Blastocyst Formation and Chromosome Statuses of Reconstructed Embryos Derived from Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer iSCNT

Objective To analyze the blastocyst formation and chromosome statuses of reconstructed embryos derived from human-goat interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT), exploring the development retardant factors. Methods Human specific point probes cep2, cep6, tel2 and 13q14.2, 21q22.13 combining fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) technology were used to test trophectoderm cells of blastocyst and blastomeres of development arrest nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. Results A total of 209 reconstructed embryos were recovered, and the rate of blastocyst formation was 3.8% (8/209). FISH signals showed that chromosomal abnormalities were present in 2 blastocysts (2/8) and 146 development arrest embryos (146/201). Conclusions The rate of blastocyst formation is low, and reconstituted embryos of development arrest showed extensive chromosome abnormalities, suggesting that a chromosomal mechanism may underlie their developmental arrest.