Cryopreservation of specialized chicken lines using cultured primordial germ cells.
Biosecurity and sustainability in poultry production requires reliable germplasm conservation. Germplasm conservation in poultry is more challenging in comparison to other livestock species. Embryo cryopreservation is not feasible for egg-laying animals, and chicken semen conservation has variable success for different chicken breeds. A potential solution is the cryopreservation of the committed diploid stem cell precursors to the gametes, the primordial germ cells ( PGCS: ). Primordial germ cells are the lineage-restricted cells found at early embryonic stages in birds and form the sperm and eggs. We demonstrate here, using flocks of partially inbred, lower-fertility, major histocompatibility complex- ( MHC-: ) restricted lines of chicken, that we can easily derive and cryopreserve a sufficient number of independent lines of male and female PGCs that would be sufficient to reconstitute a poultry breed. We demonstrate that germ-line transmission can be attained from these PGCs using a commercial layer line of chickens as a surrogate host. This research is a major step in developing and demonstrating that cryopreserved PGCs could be used for the biobanking of specialized flocks of birds used in research settings. The prospective application of this technology to poultry production will further increase sustainability to meet current and future production needs.
The Roslin Institute and Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
S
S
Nandi
The Roslin Institute and Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
J
J
Whyte
The Roslin Institute and Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
L
L
Taylor
The Roslin Institute and Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
A
A
Sherman
Avian Oncogenic Virus Group, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Guildford, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.
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V
Nair
The Roslin Institute and Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
P
P
Kaiser
The Roslin Institute and Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK mike.mcgrew@roslin.ed.ac.uk.
M J
MJ
McGrew
D000818:Animals; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D013074:Sperm Banks; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
biobank; chicken; cryopreservation; primordial germ cell; stem cell