Valproic acid enhances in vitro development and Oct-3/4 expression of miniature pig somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos.
The present study was carried out to examine the effects of valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on in vitro development of miniature pig somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos and on expression of a mouse Oct-3/4 promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene (EGFP expression only detected in Oct-3/4-expressing cells) introduced into donor cells for SCNT during their development. The addition of 4 mM VPA to embryo culture medium for 48 h after activation significantly (p < 0.01) increased the blastocyst formation rate of SCNT embryos compared with the control, whereas VPA did not affect their cleavage rate. The rate of SCNT embryos expressing EGFP at 5 days of culture was not affected by the presence or absence of VPA treatment. At 7 days of culture, however, the addition of 4 mM VPA to embryo culture medium for 48 h after activation significantly (p < 0.05) increased the rate of SCNT embryos expressing EGFP compared with the control. The results indicate that VPA enhances the ability of miniature pig SCNT embryos to develop into blastocysts and maintains the ability of them to express Oct-3/4 gene.
Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan. kmiyoshi@agri.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Kazuchika
K
Miyoshi
Hironori
H
Mori
Yamato
Y
Mizobe
Eri
E
Akasaka
Akio
A
Ozawa
Mitsutoshi
M
Yoshida
Masahiro
M
Sato
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000196:embryology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection / Q000662:veterinary; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D014635:Valproic Acid