Nuclear transfer of mouse follicular epithelial cells pretreated with spermine, protamine, or putrescine

The in vitro and in vivo developmental potential of nuclear transferred emb ryos receiving follicular epithelial cells pretreated with spermine (5 and 20 mM), protamine (0.25 and 25 mg/ml), or putrescine (1 and 100 mug/ml) at room and reduced temperatures was examined in the mouse. The pretreated don or cells were first fused with enucleated oocytes, and then nuclei from rec onstituted eggs at the two-cell stage were fused with the enucleated fertil ized two-cell embryos. The proportion of reconstituted embryos that develop ed into blastocysts was not significantly different among groups. After tra nsfer to recipients, implantation rates were not different between groups a nd fetuses were obtained in protamine- and spermine-treated groups as well as in control groups. These results demonstrate that pretreatment of nuclea r donor cells with spermine, protamine, or putrescine does not enhance the developmental potential in vitro or in vivo in the mouse. (C) 2001 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.