Abstract

Modern reproductive technologies are using cultured cells for the reconstruction of embryos. Cultured cells, however, can acquire abnormal karyotypes and, if not diagnosed, will compromise correct embryonic development. This manuscript briefly describes the evaluation of the karyotypes of cells used either for nuclear transfer or blastocyst aggregation to reconstruct embryos. Tetraploidy was found to be the major deviation from the normal diploid set of chromosomes. Most of the primary bovine and ovine cell lines derived from adult skin tissue contained cells with an abnormal chromosome number (75%). The percentage of abnormal cells was in the range of 0-55%. A higher proportion of clonally derived foetal cell lines had a normal karyotype (74%). Although two abnormal cell lines of this class contained only tetraploid cells, which is most likely due to the clonal nature of their derivation. In contrast, all clonal mouse embryonic stem-cell lines (four) were karyotypically normal.

M, Olifent, AL Miller, A Beaton, P L'Huillier, DN Wells, and G Laible

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 62, Palmerston North, 199-201, 2002