鸡胚原始生殖细胞的分离和鸡鸭嵌和体的制备

探索了鸡胚12～17期血液中的原始生殖细胞(PGCs)迁移数量变化规律,将其在液氮中冷冻保存.并以Ficoll密度梯度离心、MiniMACS磁气分离、滤膜三种方法对PGCs进行分离,结果发现12～17期血液中均有PGCs存在,13期达到高峰约47.1±10.5个/μl,在血液中比例为0.0126%.冷冻保存3个月后解冻成活率达80%以上.三种分离方法所得的分离效果分别为95.7%、39.2%、63.0%,纯度为27.5%、8.4%、3.1%.将分离的原始生殖细胞以微注射法转移至14～15期麻鸭胚胎中制备了鸡鸭种间嵌和体,获得8只雏鸭(8/110).以鸡W染色体探针原位杂交法在早期鸭胚性腺中检测到鸡原始生殖细胞,嵌和率达84.2%(16/19).表明鸡原始生殖细胞能够迁移定居到鸭胚性腺中,并有可能增殖分化成有功能的配子.     

不同时期鸡胚原始生殖细胞分离的研究

采用Ficoll密度梯度离心,酶解离两种方法在鸡胚孵化的第14期、19期、28期,分离、培养鸡胚中的原始生殖细胞(PGCs)。探索PGCs分离、培养的适宜时期及方法,以期获得较多数量,较高活力的PGCs作介导生产转基因鸡。结果表明：1．提取、分离PGCs的最佳时期依次为19期、28期。2．两种分离方法均能分离到一定数量的PGCs细胞。但在19期和28期,酶解离法分离到的PGCs的相对数量较多,存活时间较长,是一种较适宜的分离方法。     

第二十八期鸡胚原始生殖细胞的冷冻保存

采用Ficoll密度梯度离心 ,提取第 2 8期 (孵化 13 2h)性腺中的PGCs ,对其应用不同的冷冻保护剂和不同的平衡方法进行冷冻保存 ,并于复苏后进行体外培养。复苏后的PGCs用台盼蓝染色检测其存活率 ,结果发现 :从第 2 8期性腺中获取的PGCs在同一种冷冻保护液下 ,采用不同的平衡方法进行冷冻 ,对PGCs的存活率有显著影响 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;平衡方法相同 ,在不同冷冻保护液条件下 ,冷冻保护液III的冻存效果最好 ,与其他保护液之间存在显著 (P <0 .0 5 )或极显著 (P <0 .0 1)差异。冷冻保护液V和冷冻保护液VI二者对PGCs的冻存效果次之。冷冻保护液I、冷冻保护液II和冷冻保护液IV三者对PGCs的冻存效果最差。PGCs经体外培养 2 4小时后再进行冷冻保存 ,复苏后其存活率、体外培养存活时间均极 (P <0 .0 1)显著短于分离后直接冷冻的PGCs。     

鸡胚不同发育时期原始生殖细胞的分离方法

采用Ficoll密度梯度离心法和EDTA-胰酶酶解法两种方法,分别提取第14期(孵化53h)血液、第19期(孵化72h)和第28期(孵化132h)生殖腺中的PGCs,以比较两种分离方法对3个发育时期的鸡胚原始生殖细胞在相同体外培养条件下存活时间的差异。结果发现,两种分离方法均能分离到一定数量的原始生殖细胞,但是酶解法分离到的原始生殖细胞的相对数量较Ficoll密度梯度离心法的多,存活时间较长,是一种适宜的分离方法;对鸡胚发育第14、19、28期3个时期提取的原始生殖细胞进行体外培养,存活时间分别为：72h、88h和80h,三者之间差异显著。结果表明：在鸡胚孵化的第19期,因原始生殖细胞大量聚集在肢体后端的生殖嵴原基处,因而较容易收集,体外培养较为适宜,具有较强的可操作性[动物学报49(6)：835～842,2003]。     

禽类多能干细胞的研究与应用

禽类多能干细胞是一种未分化的细胞,来源于X期未孵化的胚盘细胞或5.5 d性腺的原始生殖细胞,具有自我更新能力,并能分化为所有类型细胞,包括生殖系.禽类多能干细胞最重要的应用就是在体外对其基因组进行特异性修饰,用来制备转基因禽类.禽类多能干细胞的培养已取得显著进步,随着对其多能性分子基础等研究的深入,禽类多能干细胞也将得到充分运用.综述了禽类多能干细胞的培养方法、生物学特性及其应用进展.     

从原始生殖细胞分离克隆鸡胚胎生殖细胞的研究

从孵化 5 5天的鸡胚生殖腺中分离得到大量原始生殖细胞 (PGCs)集落 ,这些集落的细胞经多次克隆传代具有胚胎生殖细胞 (EG)的诸多特征 ,如有连续传代的能力 (传至第 9代 ) ,细胞集落有典型鸟巢状结构 ,PAS染色阳性 ,AKP染色阳性 ,在无饲养层无分化抑制因子LIF时可以自发分化成几种细胞类型 ,包括成纤维细胞、神经细胞、自律细胞等 ,悬浮培养时具有形成类胚体的能力。上述发现表明该细胞具EG细胞的诸多特性 ,为类EG细胞     

鸡胚血液中原始生殖细胞的分离及其培养的研究

从孵化４８～５５小时鸡胚中抽取血液,每只胚胎可获血液２～６μｌ左右。一步法离心分离原始生殖细胞,可使其浓度由０．１％以下提高到５０％以上。将多余血细胞用微量吸管移走后,加入添加１０％胎牛血清的ＴＣＭ—１９９做为培养基,３７．５℃,５％ＣＯ２,９５％空气,饱和湿度下培养,原始生殖细胞可成活２４小时左右。     

多氯联苯对鸡胚原始生殖细胞的损伤作用

目的：本实验研究了PCB以及雌二醇（E2）,睾酮（T）和雌激素受体阻断剂克罗米酚（clomiphen)对5日龄鸡胚性朱中原始生殖细胞（PGC）形态和数量的影响,并对胚胎性腺受损伤程度进行了评价。方法：在入孵前将PCB（Aroclor 1254)油剂注入海兰种蛋卵黄内,实验组中PCB的剂量分别为1,10,100ug/枚;E2和T油剂注射剂量均为10,100ug/枚;克罗米酚,克罗米酚和Aroclor 1254均为100ug/枚,体积均为100ul;对照组注射等量花生油,孵化温度为38度,相对湿度60％,孵化111－120h后取出胚胎进行全固定,经石蜡切片和高碘酸席夫试剂染色后观察性腺中的PGC。结果（1）与对照组相比,PCB延缓鸡胚发育,但是鸡胚死亡率与PCB的剂量不呈现剂量依赖关系,最大死亡率在PCB 1ug/枚组;（2）性腺中的PGC的数量随PCB注射剂量的升高而显著降低,而且左侧性腺比右侧性腺明显,在PCB 100ug/枚组的性腺中,PGC发生了空泡化和核固缩甚至成为空洞;（3）PCB可以导致鸡胚性腺中PGC的损伤程度显著加强;（4）E2,T和克罗米酚处理后,对性腺中的PGC没有显著影响;（5）注射PCB和克罗米酚后,对性腺中PGC的影响与Aroclor 100ug/枚组的结果相同,结论：PCB对鸡胚生殖的影响早在PGC定居性腺就开始了,且对PGC的影响只表现其毒性作用,并没有通过类性激素作用影响PGC的形态和数量。     

影响鸡原始生殖细胞分离克隆因素的研究(简报)

具有多向分化潜能的胚胎干细胞有两种来源:一是来自于早期胚胎内细胞团的胚胎干细胞(Em-bryonic Stem Cells,ESCs),另一种是来自于胚胎生殖腺原始生殖细胞(Primordial Germ Cells,PGCs)的胚胎生殖细胞(Embryonic Germ Cells,EGCs)。     

禽类原始生殖细胞的迁移能力

Blood samples were collected from chicken embryos at stage 11-15,and labeled with fluorescent dye PKH26.Primordial germ cells (PGCs)were then isolated from blood samples by nycodenz density gradient centrifugation.After PGCs were labeled and isolated,about 200 PGCs in one microliter were injected into the subgerminal cavity of quail blastoderm at stageX.After 48 hours incubation,chicken PGCs were identified by fluorescent microscopy.Red fluorescence emitted from PKH26 labeled chicken PGCs was observed in the head, the heart and the developing gonadal anlage of quail embryos.The result suggests that chicken PGCs still keep migration ability after 56 hours[Acta Zoologica Sinica 49(6):868-872,2003].     

南京家鸭体内寄生裂弧饰属线虫一新种(线虫纲:针形科)

作者在检查南京鸟类寄生线虫标本时,从家鸭Anas platyrhynchos domesticus体内发现一新种,命名为寡乳突裂弧饰线虫Schistogendra oligopapillata sp.nov。该新种具有4对肛前乳突,有较短的口腔和结构复杂的颈乳突,雌虫尾部为圆形而与本属其它种有明显的区别。     

黑水鸡与家鸡染色体带型同源性比较研究

从二倍体细胞大染色体组(Macrochromosomes)的G带特征比较分析,鹤形目的黑水鸡与鸡形目的家鸡带型相似程度很大,标志着这两种鸟类的亲缘关系较近,同时也充分说明了不同目鸟类在进化上染色体变异的保守性。其带型差异仅在于两次臂间倒位、两次臂内倒位和一次着丝点融合。此外,我们采用QM荧光——银染的相继染色法发现黑水鸡的W染色体上有NOR存在,这种核仁组织者区域与性染色质发生连锁的现象在鸟类是首次发现。     

Heterogeneity in imprinted methylation patterns of pluripotent embryonic germ cells derived from pre-migratory mouse germ cells

Pluripotent stem cells, termed embryonic germ (EG) cells, have been generated from both human and mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs). Like embryonic stem (ES) cells, EG cells have the potential to differentiate into all germ layer derivatives and may also be important for any future clinical applications. The development of PGCs in vivo is accompanied by major epigenetic changes including DNA demethylation and imprint erasure. We have investigated the DNA methylation pattern of several imprinted genes and repetitive elements in mouse EG cell lines before and after differentiation. Analysed cell lines were derived soon after PGC specification, “early”, in comparison with EG cells derived after PGC colonisation of the genital ridge, “late” and embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, derived from the inner cell mass (ICM). Early EG cell lines showed strikingly heterogeneous DNA methylation patterns, in contrast to the uniformity of methylation pattern seen in somatic cells (control), late EG cell and ES cell lines. We also observed that all analysed XX cell lines exhibited less methylation than XY. We suggest that this heterogeneity may reflect the changes in DNA methylation taking place in the germ cell lineage soon after specification.     

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.     

Fatty acid degradation plays an essential role in proliferation of mouse female primordial germ cells via the p53-dependent cell cycle regulation

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are embryonic founders of germ cells that ultimately differentiate into oocytes and spermatogonia. Embryonic proliferation of PGCs starting from E11.5 ensures the presence of germ cells in adulthood, especially in female mammals whose total number of oocytes declines after this initial proliferation period. To better understand mechanisms underlying PGC proliferation in female mice, we constructed a proteome profile of female mouse gonads at E11.5. Subsequent KEGG pathway analysis of the 3,662 proteins profiled showed significant enrichment of pathways involved in fatty acid degradation. Further, the number of PGCs found in in vitro cultured fetal gonads significantly decreased with application of etomoxir, an inhibitor of the key rate-limiting enzyme of fatty acid degradation carnitine acyltransferase I (CPT1). Decrease in PGCs was further determined to be the result of reduced proliferation rather than apoptosis. The inhibition of fatty acid degradation by etomoxir has the potential to activate the Ca²⁺/CamKII/5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway; while as an upstream activator, activated AMPK can function as activator of p53 to induce cell cycle arrest. Thus, we detected the expressional level of AMPK, phosphorylated AMPK (P-AMPK), phosphorylated p53 (P-p53) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21) by Western blots, the results showed increased expression of them after treatment with etomoxir, suggested the activation of p53 pathway was the reason for reduced proliferation of PGCs. Finally, the involvement of p53-dependent G1 cell cycle arrest in defective proliferation of PGCs was verified by rescue experiments. Our results demonstrate that fatty acid degradation plays an important role in proliferation of female PGCs via the p53-dependent cell cycle regulation.     

Molecular characterization,sexually dimorphic expression,and functional analysis of 3′-untranslated region of vasa gene in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis)

Vasa is a highly conserved ATP-dependent RNA helicase expressed mainly in germ cells. The vasa gene plays a crucial role in the development of germ cell lineage and has become an excellent molecular marker in identifying germ cells in teleosts. However, little is known about the structure and function of the vasa gene in flatfish. In this study, the vasa gene (Csvasa) was isolated and characterized in half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), an economically important flatfish in China. In the obtained 6425-bp genomic sequence, 23 exons and 22 introns were identified. The Csvasa gene encodes a 663-amino acid protein, including highly conserved domains of the DEAD-box protein family. The amino acid sequence also shared a high homology with other teleosts. Csvasa expression was mainly restricted to the gonads, with little or no expression in other tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that Csvasa expression levels decreased during embryonic and early developmental stages and increased with the primordial germ cell proliferation. A typical sexually dimorphic expression pattern of Csvasa was observed during early development and sex differentiation, suggesting that the Csvasa gene might play a differential role in the proliferation and differentiation of male and female primordial germ cells (PGCs). Csvasa mRNA expression levels in neomales were significantly lower than those in normal males and females, indicating that the Csvasa gene might be implicated in germ cell development after sex reversal by temperature treatment. In addition, medaka (Oryzias latipes) PGCs could be transiently labeled by microinjection of synthesized mRNA containing the green fluorescence protein gene and 3′-untranslated region of Csvasa, which confirmed that the Csvasa gene has the potential to be used as a visual molecular marker of germ cells and laid a foundation for manipulation of PGCs in tongue sole reproduction.