title: Effects of protease inhibitors and antioxidants on In vitro survival of porcine primordial germ cells.
abstract: One of the problems associated with in vitro culture of primordial germ cells (PGCs) is the large loss of cells during the initial period of culture. This study characterized the initial loss and determined the effectiveness of two classes of apoptosis inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and antioxidants on the ability of porcine PGCs to survive in culture. Results from electron microscopic analysis and in situ DNA fragmentation assay indicated that porcine PGCs rapidly undergo apoptosis when placed in culture. Additionally, alpha(2)-macroglobulin, a protease inhibitor and cytokine carrier, and N:-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, increased the survival of PGCs in vitro. While other protease inhibitors tested did not affect survival of PGCs, all antioxidants tested improved survival of PGCs (P: < 0.05). Further results indicated that the beneficial effect of the antioxidants was critical only during the initial period of culture. Finally, it was determined that in short-term culture, in the absence of feeder layers, antioxidants could partially replace the effect(s) of growth factors and reduce apoptosis. Collectively, these results indicate that the addition of alpha(2)-macroglobulin and antioxidants can increase the number of PGCs in vitro by suppressing apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health, and Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4458, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Weaks
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bazer
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Piedrahita
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D000111:Acetylcysteine