Cloned rabbits produced by nuclear transfer from adult somatic cells.
We have developed a method to produce live somatic clones in the rabbit, one of the mammalian species considered up to now as difficult to clone. To do so, we have modified current cloning protocols proven successful in other species by taking into account both the rapid kinetics of the cell cycle of rabbit embryos and the narrow window of time for their implantation after transfer into foster recipients. Although our method still has a low level of efficiency, it has produced several clones now proven to be fertile. Our work indicates that cloning can probably be carried out successfully in any mammalian species by taking into account physiological features of their oocytes and embryos. Our results will contribute to extending the use of rabbit models for biomedical research.
Chesné
Patrick
P
Unité de Biologie du Développement et Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, F-78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Adenot
Pierre G
PG
Viglietta
Céline
C
Baratte
Michel
M
Boulanger
Laurent
L
Renard
Jean-Paul
JP
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000379:methods*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits