Generation of fertile offspring from Kit(w)/Kit(wv) mice through differentiation of gene corrected nuclear transfer embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Genetic mutations could cause sperm deficiency, leading to male infertility. Without functional gametes in the testes, patients cannot produce progeny even with assisted reproduction technologies such as in vitro fertilization. It has been a major challenge to restore the fertility of gamete-deficient patients due to genetic mutations. In this study, using a Kit(w)/Kit(wv) mouse model, we investigated the feasibility of generating functional sperms from gamete-deficient mice by combining the reprogramming and gene correcting technologies. We derived embryonic stem cells from cloned embryos (ntESCs) that were created by nuclear transfer of Kit(w)/Kit(wv) somatic cells. Then we generated gene-corrected ntESCs using TALEN-mediated gene editing. The repaired ntESCs could further differentiate

SUBMITTER: Yuan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4493281 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature