• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to examine the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during micromanipulation procedures in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Bovine enucleated oocytes were electrofused with donor cells, activated by a combination of Ca-ionophore and 6-dimethylaminopurine culture. Oocytes and embryos were stained in dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate or 3'-(p-hydroxyphenyl) fluorescein dye and the $H_2O_2$ or $^.OH$ radical levels were measured. $In$ $vitro$ fertilization (IVF) was performed for controls. The samples were examined with a fluorescent microscope, and fluorescence intensity was analyzed in each oocyte and embryo. The $H_2O_2$ and $^.OH$ radical levels of reconstituted oocytes were increased during manipulation (37.2~49.7 and 51.0~55.2 pixels, respectively) as compared to those of mature oocytes ($p$<0.05). During early $In$ $vitro$ culture, the ROS levels of SCNT embryos were significantly higher than those of IVF embryos ($p$<0.05). These results suggest that the cellular stress during micromanipulation procedures can generate the ROS in bovine SCNT embryos.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2010

We investigated the microtubule dynamics, including the inheritance of donor centrosomes and the mitotic spindle assembly occurring during the first mitosis of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos in pigs. SCNT embryos were fixed 15 min and 1 h after fusion in order to assess the inheritance pattern of the donor centrosome. The distribution and dynamic of the centrosome and microtubule during the first mitotic phase of SCNT embryos were also evaluated. The frequency of embryos evidencing $\gamma$-tubulin spots (centrosome) was 93.2% in the SCNT embryos 15 min after fusion. In the majority of the SCNT embryos (61.5%), however, no centrosome was observed 1 h after fusion. The frequency of the embryos with no or abnormal mitotic spindles 20 h after fusion was 19.6%. The $\gamma$-tubulin spots were detected near the nuclei of somatic cells regardless of cell cycle phase, whereas $\gamma$-tubulin spots in the SCNT embryos were observed only during the inter-anaphase transition. These results showed that the donor centrosome is inherited into the SCNT embryos, but failed to assemble the normal mitotic spindles during first mitotic phase in some SCNT embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.215-219
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the reproductive characteristics of cloned miniature piglets produced from surrogate domestic pigs. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) miniature pig embryos were transferred into domestic pigs. As controls, domestic pigs of the same breed with surrogates for SCNT embryos and miniature pigs of the same breed with the somatic cell donor were bred by artificial insemination and natural mating, respectively. Surrogate domestic pigs that farrowed cloned miniature piglets had a significantly longer gestation length (118.1 days) than conventionally bred domestic (115.4 days) and miniature (115.5 days) pigs. Furthermore, the birth weight of cloned miniature piglets produced from domestic pigs (743 g) was significantly greater than that of miniature piglets produced by natural breeding (623 g). Also, cloned miniature piglets had a significantly lower weaning rate (49.7%) than conventionally produced domestic (91.5%) and miniature (100%) piglets. No differences were observed between female and male cloned piglets in gestation length, litter size, birth weight, or weaning rate. Our results demonstrate that gestation length is extended in domestic pigs that are transferred with SCNT miniature pig embryos and that cloned miniature piglets have increased birth weight and high pre-weaning mortality.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.425-434
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• 2017

Polyploidy is occurred by the process of endomitosis or cell fusion and usually represent terminally differentiated stage. Their effects on the developmental process were mainly investigated in the amphibian and fishes, and only observed in some rodents as mammalian model. Recently, we have established tetraploidy somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived human embryonic stem cells (SCNT-hESCs) and examined whether it could be available as a research model for the polyploidy cells existed in the human tissues. Two tetraploid hESC lines were artificially acquired by reintroduction of remained 1st polar body during the establishment of SCNT-hESC using MII oocytes obtained from female donors and dermal fibroblasts (DFB) from a 35-year-old adult male. These tetraploid SCNT-hESC lines (CHA-NT1 and CHA-NT3) were identified by the cytogenetic genotyping (91, XXXY,-6, t[2:6] / 92,XXXY,-12,+20) and have shown of indefinite proliferation, but slow speed when compared to euploid SCNT-hESCs. Using the eight Short Tendem Repeat (STR) markers, it was confirmed that both CHA-NT1 and CHA-NT3 lines contain both nuclear and oocyte donor genotypes. These hESCs expressed pluripotency markers and their embryoid bodies (EB) also expressed markers of the three embryonic germ layers and formed teratoma after transplantation into immune deficient mice. This study showed that tetraploidy does not affect the activities of proliferation and differentiation in SCNT-hESC. Therefore, tetraploid hESC lines established after SCNT procedure could be differentiated into various types of cells and could be an useful model for the study of the polyploidy cells in the tissues.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2001

The cell cycle phase in which donor nuclei exist prior to nuclear transfer is an important factor governing developmental rates of reconstituted embryos. It was suggested that quiescent G0 and cycling G1 cells could support normal development of reconstituted embryos. In a quest of optimized donor nuclei treatment prior to nuclear transfer, this study was undertaken to examine the cell cycle characteristics of bovine fetal and adult somatic cells when cultured under a variety of culture treatments and the cell cycle change with the lapse of time after trypsinization. This was archived by measuring the DNA content of cells using flow cytometry, Cultured fetal fibroblast cells, adult skin and muscle cells, and cumulus cells were divided by 3 culture treatments; 1) grown to 60-70% confluency (cycling), 2) serum starved culture, 3) culture to confluency. Trypsinized cells were fixed by 70% ethanol and stained with propidium iodide. For one experiment, trypsinized cells were resuspended in DMEM＋10% FBS and incubated for 1.5, 3 and 6 h with occasional shaking before ethanol fixation. Cell cycle phases were determined by flow cytometry enabling calculation of percentages of G0＋G1, S and G2＋M. The majority of cells were in G0＋Gl stage regardless of origin of cells. Cultures that were serum starved or cultured to confluency contained significantly (P<0.05) higher percentages of cells in G0＋G1 (89.5-95.4%). For every cell lines and culture treatments, percentages of cells in existing in G0＋G1 increased with decreasing of the cell size from large to small. In the serum starved and confluency groups, about 98% of small cells were in G0＋G1 Serum starved culture contained higher percentages of small-sized cells (38.5-66.9%) than cycling and confluent cultures regardless of cell lines (P<0.05). After trypsinization of fetal fibroblast and adult skin cells that were serum starved and cultured to confluency, the percentages of cells in G0＋G1 significantly increased by incubation for 1.5(95.7-99.5%) and 3.0 h (95.9-98.6%). The results suggest that the efficient synchronization of bovine somatic cells in G0＋G1 for nuclear transfer can be established by incubation for a limited time period after trypsinization of serum starved or confluent cells.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.388-395
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• 2015

Somatic embryogenesis is as an excellent technology for potential use in plant mass production, germplasm conservation, or genetic engineering. We examined the effect of cold storage using 3 embryogenic callus lines with different levels of embryogenesis competence derived from immature zygotic embryo cultures of Kalopanax setemlobus. Somatic embryo induction, germination and plant conversion were evaluated after 1, 3 and 6 months storage at $4^{\circ}C$ in the dark. Most cold-stored embryogenic calli formed somatic embryos normally even after 6 months; however, the induction rate was gradually decreased by increasing the storage period. The most competent line tended to show a slight decline in somatic embryo induction rate, as compared with other lines after cold storage. In general, cold storage resulted in reduced somatic embryo germination and plant regeneration, although 93% somatic embryo germination and 91% plant conversion were achieved regardless of the storage period. Cold storage led to cell browning and degradation. Additionally, the cell structures were confirmed by the aceto-carmine and evans blue dye evaluation. Collectively, our results showed that embryogenic callus of K. septemlobus could be preserved at $4^{\circ}C$ without subculture for 6 months, and suggested the need for storage of relatively more competent embryogenic calli lines to support somatic embryo induction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.43-55
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• 2002

Cloning by nuclear transfer in mammals using somatic cells has enormous potential applications. However, somatic cloning has been inefficient in all species in which NT is successful. High abortion and fetal death rates have been observed. These developmental defects have been attributed to incomplete nuclear reprogramming by the somatic cloning process. In this review, we will discuss studies conducted in our labs to understand the nuclear reprogramming process.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.66-66
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• 2001

