Birth of cloned calves from vitrified–warmed zona-free buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos produced by hand-made cloning

Abstract

The availability of techniques for the vitrification of cloned blastocysts can improve their effective use. The present study compared the developmental competence of buffalo cloned embryos derived from adult (BAF), newborn (BNF) and fetal fibroblast (BFF) before and after vitrification. Despite similar cleavage rates among the three groups, the blastocyst rate was lower for BAF- than BNF- and BFF-derived embryos (30.2 ± 2.2% vs 41.7 ± 1.7% and 39.1 ± 2.1%, respectively; P < 0.01). The total cell number of BNF-derived blastocysts was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of BFF-derived blastocysts, which, in turn, was higher (P < 0.01) than that of BAF-derived blastocysts. Following transfer of vitrified–warmed blastocysts to recipients, no pregnancy was obtained with fresh (n = 8) or vitrified–warmed (n = 18) BAF-derived blastocysts, whereas transfer of fresh BNF- (n = 53) and BFF-derived (n = 32) blastocysts resulted in four and three pregnancies, respectively, which aborted within 90 days of gestation. The transfer of vitrified–warmed BNF-derived blastocysts (n = 39) resulted in the live birth of a calf weighing 41 kg, which is now 23 months old and has no apparent abnormality, whereas the transfer of vitrified–warmed BFF-derived blastocysts (n = 18) resulted in one live birth of a calf that died within 6 h. These results demonstrate that cloned buffalo embryos cryopreserved by vitrification can be used to obtain live offspring.