title: Preservation and Reproduction of Microminipigs by Cloning Technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microminipigs have been maintained in small populations of closed colonies, involving risks of inbreeding depression and genetic drift. In order to avoid these risks, we assessed the applicability of cloning technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female clones were produced from a stock of cryopreserved somatic cells, obtaining offspring by means of natural mating. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of original microminipigs, clones and their offspring were analyzed and recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clones presented characteristics similar to those of the cell-stock data. Although the body weight of clones tended to be heavier than that of the cell-stock data, body weights of their offspring were similar to those of previous reports. Thus, cloned microminipigs have the potential to be a valuable genetic resource for reproduction and breeding. Our proposed methodology might be useful to provide a large number of animals with adequate quality from a limited population with sufficient genetic diversity.
authors: Swine and Poultry Department, Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Animal Industry, Swine and Poultry Research Center, Shizuoka, Japan fujiyork@sp-exp.pref.shizuoka.jp.
authors: Satoko
authors: S
authors: Enya
authors: School of Agriculture, Tokai University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors: Tatsuo
authors: T
authors: Kawarasaki
authors: Swine and Poultry Department, Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Animal Industry, Swine and Poultry Research Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Masayoshi
authors: M
authors: Otake
authors: Swine and Poultry Department, Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Animal Industry, Swine and Poultry Research Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Akihisa
authors: A
authors: Kangawa
authors: Animal Bioregulation Unit, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Hirohide
authors: H
authors: Uenishi
authors: Animal Genome Unit, Division of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Livestock and Glassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Mikawa
authors: Fuji Micra Inc., Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Nishimura
authors: Fuji Micra Inc., Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Kuwahawa
authors: Swine and Poultry Department, Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Animal Industry, Swine and Poultry Research Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors: Masatoshi
authors: M
authors: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000379:methods*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D000071422:Inbreeding Depression / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Miniature pig; SCNT; clone; cryopreservation; experimental animal; full-sib; genetic drift; inbreeding; offspring; risk