Spermatogenesis from epiblast and primordial germ cells following transplantation into postnatal mouse testis.
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are derived from a population of pluripotent epiblast cells in mice. However, little is known about when and how PGCs acquire the capacity to differentiate into functional germ cells, while keeping the potential to derive pluripotent embryonic germ cells and teratocarcinomas. In this investigation, we show that epiblast cells and PGCs can establish colonies of spermatogenesis after transfer into postnatal seminiferous tubules of surrogate infertile mice. Furthermore, we obtained normal fertile offspring by microinsemination using spermatozoa or spermatids derived from PGCs harvested from fetuses as early as 8.5 days post coitum. Thus, fetal male germ cell development is remarkably flexible, and the maturation process, from epiblast cells through PGCs to postnatal spermatogonia, can occur in the postnatal testicular environment. Primordial germ cell transplantation techniques will also provide a novel tool to assess the developmental potential of PGCs, such as those manipulated in vitro or recovered from embryos harboring lethal mutations.
Chuma
Shinichiro
S
Department of Development and Differentiation, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Kanatsu-Shinohara
Mito
M
Inoue
Kimiko
K
Ogonuki
Narumi
N
Miki
Hiromi
H
Toyokuni
Shinya
S
Hosokawa
Mihoko
M
Nakatsuji
Norio
N
Ogura
Atsuo
A
Shinohara
Takashi
T
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D005838:Genotype; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors