In vitro expansion of mouse primordial germ cell‐like cells recapitulates an epigenetic blank slate

The expansion of primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors for the oocytes and spermatozoa, is a key challenge in reproductive biology/medicine. Using a chemical screening exploiting PGC‐like cells (PGCLCs) induced from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we here identify key signaling pathways critical for PGCLC proliferation. We show that the combinatorial application of Forskolin and Rolipram, which stimulate cAMP signaling via different mechanisms, expands PGCLCs up to ~50‐fold in culture. The expanded PGCLCs maintain robust capacity for spermatogenesis, rescuing the fertility of infertile mice. Strikingly, during expansion, PGCLCs comprehensively erase their DNA methylome, including parental imprints, in a manner that precisely recapitulates genome‐wide DNA demethylation in gonadal germ cells, while essentially maintaining their identity as sexually uncommitted PGCs, apparently through appropriate histone modifications. By establishing a paradigm for PGCLC expansion, our system reconstitutes the epigenetic “blank slate” of the germ line, an immediate precursory state for sexually dimorphic differentiation.     

Drosophila pericentrin‐like protein promotes the formation of primordial germ cells

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors to the adult germline stem cells that are set aside early during embryogenesis and specified through the inheritance of the germ plasm, which contains the mRNAs and proteins that function as the germline fate determinants. In Drosophila melanogaster, formation of the PGCs requires the microtubule and actin cytoskeletal networks to actively segregate the germ plasm from the soma and physically construct the pole buds (PBs) that protrude from the posterior cortex. Of emerging importance is the central role of centrosomes in the coordination of microtubule dynamics and actin organization to promote PGC development. We previously identified a requirement for the centrosome protein Centrosomin (Cnn) in PGC formation. Cnn interacts directly with Pericentrin‐like protein (PLP) to form a centrosome scaffold structure required for pericentriolar material recruitment and organization. In this study, we identify a role for PLP at several discrete steps during PGC development. We find PLP functions in segregating the germ plasm from the soma by regulating microtubule organization and centrosome separation. These activities further contribute to promoting PB protrusion and facilitating the distribution of germ plasm in proliferating PGCs.     

A transitory signaling center controls timing of primordial germ cell differentiation

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Enriched gonadal migration of donor-derived gonadal primordial germ cells by immunomagnetic cell sorting in birds

This study was conducted to evaluate whether immunomagnetic treatment could improve the retrieval and migration capacity of avian gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs) collected from gonads in 5.5-day-old chick and 5-day-old quail embryos, respectively. Collected gPGCs were loaded into a magnetic-activated cell sorter (MACS) after being conjugated with specific gPGC antibodies and either MACS-treated or non-treated cells in each species were subsequently transferred to the recipient embryos. MACS treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased the population ratio of gPGCs in gonadal cells retrieved (0.74 to 33.4% in the chicken and 2.68 to 45.1% in the quail). This was due to decreased number of non-gPGCs in total cell population. MACS treatment further enhanced gonadal migration of gPGCs transferred in both species (10% vs. 80-85% in the chicken and 10-15% vs. 70-80% in the quail). Increase in the number of microinjected cells up to 600 cells/embryo did not eliminate such promoting effect. In conclusion, MACS treatment greatly increased the population ratio of avian gPGCs in gonadal cells, resulting improved gonadal migration in recipient embryos.     

Production of quail (Coturnix japonica) germline chimeras derived from in vitro-cultured gonadal primordial germ cells

A previous report from our laboratory documented successful production of quail (Coturnix japonica) germline chimeras by transfer of gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs). Subsequently, this study was designed to evaluate whether gPGCs can be maintained in vitro for extended period, and furthermore, these cultured PGCs can induce germline transmission after transfer into recipient embryos. In experiment 1, gonadal cells from the two strains (wild-type plumage (WP) and black (D) quail) were cultured in vitro for 10 days. Using antibody QCR1, we detected a continuous, significant (P = 0.0002) increase in the number of WP, but not D, PGCs. QCR1-positive WP colonies began to form after 7 days in culture. On Day 10 of culture, 803 WP PGCs were present as a result of a continuous increase, whereas no D PGC colonies could be detected and the D gonadal stroma cells were rolled up. Differences in the PGCs or the gonadal stroma cells of the two different strains might account for these differences. In experiment 2, WP PGC colonies were maintained in vitro up to Day 20 of culture, and 10- or 20-day-cultured PGCs were microinjected into dorsal aortas of 181 recipient D embryos. Thirty-five (19.3%) of the transplanted embryos hatched after incubation, and 25 (71.4%) of the hatchlings reached sexual maturity. Testcrossing of the sexually mature hatchlings resulted in three (10 days, 33.3%) and eight (20 days, 50.0%) germline chimeras respectively. This report is the first to describe successful production of germline chimera by transfer of in vitro-cultured gPGCs in quail.     

