Reproductive fertility of cloned male cats derived from adult somatic cell nuclear transfer.
This study was designed to investigate the reproductive fertility by the natural breeding of cloned male cats with domestic female cats, and to measure endocrine hormone concentration related to male reproduction such as testosterone, leutinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Cloned A, B, C, and D cats produced three, two, four, and five kittens after natural mating with four domestic female cats, respectively, despite later puberty of the cloned D cat than those of the other cloned male cats. Three of the 14 kittens expressed an odd eye color, which was produced by 1 and 2 from cloned A and B cats. The eye color of the other F1 kittens varied from nine brown to two blue. Body weight at birth ranged from 72.9 to 134.0 g. Although clone D had a poorer libido and entered puberty later than those of the other cloned male cats, he produced gonadal hormones within the average range. Four of the cloned male cats had normal fertility. The concentration of gonadal hormones in cloned male cats was similar to two control and donor cats. The concentration of testosterone was not significantly different among clones A, B, C, D, and control cats (5.99 +/- 5.68; 3.46 +/- 2.81; 6.41 +/- 2.17; 3.75 +/- 0.34; 4.0 +/- 3.63 ng/mL, p < 0.05). The concentrations of LH and FSH were not significantly different among the cloned cats (p < 0.05). Seven male and seven female (in total 14) kittens were produced by the natural breeding with four domestic female cats. These results indicated that cloned male cats have normal reproductive fertility and lie within the normal range of gonadal hormone production. All F1 kittens were produced by natural breeding and delivery, and are still alive and have normal growth health (27 months age).
Choi
Eu-Gene
EG
Department of Animal Science & Technology, Sunchon National University, JeonNam Province, S. Korea.
Yin
Xi-Jun
XJ
Lee
Hyo-Sang
HS
Kim
Lyoung-Ho
LH
Shin
Hyoung-Doo
HD
Kim
Nam-Hyung
NH
Kong
Il-Keun
IK
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002415:Cats; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D005127:Eye Color / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone