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]。     

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.     

饲养层及细胞因子对鸡PGCs体外培养的影响

原始生殖细胞(PGCs)具备发育全能性,而且数量较多,与数量较少的内细胞团(ICM)相比更有利于进行分离克隆.不同动物的PGCs的生长条件不同,因此建立适宜的培养体系是PGCs培养的关键.对饲养层细胞及细胞因子对鸡PGCs体外培养的影响作了简单的介绍.     

鸡鸭异种间嵌合体的制备

本研究采集孵化14期鸡胚血液中的原始生殖细胞,在液氮中冷冻保存三个月后,解冻成活率达80％以上。以Ficoll密度梯度离心将其从血液中分离纯化,分离获得纯度为27.5%,平均每枚胚胎可获得近50个PGCs。将分离的PGCs 100-200个以微注射法转移至15期早期麻鸭胚胎中制备了鸡鸭种间嵌合体,孵出8（6♂,2♀）只雏鸭,总孵化率为7.3%（8／110）。以鸡W染色体特异性DNA探针原位杂交法在早期鸭胚性腺中检测鸡PGCs。在被检测的21个鸭胚的性腺中,16个有不同程度的阳性信号,嵌合率达76.2%(16/21)。实验结果表明鸡原始生殖细胞能够迁移并定居到鸭胚性腺中,并有可能在鸭性腺中增殖分化成有功能的配子。     

鸡原始生殖细胞转染条件优化

为获得鸡原始生殖细胞(primordial germ cells,PGCs)的最佳转染效率,本研究比较不同质粒用量和不同细胞数在3种转染试剂(Lipofectamine 2000、3000和LTX&Plus Reagent)中PGCs的转染效率,利用荧光激活细胞分选技术(fluorescence activated cell sorting technology,FACS)辅助优化Lipofectamine 3000转染试剂,经FACS进一步分选获得带绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的PGCs,继续培养3周后,移植回注到受体鸡胚中,移植3.5 d后分离性腺拍照观察。结果显示,转染试剂Lipofectamine 3000的转染效率最高,质粒、Lipofectamine 3000转染试剂和PGCs细胞数的配比为3μg:4μL:0.5×10⁴个,转染5 h转染效率最高,达到23.4%,与现有的研究结果相比提高了2倍以上。移植回注PGCs到受体鸡胚中,荧光显微镜观察到鸡胚性腺中有GFP阳性细胞。本研究综合考虑转染试剂、质粒用量和细胞数量的影响因素以优化PGCs的转染条件,为高效制备转基因鸡及基因编辑鸡的研究奠定基础。     

鸡种系嵌和体的研制及其AFLP检测

利用密度梯度离心等方法从孵化51-56 h的石歧杂鸡胚血液中提取PGCs,用自制的玻璃注射针将PGCs注射到孵化2.5 d的H系受体鸡胚中制备种系嵌和体鸡;通过筛选AFLP引物建立起家禽嵌和体的AFLP检测方法;经检测20个发育的PGCs受体鸡胚中有８个种系嵌和体,嵌和率为40%。     

慢病毒载体导入种蛋内鸡胚技术研究

种蛋内鸡胚含有潜在的胚胎干细胞(BCs)或原生殖细胞(PGCs),是目前主要的转基因鸡研究方法。采用绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因的pLenti6/v5-DEST-GFP慢病毒表达载体,白来航鸡与伊萨鸡种蛋,结合种蛋赤道面开窗专利技术,对含这两种细胞胚的转基因技术进行了比较研究:转染白来航鸡囊胚,孵化13天时,GFP基因的PCR检出率为64.7%,孵化率极低;转染孵化72h伊萨鸡胚血液循环中PGCs,实验蛋孵化率为35.0%,在出壳后死亡的3只小鸡肝脏中,GFP基因的PCR检出率为100%,存活的4只鸡中有3只在12月龄的血液样品中,经PCR扩增出了GFP基因;转染孵化72～79h白来航鸡胚PGCs,7批次实验的平均孵化率为21.1%,能在赤道面窗口注射胚的种蛋比率,以73～77h胚龄的最高,为75.0%～92.9%,注射病毒组出壳雏鸡血液DNA中,GFP基因PCR检出率为44.4%。两种方法比较,PGCs方法在实验蛋孵化率、胚定位在赤道面窗口率等方面有较强优势。因此为种蛋内胚细胞的转基因鸡技术研究提供了系统、可操作性强的方法。     

鸡胚胎原始生殖细胞体外培养

以14-15期鸡胚血液为材料,采用Ficoll密度梯度离心方法,提取鸡胚胎原始生殖细胞(primordial germ cells,PGCs),在无基质细胞和基质细胞上分别进行体外培养。从实验结果可以看出：在含有胎牛血清(fetal bovine serum,FBS)、鸡血清(chicken serum,CS)、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、人胰岛素样生长因子(hIGF-1)、小鼠白血病抑制因子(mLIF)和青,链霉素双抗的M199培养液中培养时,鸡PGCs最多能够存活4天：当采用细胞因子和5天鸡胚胎性腺基质细胞共培养时能存活23代且每代细胞增殖可达近10倍。提纯后的PGCs细胞冻存复苏后,经台盼蓝染色鉴定存活率可达80％左右。     

禽类胚胎生殖细胞的研究

胚胎干细胞有2种来源：一种来自于早期胚胎囊胚期内细胞团（inner cell mass,ICM）的胚胎干细胞（embryonic stem cells,ES细胞）,另一种是来自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,EG细胞）。PGCs是生殖母细胞的前体细胞,是精子或卵子的祖先细胞。自Matsui等证实了PGCs同样可以作为胚胎干细胞的原材料之后,现已在人、小鼠、猪和鸡等多种动物的PGCs进行了分离培养并获得了EG细胞。现从形态特征和迁移、分离培养及鉴定方面对禽类EG细胞的研究进展作一综述。     

原生殖细胞与转基因家禽

鸟类的原生殖细胞来自于上胚层胚盘透明区的中央盘处,分离出的PGCs可以被转至受体胚中,可以获得由供体胚PGCs和受体胚PGCs组成的生殖系嵌合体。在这一过程中,如果将外源基因转入供体PGCs,受体胚后代则成为转基因鸟类。利用禽类PGCs作为转基因的载体,来生产嵌合体胚胎和子代为目前研究禽类转基因的一种较为理想的方法。     

Xenogenic oogenesis of chicken (Gallus domesticus) female primordial germ cells in germline chimeric quail (Coturnix japonica) ovary

In present study, chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) were transferred into quail embryos to investigate the development of these germ cells in quail ovary. Briefly, 2 microl of chicken embryonic blood (stage 14) or about 100 purified circulating PGCs were transferred into quail embryo. Contribution of chicken PGCs were detected in gonads of chimeric quail embryos (stage 28) by immunocytochemical staining of cell surface antigen SSEA-1, and by in situ hybridization (ISH) with female chicken specific DNA probe. As a result, 52.0+/-43.2 (n=18) and 42.7+/-27.3 (n=17) chicken PGCs were found in the gonads of chimeric quail embryo that was injected with chicken embryonic blood (stage 14) and about 100 purified circulating PGCs, respectively. Furthermore, the ovaries of 81.8% (9/11) 12 days post incubation (dpi) chimeric quail embryos were observed with a mean of 457.6+/-237.1 female chicken PGCs-derived oogonia scattered in ovarian cortex area. In 9 out of 12 newly hatched and one week old chimeric quail chicks, on average of 2883.0+/-1924.1 primary oocytes and 3 follicles derived from chicken PGCs were found, respectively. The present results suggest that chicken female PGCs are able to migrate, colonize, proliferate and differentiate into oogonia, primary oocytes in chimeric quail ovary.     

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.     

