Effects of interval between fusion and activation, cytochalasin B treatment, and number of transferred embryos, on cloning efficiency in goats

To improve the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in goats, we evaluated the effects of the interval between fusion and activation (1 to 5 h), cytochalasin B (CB) treatment after electrofusion, and the number of transferred embryos on the in vivo and in vitro development of cloned caprine embryos. The majority of the reconstructed embryos had condensed chromosomes and metaphase-like chromosomes at 2 and 3 h after fusion; cleavage and blastocyst rates from those two groups were higher (P < 0.05) than those of embryos activated 1, 4, or 5 h after fusion. Treatment with CB between fusion and activation improved in vitro and in vivo development of nuclear transfer (NT) goat embryos by reducing the fragmentation rate (P < 0.05). Although there were no significant differences in NT efficiency, pregnancy rate and kids born per recipient were increased by transfer of 20 or 30 embryos per recipient compared with 10 embryos. We concluded that CB treatment for 2 to 3 h between fusion and activation was an efficient method for generating cloned goats by somatic cell NT. In addition, increasing the number of embryos transferred to each recipient resulted in more live offspring from fewer recipients.

A combination of ultrasonic-assisted extraction with RRLC-QQQ method for the determination of artemisinin in the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L

INTRODUCTION

Artemisinin, the primary active ingredient of the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L., is known to have considerable anti-malaria properties. However, rapid, sensitive and selective method for the determination of artemisinin in it is not currently available.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate an efficient method for extraction and analysis of artemisinin from the plant samples of Artemisia annua L. by rapid resolution liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (RRLC-QQQ).

METHODOLOGY

Following ultrasound-assisted extraction (USE), RRLC-QQQ was utilised to separate and determine artemisinin from the plant sample of Artemisia annua L. The LC separation, QQQ-MS detection and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were optimised, and the method validation concluding selectivity, calibration, accuracy and precision, and recovery were also evaluated.

RESULTS

LC separation was performed with an isocratic elution of 20% of methanol-water (10 mmol/L ammonium acetate, pH 4.0) on a C(18) column. The triple quadrupole MS detection was carried out under MRM mode of precursor ion [M + H]+ → fragment ions m/z 265.1 and m/z 247.2. The limits of detection and quantitation of artemisinin were 0.20 and 0.75 ng/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions did not exceed 3.71%, and the deviation of the intra- and inter-day mean values did not exceed ±7.50. The average recoveries for artemisinin ranged from 92.45 to 103.8% with an RSD from 2.47 to 2.79%.

CONCLUSION

The developed RRLC-QQQ assay is an efficient method for separation and determination of artemisinin from the plant samples of Artemisia annua L.