Possible therapy of male infertility by reproductive cloning: one cloned human 4-cell embryo.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the preimplantation embryonic potential of adult somatic cells from an infertile man using an interspecies bioassay for quality control and also to create human embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Skin tissue was biopsied from infertile man to obtain fibroblast cells. These cells were fused with both enucleated bovine oocytes obtained commercially and human oocytes obtained from his wife. SCNT-reconstructed oocytes were cultured in-vitro. Interspecies SCNT embryos were prepared for PCR and DNA analysis. From 13 SCNT-reconstructed bovine oocytes, 7 embryos developed (54%). DNA sequencing of these interspecies embryos showed the presence of human genomic DNA specific for the fibroblast cells of the man. From three SCNT-reconstructed human oocytes, one developed to the 4-cell stage and was subsequently transferred into the patient's uterus. Blood ss-hCG levels showed a negative pregnancy result. Human fibroblast cells from an infertile patient can promote embryonic development in interspecies SCNT. This is the first evidence of the creation and transfer of a human cloned embryo for reproductive purposes. Even though no pregnancy was established, human reproduction via SCNT may be possible and applicable in the future for patients with severe male or female infertility that have no other alternative options for procreating their own offspring.