Studies on the Polyethylene Glycol-induced Fusion of Two-cell Mouse Embryo Blastomeres

Polyethylene Glycol 처리에 의한 생쥐 2세포기배의 분할구 융합에 관한 연구

This study was conducted to develop a simple and efficient technique for fusing 2-cell mouse embryos to obtain tertraploid embryos. Various concentration of PEG and exposure times were compared in order to determine the best condition for fusion and subsequent of fused embryos. The results obtained were follows ; 1. The incidence of fusion induction treated with 40% PEG(70.8%) and 45%(62.7%) for 60 sec. exposure were higher than those of 40% and 45% PEG for 30 sec., 90 sec., or 120 sec. exposure group. Also, the highest incidence of fusion induction(76.9%) was achieved with 120 sec. exposure at 50% PEG concentration. 2. Fused embryos after PEG treatment were cleavaged 2-to 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst at 20-24 hr., 30-34., 44-52 hr., respectively, and were not different from those obtained fleshly. 3. The high proportions of the embryos developed to blastocysts after blastomere fusion with 40% PEG for 60 sec., 45% PEG for 60 sec. and 50% for 120 sec. were 66.7%(42/63), 69.0%(29/42) and 32.0%(16/50), respectively, this trend indicated that the fusion rate was similar to the incidence of fused embryos forming blastocysts. 4. The cell number of blastocyst developed from fused embryos(18.7 2.6) was samller than that of untreated embryos(48.9 1.69)