Origin of primordial germ cells in the prestreak chick embryo

The temporal and spatial pattern of segregation of the avian germline from the formation of the area pellucida to the beginning of primitive streak formation (stages VII–XIV, EG&K) was investigated using the culture of whole embryos and central and peripheral embryo fragments on vilelline membranes at stages VII–IX, immunohistological analysis of whole mount embryos and sections with monoclonal antibodies MC-480 against stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) and EMA-1, and with the culture of dispersed blastoderms at stages IX–XIV with and without an STO feeder layer. Whole embryos at intrauterine stages developed up to the formation of the primitive streak despite the absence of area pellucida expansion. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) appeared in the cultures of whole embryos and only in central fragments containing a partially formed area pellucida at stages VII–IX. When individual stage IX–XIV embryos were dispersed and cultured without a feeder layer, 25–45 PGCs/embryo were detected only with stage X–XIV, but not with stage IX blastoderms. However, the culture of dispersed cells from the area pellucida of stages IX–XIII on STO feeder layers yielded about 150 PGCs/embryo. The carbohydrate epitopes recognized by anti-SSEA-1 and EMA-1 first appeared at stage X on cells in association with polyingressing cells on the ventral surface of the epiblast and later on the dorsal surface of the hypoblast. The SSEA-1-positive hypoblast cells gave rise to chicken PGCs when cultured on a feeder layer of quail blastodermal cells. From these observations, we propose that the segregation and development of avian germline is a gradual, epigenetic process associated with the translocation of SSEA-1/EMA-1-positive cells from the ventral surface of the area pellucida at stage X to the dorsal side of the hypoblast at stages XI–XIV. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

小鼠原生殖细胞体外培养及其应用研究

原生殖细胞（ｐｒｉｍｏｒｄｉａｌｇｅｒｍｃｅｌｌ,ＰＧＣ）是胚胎生殖谱系最原始形式的细胞,在体胚胎迁移期ＰＧＣ增殖极为旺盛。体外培养的小鼠迁移期ＰＧＣ在饲养层细胞和三种生长因子（干细胞生长因子、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子及白血病抑制因子）的共同作用下,可发展为长期增殖并维持不分化状态的胚胎性干细胞,即胚胎生殖细胞（ｅｍｂｒｙｏｎｉｃｇｅｒｍｃｅｌｌ,ＥＧ）,具全能性发育潜能。ＥＧ建系成功对于研究生殖细胞发育以及寻找新的转基因动物操作的有效载体具有重要价值。     

Time-lapse analysis reveals different modes of primordial germ cell migration in the medaka Oryzias latipes

Previous studies have shown that medaka primordial germ cells (PGC) are first distinguishable by olvas expression during late gastrulation, and that they migrate to the gonadal region through the lateral plate mesoderm. Here, we demonstrate that medaka nanos expression marks the germ line at early gastrulation stage. By marking the germ line with green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the nanos 3' untranslated region, we were able to visualize the behavior of PGC using time-lapse imaging. We show that there are three distinct modes of PGC migration that function at different stages of development. At early gastrulation stage, PGC actively migrate towards the marginal zone, a process that requires the function of a chemokine receptor, CXCR4. However, at late gastrulation stage, PGC change the mode and direction of their movement, as they are carried towards the midline along with somatic cells undergoing convergent movements. After aligning bilaterally, PGC actively migrate to the posterior end of the lateral plate mesoderm. This posterior movement depends on the activity of both HMGCoAR and a ligand of CXCR4, SDF-1a. These results demonstrate that PGC undergo different modes of migration to reach the prospective gonadal region of the embryo.     

