The genetic heterozygosity and fitness of tetraploid embryos and embryonic stem cells are crucial parameters influencing survival of mice derived from embryonic stem cells by tetraploid embryo aggregation.
The aim of this paper was to determine whether the genetic background of tetraploid embryos contributed to the survival of mice derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells by tetraploid embryo complementation. Twenty-five newborns were produced by aggregation of hybrid ES cells and tetraploid embryos with different genetic backgrounds. These newborns were entirely derived from ES cells judged by microsatellite DNA (A specific sequence of DNA bases or nucleotides that contains mono, di, tri or tetra repeats) and coat colour phenotype and germline transmission. Fifteen survived to adulthood while seven died of respiratory failure. All newborns were derived from outbred or hybrid tetraploid aggregates and no newborns were from the inbreds. Our results demonstrate that the genetic heterozygosity, fitness of tetraploid embryos and fitness of ES cells are crucial parameters influencing survival of mice derived from ES cells by tetraploid embryo aggregation. In addition, this method represents a simple and efficient procedure for immediate generation of targeted mouse mutants from genetically modified ES cell clones, in contrast to the standard protocol, which involves the production of chimeras and several breeding steps.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China, College of Life Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. lixiangyun35@yahoo.com.cn
Xiangyun
X
Li
Wei
W
Wei
Jun
J
Yong
Qing
Q
Jia
Yuansong
Y
Yu
Keqian
K
Di
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D020964:Embryo Loss; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006579:Heterozygote; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011123:Polyploidy; D013045:Species Specificity; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA