Mohaddeseh Rahbaran - Animal Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
Farid Heidari - Animal Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
Aydin Tayefe - Animal Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran

Embryo splitting is widely used as a novel technique in reproduction biotechnology. After splitting the embryo at the two-, four- or eight-cell stages, every single blastomere can be developed into a separate embryo that is similar to another blastomere genetically. In the present study, the effects of the mouse embryo splitting on the Sox2, as a pluripotent gene, expression were evaluated. After stimulating ovulation in female mice and isolating two-cell embryos, they were grouped as split and non-split, then washed and transferred in M16 medium. When zona pellucida was removed, the blastomeres of the split group were dispersed then transferred into embryonic fibroblasts to develop. Sox2 gene expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. The results demonstrated that pluripotent gene expression was similar between split and non-split groups.

Embryo Splitting, Mouse Blastocyst, Two-cell Embryo, Sox2.