Cell cycle synchronization of porcine granulosa cells in G1 stage with mimosine

The success of somatic cell nuclear transfer depends critically on the cell cycle stage of the donor nucleus and the recipient cytoplast. Karyoplasts in the G0 or G1 stages are considered to be the most suitable for nuclear transfer. In the present study, we used a reversible cell cycle inhibitor, mimosine, to synchronize porcine granulosa cells (GCs) in G1 phase of the cell cycle. Porcine GCs were obtained from 3 to 5 mm ovarian follicles of slaughtered gilts. The effect of mimosine on the proliferation, DNA synthesis and cell cycle stage of cultured cells was examined by incorporation of radiochemical 3H-thymidine, immunocytochemical detection of incorporated thymidine analogue 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and flow cytometry analyses. Mimosine treatment of pig GCs for 24 h resulted in proliferation arrest in vitro. Treatment with 0.5 mM mimosine significantly (P<0.05) inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation after 24 h of culture (4.6% ± 0.1) and after 24 h of culture in serum deprived medium (41.3% ± 3.8), in comparison to controls (100%). Inhibition of DNA synthesis was further confirmed by immunocytochemical and flow cytometry analyses. Compared with controls (78.2%), mimosine treatment for 24 h increased the proportion of G0/G1 cells in the culture (85.7%) more effectively than serum starvation (SS; 81.2%). Mimosine-caused G1 arrest of porcine GCs was fully reversible and cells continued to proliferate after removing the drug, especially when they were stimulated by EGF.