Production of identical twins by separating two-cell rat embryos

Abstract

Rat identical twins were produced from two-cell embryos. In the presence of cytochalasin B, rat two-cell embryos could be separated efficiently into two blastomeres by micromanipulation. Isolated blastomeres, embedded in agar cylinders and cultivated in ligated rat oviducts for 3 days, developed to the morula or blastocyst stage. After removing the agar, pairs of developed one-half embryos were transferred into Day 1 oviducts or Day 4 uteri of pseudopregnant rats. The percentage of embryos, separated either in the presence or absence of cytochalasin B, that developed into live fetuses was higher in cases of uterine transfer than in cases of oviduct transfer (38% vs. 18%, 31% vs. 15%, respectively). Throughout the present experiment, nine pairs of identical twins were successfully produced. This is the first report of the production of identical rat twins by separating two-cell embryos.