Stem cell-like outgrowths from <i style="">in vitro</i> fertilized goat blastocysts

Abstract

<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="metricconverter"> With an aim to isolate, culture and characterize goat embryonic stem cell-like cells derived from <i style="">in vitro</i> fertilized goat blastocysts, slaughterhouse derived goat oocytes were <i style="">in vitro</i> matured in maturation medium in 5% CO₂air at 38.5^oC. Matured oocytes were fertilized <i style="">in vitro</i> with fresh capacitated spermatozoa. Total 636 (36.5%) cleaved embryos were obtained which were further co-cultured with goat oviductal epithelial cells (GOEC) for 7-10 days. GOEC culture system was better for formation of morula (150; 44.3%) and hatched blastocyst (13; 3.8%) than embryo development medium culture system, [morula (69; 23.1%) and hatched blastocyst (5; 1.6%)]. Out of total blastocysts (48) the primary colonies were formed in 23.3% (7/30) blastocysts, and 66.6% (12/18) of hatched blastocysts. The cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) derived primary colonies were small, aggregated and tightly packed in nature forming embryoid bodies on further subculture. The colonies were stained to see the expression of alkaline phosphatase and positive result was obtained. Goat embryonic stem cell like outgrowths were also characterized for Oct-4 expression and positive result was found. It could be concluded that ICM cells were isolated from <i style="">in vitro</i> fertilized goat blastocysts and cultured for embryonic stem cell-like cells and expression of alkaline phosphatase and Oct-4 in these cells were positive. </smarttagtype>