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We evaluated the possibility of deriving primary cell cultures from tissue biopsies taken in field conditions from six threaten endemic Chilean species of free-ranging mammals. Biopsies were taken either by ear punching or darts fired to animals and hold in hypothermic conditions (4 degrees C) in defined salt solution for time periods ranging from 0 to 7 d before biopsy samples reached the cell culture laboratory. Previously, holding times were evaluated in experimental cows in controlled conditions. Two enzymatic treatments, collagenase alone or collagenase followed by tripsin, were used to disaggregate tissues for cell culture. We found that ear notches and dart-derived biopsies can be storaged at 4 degrees C for 1 wk and still yield primary cultures. For dart-derived biopsies, there was an invert correlation between length of cold storage and cellular viability in culture. Healthy fibroblast cell lines were obtained in 92% of the biopsies taken despite the origin (punch or biopsy). We are not aware of similar study for free-ranging animals, especially for the use of darting system to biopsy wild terrestrial mammals, we believe that our results could help for a more widespread implementation of these procedures in the practice of ex situ conservation.

Purpose In order to simplify cloning, a new method that does not require micromanipulators was used. We aimed to evaluate the developmental potential of two bovine cell lines upon cloning. Materials and methods In vitro matured bovine oocytes, were released from zona pellucida, enucleated, fused to foetal or adult somatic donor cells. The reconstructed embryos were reprogrammed, activated and cultured until blastocyst stage. No micromanipulators were used. Blastocyst rate and quality was scored. Some expanded (d7) blastocysts were transferred to recipient cattle and collected back at d17 to assess elongation. Results High developmental potential in vitro of cloned embryos to expanded (d7) blastocysts was achieved (52.6%). In one cell line, 65.7% of blastocysts was scored. Most blastocysts (87.4%) were graded as excellent. In vivo development to elongation (day-17) in temporary recipient cows also showed a high developmental potential (11/18 transferred blastocysts elongated). Conclusions Hand-made cloning is an efficient alternative for cloning in cattle.

The outcome of the process of cloning by nuclear transfer depends on multiple factors that affect its efficiency. Donor cells should be carefully selected for their use in somatic nuclear transfer, and the protocols used for keeping frozen cell banks are of cardinal importance. Here we studied the effect of two protocols for freezing donor cells on fusion rate and development into blastocysts. Our hypothesis is that freezing affects cell membranes in a way that interferes with the fusion process upon cloning but without hampering normal cell development in vitro. We found that freezing cell lines without controlling the cooling rate gives lower yields in the fusion step and in the final development into blastocysts, compared with cells frozen with a controlled cooling rate of approximately 1 degrees C/min. Transmission electron microscopy of the cells subjected to different freezing procedures showed major damage to the cells frozen with a non-controlled protocol. We conclude that freezing of donor cells for cloning is a critical step in the procedure and should be monitored carefully using a method that allows for a step-wise, controlled cooling rate.

RESUMENEn este estudio se demuestra el uso de la transferencia nuclear de células somáticas para producir los primeros bovinos clonados en el Perú. Se obtuvieron fibroblastos de piel y células de cúmulos de donantes adultos para ser usados como carioplastos; asimismo, ovocitos obtenidos a partir de ovarios de camal fueron madurados in vitro por 24 h. Los ovocitos madurados se incubaron 2 h en demecolcina (2.5 µg/ml) para promover la formación del cono con el plato metafásico y para orientar la enucleación manual. Se eliminó la zona pelúcida en pronasa (2 mg/ml) por 3 min. La enucleación fue manual con una microcuchilla dividiendo el óvulo en dos mitades, donde las mitades carentes de núcleo fueron fusionadas por el método «sandwich» (citoplasto-fibroblasto-citoplasto) por electrofusión. Las estructuras reconstruidas se activaron químicamente mediante incubación por 5 min en 7% de etanol absoluto, seguido por 5 h de citocalacina B (5µg/ml) y cicloheximida (10 µg/ml). Las estructuras se cultivaron durante 7 d hasta la fase de incubación/eclosión de blastocisto. Siete blastocistos fueron transferidos a seis vacas receptoras sincronizadas siete días después de la ovulación. Se logró la permanencia de cuatro y tres vesículas embrionarias hasta los días 28 y 60, respectivamente. Dos terneras llegaron a nacer a partir de embriones reconstruidos con células de piel y con células de cúmulos. Mediante el análisis de genotipos, utilizando 15 marcadores (SSR) para bovinos, se confirmó que los terneros clonados fueron derivados de las líneas celulares de las donantes.Palabras clave: reproducción asistida; bovino; clonación; transferencia nuclear de cé-lulas somáticas; clonación hecha a mano