Several steps of sturgeon somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have been recently established, but improvements are needed to make it a feasible tool to preserve the natural populations of this group of endangered species. The donor cell position inside the recipient egg seems to be crucial for its reprogramming; therefore by injecting multiple donor somatic cells instead of a single cell with a single manipulation, we increased the potential for embryo development. Using the Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii as a multiple cell donor and sterlet Acipenser ruthenus as the non-enucleated egg recipient, we obtained higher proportion of eggs developing into embryos than previously reported with single-SCNT. Molecular data showed the production of a specimen (0.8%) contained only the donor genome with no contribution from the recipient, while two specimens (1.6%) showed both recipient and donor genome. These findings are the first report of donor DNA integration into a sturgeon embryo after interspecific cloning. In all, we provide evidence that cloning with the multiple donor somatic cells can be feasible in the future. Despite the fact that the sturgeon cloning faces limitations, to date it is the most promising technique for their preservation.

Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice Zátiší 728 2 389 25 Vodňany Czech Republic

INRA Fish Physiology and Genomics department Campus de Beaulieu F 35000 Rennes France

South Ehime Fisheries Research Center Ehime University Ainan Ehime 798 4206 Japan

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