35 EFFECT OF CULTURE AT LOW OR ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN TENSION IN SOMATIC DONOR CELLS FOR HORSE NUCLEAR TRANSFER

Abstract

Somatic donor cells play a major role during the NT procedure. In vitro culture conditions may affect the capability of these cells to be reprogrammed and to allow embryo development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of in vitro culture at low (5%) or atmospheric (20%) oxygen tension in somatic donor cells for cloned equine embryo production. Adult fibroblasts were obtained through culture of minced tissue from neck biopsies of one horse skin. They were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% antibiotics in 2 groups: (1) 5% CO₂ and (2) 5% CO₂ and 5% O₂, both groups in humidified air at 39°C. Quiescence of donor cells was induced by growth to confluency for 3 to 5 days prior to NT. Oocyte collection, maturation, cloning, and activation procedures were performed as described by Gambini et al. (2012 Biol. Reprod. 87, 1–9.). After activation, reconstructed embryos (RE) were cultured in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 5% FBS in the well of the well system as 3 reconstructed embryos per well. Cleavage and blastocyst formation (7–8 days) of the experimental groups were assessed. In vitro development, on a per-well and RE basis, was compared using the chi-square test. No statistical differences were observed in cleavage [(1): 48/84, 57%; (2): 54/87, 62%). No difference was observed in blastocyst rates on a per-well basis [(1): 5/28, 18%; (2): 4/29, 14%] or on a per-RE basis [(1): 5/84, 6%; (2): 4/87, 5%]. This work suggests that the oxygen tension during the in vitro culture of somatic donor cells does not affect the quantity of the cloned equine blastocyst produced. Further studies are required to determine if these conditions would affect in vivo embryo development.