Altered primordial germ cell migration in the absence of transforming growth factor beta signaling via ALK5

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) inhibits proliferation and promotes the migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) towards explants of gonadal ridges in vitro. However, its effects in vivo are still unclear. Here, we analyzed the behavior of PGCs in embryos lacking TGFbeta signaling via the type I receptor ALK5. TGFbeta in vivo was neither a chemoattractant for PGCs, nor did it affect their proliferation during migration towards the gonadal ridges up to embryonic day (E)10. Unexpectedly, the absence of TGFbeta signaling in fact resulted in significant facilitation of PGC migration out of the hindgut, due to the reduced deposition of collagen type I surrounding the gut of Alk5-deficient mutant embryos. Migratory PGCs adhere strongly to collagen; therefore, reduced collagen type I along the gut may result in reduced adhesion, facilitating migration into the dorsal mesenterium and gonadal ridges. Our results provide new evidence for the role of TGFbeta signaling in migration of PGCs in vivo distinct from that described previously.     

Perturbation of Notch/Suppressor of Hairless pathway disturbs migration of primordial germ cells in Xenopus embryo

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in Xenopus embryo are specified in the endodermal cell mass and migrate dorsally toward the future gonads. The role of the signal mediated by Notch and Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)] was analyzed on the migrating PGCs at the tailbud stage. X‐Notch‐1 and X‐Delta‐1 are expressed in the migrating PGCs and surrounding endodermal cells, whereas X‐Delta‐2 and X‐Serrate‐1 are expressed preferentially in the PGCs. Suppression and constitutive activation of the Notch/Su(H) signaling in the whole endoderm region or selectively in the PGCs resulted in an increase in ectopic PGCs located in lateral or ventral regions. Knocking down of the Notch ligands by morpholino oligonucleotides revealed that X‐Delta‐2 was indispensable for the correct PGC migration. The ectopic PGCs seemed to have lost their motility in the Notch/Su(H) signal‐manipulated embryos. Our results suggest that a cell‐to‐cell interaction via the Notch/Su(H) pathway has a significant role in the PGC migration by regulating cell motility.     

Wingless signaling initiates mitosis of primordial germ cells during development in Drosophila

The germline cells of Drosophila are derived from pole cells, which form at the posterior pole of the blastoderm and become primordial germ cells (PGCs). To elucidate the signal transduction pathways for the development of embryonic PGCs, we examined the effects of various growth factors on the proliferation of PGCs. Up- and down-regulation of Wingless (Wg) in both of soma and PGCs caused an increase and a decrease in the number of PGCs, respectively. The Wg/β-catenin signaling pathway began to occur in PGCs at the same time as the PGCs began to divide during the embryonic stage in both sexes. In addition, PGCs were found to produce wg mRNA as they begin to divide. Thus, Wg functions as an autocrine factor to initiate mitosis in embryonic PGCs. Decapentaplegic affected the growth of PGCs from the end of the embryonic stage. The results indicate that these growth factors regulate the division of embryonic PGCs in a stage-specific manner.     

Mitochondrial trafficking through Rhot1 is involved in the aggregation of germinal granule components during primordial germ cell formation in Xenopus embryos

In many animals, the germ plasm is sufficient and necessary for primordial germ cell (PGC) formation. It contains germinal granules and abundant mitochondria (germline‐Mt). However, the role of germline‐Mt in germ cell formation remains poorly understood. In Xenopus, the germ plasm is distributed as many small islands at the vegetal pole, which gradually aggregates to form a single large mass in each of the four vegetal pole cells at the early blastula stage. Polymerized microtubules and the adapter protein kinesin are required for the aggregation of germ plasm. However, it remains unknown whether germline‐Mt trafficking is important for the cytoplasmic transport of germinal granules during germ plasm aggregation. In this study, we focused on the mitochondrial small GTPase protein Rhot1 to inhibit mitochondrial trafficking during the germ plasm aggregation. Expression of Rhot1ΔC, which lacks the C‐terminal mitochondrial transmembrane domain, inhibited the aggregation of germline‐Mt during early development. In Rhot1‐inhibited embryos, germinal granule components did not aggregate during cleavage stages, which reduced the number of PGCs on the genital ridge at tail‐bud stage. These results suggest that mitochondrial trafficking is involved in the aggregation of germinal granule components, which are essential for the formation of PGCs.