Primordial germ cell‐specific expression of eGFP in transgenic chickens

PR domain zinc finger protein 14 (PRDM14) plays an essential role in the development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in mice. However, its functions in avian species remain unclear. In the present study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the PRDM14 locus in chickens in order to demonstrate its importance in development. The eGFP gene was introduced into the PRDM14 locus of cultured chicken PGCs to knockout PRDM14 and label PGCs. Chimeric chickens were established by a direct injection of eGFP knocked‐in (gene‐trapped) PGCs into the blood vessels of Hamburger–Hamilton stages (HH‐stages) 13–16 chicken embryos. Gene‐trapped chickens were established by crossing a chimeric chicken with a wild‐type hen with very high efficiency. Heterozygous gene‐trapped chickens grew normally and SSEA‐1‐positive cells expressed eGFP during HH‐stages 13–30. These results indicated the specific expression of eGFP within circulating PGCs and gonadal PGCs. At the blastodermal stage, the ratio of homozygous gene‐trapped embryos obtained by crossing heterozygous gene‐trapped roosters and hens was almost normal; however, all embryos died soon afterward, suggesting the important roles of PRDM14 in chicken early development.     

Transfer of blood containing primordial germ cells between chicken eggs development of embryonic reproductive tract

The present study was carried out to investigate development of recipient chicken embryonic reproductive tracts which are transferred chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs). It is thought that differentiation of PGCs is affected by the gonadal somatic cells. When female PGCs are transferred to male embryos, it is possible that they differentiate to W-spermatogonia. However, the relationship development between PGCs and gonads has not been investigated. At stage 12–15 of incubation of fertilized eggs, donor PGCs, which were taken from the blood vessels of donor embryos, were injected into the blood vessels of recipient embryos. The gonads were removed from embryos that died after 16 days of incubation and from newly hatched chickens and organs were examined for morphological and histological features. The survival rate of the treated embryos was 13.6% for homo-sexual transfer of PGCs (male PGCs to male embryo or female PGCs to female embryo) and 28.9% for hetero-sexual transfer PGCs (male PGCs to female embryo or female PGCs to male embryo) when determined at 15 days of incubation. The gonads of embryos arising from homo-sexual transfer appeared to develop normally. In contrast, embryos derived from hetero-sexual transfer of PGCs had abnormal gonads as assessed by histological observation. These results suggest that hetero-sexual transfer of PGCs may influence gonadal development early-stage embryos.     

Is the embryo culture system useful for collecting primordial germ cells from endangered avian embryos?

The development of artificial means to conserve endangered avian species appears to be urgently needed. Procedures developed in recent years for experimental embryology with primordial germ cells (PGCs) may help prevent the extinction of endangered species. To this end, we examined the embryo culture system (ECS) for collection of PGCs using chick embryos as a model system. Our results showed that the ECS had no detrimental effect on the number of PGCs that could be collected from the bloodstream at the optimal developmental stages. Also, our findings indicated that the number of PGCs recoverable from the blood depended on the developmental stage. We conclude that the ECS, which allows direct observation of embryos during development, is very useful for collecting PGCs and for obtaining basic developmental information that can be extended to invaluable endangered avian embryos. Various aspects of the ECS are discussed. Zoo Biol 21:287–294, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Ectopic germline cells in embryos of Xenopus laevis

Whether all descendants of germline founder cells inheriting the germ plasm can migrate correctly to the genital ridges and differentiate into primordial germ cells (PGCs) at tadpole stage has not been elucidated in Xenopus. We investigated precisely the location of descendant cells, presumptive primordial germ cells (pPGCs) and PGCs, in embryos at stages 23-48 by whole-mount in situ hybridization with the antisense probe for Xpat RNA specific to pPGCs and whole-mount immunostaining with the 2L-13 antibody specific to Xenopus Vasa protein in PGCs. Small numbers of pPGCs and PGCs, which were positively stained with the probe and the antibody, respectively, were observed in ectopic locations in a significant number of embryos at those stages. A few of the ectopic PGCs in tadpoles at stages 44-47 were positive in TdT-mediated dUTP digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. By contrast, pPGCs in the embryos until stage 40, irrespective of their location and PGCs in the genital ridges of the tadpoles at stages 43-48 were negative in TUNEL staining. Therefore, it is evident that a portion of the descendants of germline founder cells cannot migrate correctly to the genital ridges, and that a few ectopic PGCs are eliminated by apoptosis or necrosis at tadpole stages.