Cloning using nuclear transfer in bovine species: results and perspectives

A all in vitro cloning technique was developed in which the reconstituted embryos from the first cycle nuclear transfer (cloning) were used as blastomere donor for the second cycle nuclear transfer (recloning). Such method permitted to produce 14.5% of morulae and 14.9% of blastocysts after the first and second cycles of nuclear transfer, respectively. The rates of birth obtained after transfer of such embryos were 21.4% et 20.8% for first and second cycles respectively, corresponding to 6 et 5 calves for 28 et 24 transferred embryos. Unfortunately, gestation pathologies and an increase of birth weights were observed. It seems that the in vitro presence of gametes and/or embryos may be responsible of an alteration in the control of gene expression