Epigenetic reprogramming of Yak iSCNT embryos after donor cell pre-treatment with oocyte extracts

The treatment of donor cells with oocyte extracts before inter-species somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) is a novel method for cellular reprogramming. This study aims to evaluate the effect of pre-treatment donor cell with oocyte extracts on the early developmental competence of yak iSCNT embryos. Yak fibroblasts were reversibly permeabilized with streptolysin O, and then treated with yak oocyte extracts (YOE) or bovine oocyte extracts (BOE) prior to iSCNT. The 8-cell and blastocyst formation increased significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.05) when donor cells pre-treated with YOE or BOE. The relative expression level of embryo-specific genes TBP1 and Mash2 were also up-regulated both in the blastocysts of the YOE and BOE groups. In addition, the methylation level of pluripotency-specific genes (Oct4 and Nanog) in the blastocysts of the YOE and BOE groups were similar to that of its IVF counterpart (53.1%, 48.8% vs. 40.1%; 24.8%, 26.5% vs. 35.9%). Our results suggested that pre-treatment of donor cells with oocyte extracts can improve nuclear–cytoplasmic reprogramming; thus representing a novel way to improve the efficiency of yak iSCNT.