Differentiation diversity of mouse parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells in chimeric mice

Theriogenology. 2010 Jul 1;74(1):135-45. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.01.024. Epub 2010 Mar 7.

Abstract

Recent studies have illustrated multiple differentiation potentials of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), derived from parthenogenetic embryos, to various kinds of cells (all three embryonic germ layers). However, differentiation diversity of the parthenogenetic ESCs (PgESCs) in vivo remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we established mouse PgESC-lines and observed their contribution diversity in vivo by producing chimeric mice using embryos possessing single nucleotide polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as hosts. Based on southern blot analysis using specific probes to detect the SNPs on mtDNA, PgESC-derived mtDNA were contained in many organs such as brain, lung, and heart of the chimeric mouse. We concluded that PgESCs contributed to various internal organs in vivo, and that they were also stably maintained in adult animals.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastocyst / cytology
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chimera / genetics*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / analysis
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Genetic Variation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Parthenogenesis*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / chemistry
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial