Composite blastocysts (CBs) from aggregates of dissociated cells of non-viable pre-embryos
First Claim
1. A method of producing composite blastocysts comprising:
- a) dissociation of non-viable mammalian pre-blastocyst embryos into non-nucleated and individual nucleated cells or groups of cells;
b) isolation of individual mononucleated cells or groups of mononucleated cells from disaggregated non-viable pre-blastocyst embryos;
c) aggregation of isolated mononucleated cells or groups of mononucleated cells from non-viable pre-blastocyst embryos in a host zona pellucida; and
d) culturing of the zona-encapsulated cell aggregates to allow multiplication of cells to form a composite blastocyst.
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Abstract
A preparation and a method of making composite blastocysts (CBs) from aggregates of dissociated cells of non-viable pre-embryos are disclosed. The CB is characterized morphologically by having two distinct tissue types, the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE), and a blastocoelic cavity (BC). The method of making CBs is an aggregation process (AP) comprising inter alia the following steps: 1) dissociation of discarded pre-embryos; 2) isolation of single nucleated cells from dissociated discarded pre-embryos; 3) microsurgical encapsulation of several cells within a host zona pellucida or artificial aggregation with or without a non-zona vessel; and 5) primary culture of the cell aggregates for multiplication and differentiation of cells. One particularly advantageous embodiment is that the starting material is non-viable pre-embryos. Another advantageous embodiment is that the AP allows individual cells from non-viable pre-embryos to further multiply, and become integrated into CBs. The novel CBs and the novel aggregation process disclosed.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A method of producing composite blastocysts comprising:
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a) dissociation of non-viable mammalian pre-blastocyst embryos into non-nucleated and individual nucleated cells or groups of cells;
b) isolation of individual mononucleated cells or groups of mononucleated cells from disaggregated non-viable pre-blastocyst embryos;
c) aggregation of isolated mononucleated cells or groups of mononucleated cells from non-viable pre-blastocyst embryos in a host zona pellucida; and
d) culturing of the zona-encapsulated cell aggregates to allow multiplication of cells to form a composite blastocyst.
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Specification