Nuclear transfer and oocyte cryopreservation.
Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to a totipotent state through nuclear transfer or cloning, because it has been demonstrated that the oocyte has the ability to reprogramme an adult nucleus into an embryonic state that can initiate the development of a new organism. Therapeutic cloning, whereby nuclear transfer is used to derive patient-specific embryonic stem cells, embraces an entire new opportunity for regenerative medicine. However, a key obstacle for human therapeutic cloning is that the source of fresh human oocytes is extremely limited. In the present review, we propose prospective sources of human oocytes by using oocyte cryopreservation, such as an oocyte bank and immature oocytes. We also address some potential issues associated with nuclear transfer when using cryopreserved oocytes. In the future, if the efficacy and efficiency of cryopreserved oocytes are comparable to those of fresh oocytes in human therapeutic cloning, the use of cryopreserved oocytes would be invaluable and generate a great impact to regenerative medicine.
Chang
Ching-Chien
CC
Reproductive Biology Associates, 1150 Lake Hearn Dr, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA.
Sung
Li-Ying
LY
Amano
Tomokazu
T
Tian
X Cindy
XC
Yang
Xiangzhong
X
Nagy
Zsolt Peter
ZP
D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends