Cytoplasmic control of preimplantation development in vitro in the mouse (original) (raw)

Nature volume 299, pages 460–462 (1982) Cite this article

Abstract

Although the embryos of certain mammals, including man, can be cultured in vitro through several cleavage divisions1,2, it is only in the mouse that complete development through the preimplantation period (one-cell to the blastocyst stage3) occurs without affecting subsequent embryonic viability after transfer1,4. But even in the mouse, development in vitro from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage is restricted to certain inbred strains and F_1 hybrids1,3,5,6. In most randomly bred strains the one-cell embryo becomes blocked at the two-cell stage in vitro and it will only continue development if transferred back into the oviduct7. Here we present evidence that this so-called ‘_in vitro two-cell block’ can be obviated by injecting small amounts of cytoplasm from embryos which do not exhibit this block.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Whittingham, D. G. in The Early Development of Mammals (eds Balls, M. & Wild, A. E.) 1–24 (Cambridge University Press, London, 1975).
    Google Scholar
  2. Whittingham, D. G. Br. med. Bull. 35, 105–111 (1979).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. Whitten, W. K. & Biggers, J. D. J. Reprod. Fert. 17, 399–401 (1968).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  4. Hoppe, P. C. & Pitts, S. Biol. Reprod. 8, 420–426 (1973).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  5. Biggers, J. D. in The Biology of the Blastocyst (ed. Blandau, R. J.) 319–327 (University of Chicago Press, 1971).
    Google Scholar
  6. Shire, J. G. M. & Whitten, W. K. Biol. Reprod. 23, 369–376 (1980).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  7. Whittingham, D. G. & Biggers, J. D. Nature 213, 942–943 (1967).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  8. Fulton, B. & Whittingham, D. G. Nature 272, 149–151 (1978).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  9. Whittingham, D. G. J. Reprod. Fert. Suppl. 14, 7–21 (1971).
    CAS Google Scholar
  10. Siracusa, G., Whittingham, D. G. & De Felici, M. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 60, 71–82 (1980).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  11. Lo, C. W. & Gilula, N. B. Cell 18, 399–409 (1979).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  12. Young, R. J., Sweeney, K. & Bedford, J. M. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 44, 133–148 (1978).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  13. Levey, I. L., Stull, G. B. & Brinster, R. L. Devl Biol. 64, 140–148 (1978).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Clegg, K. B. & Piko, L. Nature 295, 342–345 (1982).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  15. Quinn, P. & Wales, R. G. J. Reprod. Fert. 35, 301–309 (1973).
    Article CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Audrey Muggleton-Harris & D. G. Whittingham
    Present address: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01609, USA
  2. Lynette Wilson
    Present address: MRC Mammalian Development Unit, Wolfson House, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HE

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Laboratory Animals Centre, Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SMS 4EF, UK
    Audrey Muggleton-Harris, D. G. Whittingham & Lynette Wilson

Authors

  1. Audrey Muggleton-Harris
  2. D. G. Whittingham
  3. Lynette Wilson

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Muggleton-Harris, A., Whittingham, D. & Wilson, L. Cytoplasmic control of preimplantation development in vitro in the mouse.Nature 299, 460–462 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299460a0

Download citation

This article is cited by