Since the first birth of pig derived from embryonic cells by nuclear transfer, many researches to produce cloned pig have been carried out. Recently, two reports about the birth of somatic cell cloned pigs using in vivo oocytes and also Betthauser et al. (2000) reported the birth of somatic cell cloned pigs using in vitro oocytes. So here we investigated the effect of activation method and culture medium on in vitro development of porcine nuclear transfer embryo using fetal fibroblast. Oocytes derived from slaughter house obtained ovaries were matured for 42 to 44 h in TCM 199. Matured oocytes were denuded using 0.1% hyaluronidase and then Oocytes with the first polar body were used for enucleation by aspirating the first polar body and adjacent cytoplasm in TCM 199 supplemented with 7.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$ cytochalasin B. Petal fibroblast cells were prepared from 35 days old fetus. To be used as donor cells, fetal fibroblast cells were serum starved for 3 to 5 days and then isolated into single co:1 by trypsinization. Nuclear transfer embryos were fused using 2 times 1.25㎸ for 30$mutextrm{s}$. Fused NT embryos were activated with calcium ionophore (CI) and 6-dimethyl-aminopurine (6-DMAP). Activated oocytes were cultured in NCSU 23 or BECM 3 for 6 days. There was no significant difference between chemical activation and no chemical activation for blastocyst development rate(11.6 vs. 14.8%). However, cell number was significantly higher when NT embryos were activated with CI and 6-DMAP (31.2 vs. 22.6). When NT embryos were cultured in NCSU 23 or BECM 3, blastocyst development rate was 16.4 and 13.2%, respectively, and cell number was 31.5 and 24.1, respectively. These results suggest that chemical activation after fusion and culture in NCSU 23 could increase cell number of porcine NT embryos.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2020

The establishment of porcine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) blastocysts is influenced by in vitro culture day of porcine reconstructed embryo and feeder cell type. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine the optimal in vitro culture period for reconstructed porcine SCNT embryos and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cell type for enhancing colony formation efficiency from the inner cell mass (ICM) of porcine SCNT blastocysts and their outgrowth. As the results, porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of the reconstructed embryos for 8 days showed significantly increased efficiency in the formation of colonies, compared to those for 7 days. Moreover, MEF feeder cells derived from outbred ICR mice showed numerically the highest efficiency of colony formation in blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of porcine SCNT embryos for 8 days and porcine ESCs with typical ESC morphology were maintained more successfully over Passage 2 on outbred ICR mice-derived MEF feeder cells than on MEF feeder cells derived from inbred C57BL/6 and hybrid B6CBAF1 mice. Overall, the harmonization of porcine SCNT blastocysts produced through in vitro culture of the reconstructed embryos for 8 days and MEF feeder cells derived from outbred ICR mice will greatly contribute to the successful establishment of ESCs derived from porcine SCNT blastocysts.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2019

We examined the effects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitor treatment during the micromanipulation of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) on the in vitro development of SCNT embryos. ER stress inhibitors such as salubrinal (200 nM) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA; $100{\mu}M$) were added to the micromanipulation medium and holding medium. The expression of X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1), ER-stress-associated genes, and apoptotic genes in SCNT embryos was confirmed at the one-cell and blastocyst stages. Levels of Xbp1 splicing and expression of ER-stress-associated genes in SCNT embryos at the one-cell stage decreased significantly with TUDCA treatment (p<0.05). The expression of ER-stress-associated genes also decreased slightly with the addition of both salubrinal and TUDCA (Sal+TUD). The expression levels of caspase-3 and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) mRNA were also significantly lower in the TUDCA and Sal+TUD treatments (p<0.05). At the blastocyst stage, there were no differences in levels of Xbp1 splicing, and transcription of ER-stress-associated genes and apoptosis genes between control and treatment groups. However, the blastocyst formation rate (20.2%) and mean blastocyst cell number ($63.0{\pm}7.2$) were significantly higher (p<0.05) for embryos in the TUDCA treatment compared with those for control (12.6% and $41.7{\pm}3.1$, respectively). These results indicate that the addition of ER-stress inhibitors, especially TUDCA, during micromanipulation can inhibit cellular damage and enhance in vitro development of SCNT embryos by reducing stress levels in the ER.