title: The first cell cycle after transfer of somatic cell nuclei in a non-human primate.
abstract: Production of genetically identical non-human primates through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) can provide diseased genotypes for research and clarify embryonic stem cell potentials. Understanding the cellular and molecular changes in SCNT is crucial to its success. Thus the changes in the first cell cycle of reconstructed zygotes after nuclear transfer (NT) of somatic cells in the Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) were studied. Embryos were reconstructed by injecting cumulus and fibroblasts from M. fascicularis and M. silenus, into enucleated M. fascicularis oocytes. A spindle of unduplicated premature condensed chromosome (PCC spindle) from the donor somatic cell was formed at 2 hours after NT. Following activation, the chromosomes segregated and moved towards the two PCC spindle poles, then formed two nuclei. Twenty-four hours after activation, the first cell division occurred. A schematic of the first cell cycle changes following injection of a somatic cell into an enucleated oocyte is proposed. Ninety-three reconstructed embryos were transferred into 31 recipients, resulting in 7 pregnancies that were confirmed by ultrasound; unfortunately none progressed beyond 60 days.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Reprogramming and Cell Differentiation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119074 Singapore. scng@embryonics.biz
authors.forename: Soon-Chye
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Naiqing
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wan-Yue
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Swee-Lian
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liow
authors.forename: Guo-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Lay Geok
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005838:Genotype; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy