregated zygotes results in improved in vitro and in vivo embryo development in the equine. Zona-free reconstructed embryos (ZFRE's) were cultured in the well of the well system in four different experimental groups: I. 1x, only one ZFRE per microwell; II. 3x, three per microwell; III. 4x, four per microwell; and IV. 5x, five ZFRE's per microwell. Embryo size was measured on day 7, after which blastocysts from each experimental group were either a) maintained in culture from day 8 until day 16 to follow their growth rates, b) fixed to measure DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL assay, or c) transferred to synchronized mares. A higher blastocyst rate was observed on day 7 in the 4x group than in the 5x group. Non-aggregated embryos were smaller on day 8 compared to those aggregated, but from then on the in vitro growth was not different among experimental groups. Apoptotic cells averaged 10% of total cells of day 8 blastocysts, independently of embryo aggregation. Only pregnancies resulting from the aggregation of up to four embryos per microwell went beyond the fifth month of gestation, and two of these pregnancies, derived from experimental groups 3x and 4x, resulted in live cloned foals. In summary, we showed that the in vitro and in vivo development of cloned zona-free embryos improved until the aggregation of four zygotes and declined when five reconstructed zygotes were aggregated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Gambini
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrian De Stefano
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Jimena Bevacqua
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Karlanian
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Felipe Salamone
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Akagi S, Geshi M, Nagai T. Recent progress in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer. Anim Sci J 2013; 84:191-9. [PMID: 23480698 DOI: 10.1111/asj.12035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2012] [Accepted: 11/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage at a rate similar to that of embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. However, the full-term developmental rate of SCNT embryos is very low, owing to the high embryonic and fetal losses after embryo transfer. In addition, increased birth weight and postnatal mortality are observed at high rates in cloned calves. The low efficiency of SCNT is probably attributed to incomplete reprogramming of the donor nucleus and most of the developmental problems of clones are thought to be caused by epigenetic defects. Applications of SCNT will depend on improvement in the efficiency of production of healthy cloned calves. In this review, we discuss problems and recent progress in bovine SCNT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Akagi
- Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan.
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7
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Gambini A, Jarazo J, Olivera R, Salamone DF. Equine cloning: in vitro and in vivo development of aggregated embryos. Biol Reprod 2012; 87:15, 1-9. [PMID: 22553223 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.098855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of cloned equine embryos remains highly inefficient. Embryo aggregation has not yet been tested in the equine, and it might represent an interesting strategy to improve embryo development. This study evaluated the effect of cloned embryo aggregation on in vitro and in vivo equine embryo development. Zona-free reconstructed embryos were individually cultured in microwells (nonaggregated group) or as 2- or 3-embryo aggregates (aggregated groups). For in vitro development, they were cultured until blastocyst stage and then either fixed for Oct-4 immunocytochemical staining or maintained in in vitro culture where blastocyst expansion was measured daily until Day 17 or the day on which they collapsed. For in vivo assays, Day 7-8 blastocysts were transferred to synchronized mares and resultant vesicles, and cloned embryos were measured by ultrasonography. Embryo aggregation improved blastocyst rates on a per well basis, and aggregation did not imply additional oocytes to obtain blastocysts. Embryo aggregation improved embryo quality, nevertheless it did not affect Day 8 and Day 16 blastocyst Oct-4 expression patterns. Equine cloned blastocysts expanded and increased their cell numbers when they were maintained in in vitro culture, describing a particular pattern of embryo growth that was unexpectedly independent of embryo aggregation, as all embryos reached similar size after Day 7. Early pregnancy rates were higher using blastocysts derived from aggregated embryos, and advanced pregnancies as live healthy foals also resulted from aggregated embryos. These results indicate that the strategy of aggregating embryos can improve their development, supporting the establishment of equine cloned pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Gambini
- Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Agriculture Faculty, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Update on the state of play of Animal Health and Welfare and Environmental Impact of Animals derived from SCNT Cloning and their Offspring, and Food Safety of Products Obtained from those Animals. EFSA J 2012. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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Yang QE, Fields SD, Zhang K, Ozawa M, Johnson SE, Ealy AD. Fibroblast growth factor 2 promotes primitive endoderm development in bovine blastocyst outgrowths. Biol Reprod 2011; 85:946-53. [PMID: 21778141 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.093203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Primitive endoderm (PE) is the second extraembryonic tissue to form during embryogenesis in mammals. The PE develops from pluripotent cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass. Experimental results described herein provide evidence that FGF2 stimulates PE development during bovine blastocyst development in vitro. Bovine blastocysts were cultured individually on a feeder layer-free, Matrigel-coated surface in the presence or absence of FGF2. A majority of blastocysts cultures formed outgrowths (76.8%) and the rate of outgrowth formation was not affected by FGF2 supplementation. However, supplementation with FGF2 increased the incidence of PE outgrowths on Days 13 and 15 after in vitro fertilization. Presumptive PE cultures contained cells with a phenotype distinct from trophectoderm (TE). Cell identity was validated by expression of GATA4 and GATA6 mRNA and transferrin protein, all markers of the PE lineage. Expression of GATA4 occurred coincident with blastocyst expansion and hatching. These cells did not express IFNT and CDX2 (TE lineage markers). Profiles of FGF receptor (FGFR) isoforms were distinct between PE and TE cultures. Specifically, FGFR1b and FGFR1c were the predominant FGFR transcripts in PE whereas FGFR2b transcripts were abundant in TE. Supplementation with FGF2 increased the mitotic index of PE but not TE. Moreover, FGF signaling appears important for initiation of PE formation in blastocysts, presumably by lineage committal from NANOG-positive epiblast cells, because chemical disruption of FGFR kinase activity with PD173074 reduces GATA4 expression and increases NANOG expression. Collectively, these results indicate that FGF2 and potentially other FGFs specify PE formation and mediate PE proliferation during early pregnancy in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi En Yang
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0910, USA
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AKAGI S, YAMAGUCHI D, MATSUKAWA K, MIZUTANI E, HOSOE M, ADACHI N, KUBO M, TAKAHASHI S. Developmental Ability of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transferred Embryos Aggregated at the 8-cell Stage or 16- to 32-cell Stage in Cattle. J Reprod Dev 2011; 57:500-6. [DOI: 10.1262/jrd.10-140a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi AKAGI
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Division, National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
| | - Daisuke YAMAGUCHI
- Ibaraki Prefectural North Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Ibaraki 310-0002, Japan
| | | | - Eiji MIZUTANI
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Division, National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
| | - Misa HOSOE
- National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki 305-8602, Japan
| | - Noritaka ADACHI
- Ibaraki Prefectural Livestock Research Center, Ibaraki 315-0132, Japan
| | - Masanori KUBO
- National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan
| | - Seiya TAKAHASHI
- Headquarters, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki 305-8517, Japan
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