Abstract
The golden hamster is a well-established model system for studies of morphology, reproductive physiology, oncology, genetics and virology. The aim of this study was to establish experimental protocols necessary for cloning the golden hamster; we examined and optimized conditions for parthenogenesis and cleavage of its oocytes. We tested oocytes of different ages, including 15 h after Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), with two treatments: (1) an electrical pulse ranging from 10 to 600 V/mm and (2) incubation for 2 to 6 h in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP). These two conditions were tested both separately and in combination. We found that (i) in oocytes of different ages, cleavage exhibits a strength-dependent increase; (ii) 6-DMAP stimulates oocyte cleavage, but the cleavage rates are significantly low; and (iii) a combined treatment is more effective than a treatment with 6-DMAP alone, and is comparable to those achieved with high pulse stimuli. These results elucidate certain parameters important for the cloning of the golden hamster species.
Highlights
The golden hamster is an excellent model organism for many research fields
Previous studies have reported that parthenogenetic activation of oocytes from several species may be induced by chemical reagents, including calcium ionophore [3], strontium (Sr2+ ) [4], ethanol [5], cycloheximide [6], 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) [7], as well as by electrical stimulation [8]
In order to elucidate the parameters important for golden hamster cloning, we studied in detail the effect of different intensities of electrical pulse stimulations on the cleavage of oocytes. 6-DMAP are known to accelerate and enhance the formation of pronuclei [12]
Summary
The golden hamster is an excellent model organism for many research fields. It represents an attractive species for studies ranging from morphology, reproductive physiology, oncology, genetics and virology. Previous studies have reported that parthenogenetic activation of oocytes from several species may be induced by chemical reagents, including calcium ionophore [3], strontium (Sr2+ ) [4], ethanol [5], cycloheximide [6], 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) [7], as well as by electrical stimulation [8]. Despite these findings, the activation and cleavage induction of oocytes remains one of the least efficient steps in the nuclear transplantation process
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