Postimplantation Development of Cloned Rabbit Embryos Reconstructed with Foetal and Adult Skin-Derived Fibroblast Cell Nuclei

The aim of the study was to determine the postimplantation developmental potential of nuclear transfer (NT) derived rabbit embryos, which were reconstructed with foetal fibroblast (FF) or adult skin fibroblast (AF) cell nuclei. A total of 97 embryos reconstructed with FF cell nuclei (Group I) were transferred into the oviducts of 6 pseudopregnant recipients and 101 embryos reconstructed with AF cell nuclei (Group II) were transferred to 6 foster mothers. The presence of fetuses (with the symptoms of early resorption of amniotic sacs) was confirmed in the 4/6 (66.7%) and 1/6 (16.7%) recipient-females in Group I and Group II, respectively. The implantation rate was significantly higher for cloned embryos originating from the oocytes receiving foetal fibroblasts than for those derived from adult skin fibroblasts (P<0.1). Nonetheless, all pregnancies were lost and no progeny were obtained.