title: Identification and characterization of putative stem cells in the adult pig ovary.
abstract: Recently, the concept of 'neo-oogenesis' has received increasing attention, since it was shown that adult mammals have a renewable source of eggs. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the origin of these eggs and to confirm whether neo-oogenesis continues throughout life in the ovaries of the adult mammal. Adult female pigs were utilized to isolate, identify and characterize, including their proliferation and differentiation capabilities, putative stem cells (PSCs) from the ovary. PSCs were found to comprise a heterogeneous population based on c-kit expression and cell size, and also express stem and germ cell markers. Analysis of PSC molecular progression during establishment showed that these cells undergo cytoplasmic-to-nuclear translocation of Oct4 in a manner reminiscent of gonadal primordial germ cells (PGCs). Hence, cells with the characteristics of early PGCs are present or are generated in the adult pig ovary. Furthermore, the in vitro establishment of porcine PSCs required the presence of ovarian cell-derived extracellular regulatory factors, which are also likely to direct stem cell niche interactions in vivo. In conclusion, the present work supports a crucial role for c-kit and kit ligand/stem cell factor in stimulating the growth, proliferation and nuclear reprogramming of porcine PSCs, and further suggests that porcine PSCs might be the culture equivalent of early PGCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam School of Biotechnology, Tan Tao University, Long An 81000, Vietnam bhthuy@hcmiu.edu.vn jhkim541@konkuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hong-Thuy
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam School of Biotechnology, Tan Tao University, Long An 81000, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Thuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Deug-Nam
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 705718, Korea.
authors.forename: Teoan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea bhthuy@hcmiu.edu.vn jhkim541@konkuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jin-Hoi
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005855:Germ Layers / Q000378:metabolism; D007621:Karyotyping; D008024:Ligands; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D055153:Stem Cell Niche; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008024:Ligands; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
keywords: Differentiation; Kit ligand; Nuclear reprogramming; Oogenesis; Ovarian stem cells