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[F-3.2.1 Study on the mechanism of growth and differentiation of primordial germ cells]

[Contact Person]

Michiharu Sakurai
Head
Laboratory of Immunobiology
National Institute of Animal Health
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
3-1-1 Kannondai, Tukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305, Japan
Tel:+81-298-38-7790 Fax:+81-298-38-7880
E-mail:yukari@niah.affrc.go.jp

[Total Budget for FY1996-1997]

10,105,000 Yen (FY1997;5,084,000 Yen)

[Abstract]

Transplantation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) of endangered avian species into embryos of other birds is expected to be a feasible manner to preserve and multiply the endangered wild life. The final goal of this study was to examine the mechanism of in vitro growth and differentiation of quail PGCs. Toward this goal, a method for the purification of quail PGCs was developed. Then, monoclonal antibodies SSEA-1 and EMA-1 were shown to specifically stain quail PGCs. These monoclonal antibodies would be useful in the identification of quail PGCs cultured in vitro. Based on these achievements, quail and chicken PGCs were cultured in vitro on quail or chicken embryonic fibroblast feeder cells in the presence of various growth factors including chicken stem cell factor and mouse leukemia inhibitory factor. Although a short term proliferation of chicken PGCs under these conditions was seen, the growth of quail PGCs was not observed.

[Key Words]

avian, primordial germ cells, endangered wildlife, in vitro culture, differentiation