Evaluation of porcine urine-derived cells as nuclei donor for somatic cell nuclear transfer

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is used widely in cloning, stem cell research, and regenerative medicine. The type of donor cells is a key factor affecting the SCNT efficiency.This study examined whether urine-derived somatic cells could be used as donors for SCNT in pigs.The viability of cells isolated from urine was assessed using trypan blue and propidium iodide staining. The H3K9me3/H3K27me3 level of the cells was analyzed by immunofluorescence. TheMost sow urine-derived cells were viable and could be cultured and propagated easily. On the other hand, most of the somatic cells isolated from the boar urine exhibited poor cellular activity. TheSow urine-derived cells could be used to produce SCNT embryos.