Generation of efficient germ-line chimeras using embryonic stem cell injection

Abstract

There are many different reasons for producing germ-line chimeras, so a method for producing these is very important both for the testing of stem cells (SC) and for the production of an animal which may be genetically modified (Voncken, Methods Mol Biol 693:11–36, 2011). As with many scientific procedures the theory behind the process is very simple: in this case injection of cells into the blastocoel cavity of an embryo which has developed to the blastocyst stage so as the injected cells can contribute to the inner cell mass (ICM) and hopefully contribute to the germ line of the animal produced (Schneider et al., Stem Cell Rev 5(4):369–377, 2009). Incorporation of the cells into the gonads of the animal produced will allow the testing of those cells and the resulting animal which may be derived from the injected cells (Bradley et al., Nature 309(5965):255–256, 1984). The problems arise because of the size of the cells and the challenge of injection into the blastocoel cavity of a developing embryo.