ELECTRICALLY FUSED-EGG INDUCTION AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN THE GOLDFISH,CARASSIUS-AURATUS

In this study, we report the induction of cell fusion between two fert ilized eggs and viable chimeric fish from the fused egg in goldfish. C hemical fusion by polyethylene glycol between denuded fertilized egg i nduced egg adhesion but rarely egg fusion. This treatment seemed not s uitable for egg fusion, because of tight adhesion between vitelline me mbrane and surrounding matrix. Electrically fertilized egg fusion was successfully induced at the rate of almost 100% under conditions of 40 0V/cm, 1 MHz dielectrophoresis pulse for 3 seconds and a successive, 7 50V/cm, 10 musec fusion pulse. The treatment had to be applied to the egg in the calcium-free low electrolyte medium within 20 min of fertil ization at 20-degrees-C. Small numbers of fused eggs developed into yo ung chimeric fish, and the different cells originating from two eggs s urvived together as an individual.