[DNA methylation patterns of mouse tetraploid embryos].
In the present study, the DNA methylation patterns of in vitro-derived mouse tetraploid embryos were investigated by immunofluorescence staining with an antibody against 5-methylcytosine (5MeC). Tetraploid embryos could be produced by electrofusion at the stage of two-cell embryos, which could develop to blastocysts followed by fusion of cytoplasm and nucleus and cleavage in vitro. During the fusion of cytoplasm, the DNA methylation levels of the fused embryos are as high as these of two-cell diploid embryos in vivo Then the embryos are rapidly demethylated when the nucleus begin to fuse, resulting in the lowest DNA methylation levels when the nucleus are fused completely. After that, the DNA methylation levels of the fused embryos are gradually increased until the morula stage. However, whereas an asymmetric distribution of DNA methylation is established in vivo-derived blastocysts with a higher methylation level in the inner cell mass (ICM) than that in the trophectoderm, we can not detect the asymmetric distribution in most in vitro-derived tetraploid blastocysts. So the DNA methylation patterns of mouse tetraploid embryos are aberrant, which may lead to subsequent developmental failure and embryo death. This is the first report on the methylation patterns of in vitro-derived mouse tetraploid embryos.
Yun
Xin-Xu
XX
Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resourses and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China. yunxinxu@tom.com
Feng
Shu-Tang
ST
Pan
Deng-Ke
DK
Dou
Hong-Wei
HW
Mu
Yu-Lian
YL
Li
Kui
K
D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004171:Diploidy; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011123:Polyploidy; D011247:Pregnancy