• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.276-276
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• 2004

Pluripotent stem cells have been generated from two embryonic sources. ES cells are generated from ICM of blastocyst stage embryos, and embryonic germ (EG) cells are generated from primordial germ cells (PGCs). Both ES and EG cells are pluripotent and present important characteristics such as high levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, multi-cellular colony formation, normal and stable karyotypes, continuously passaging ability, and the capability of differentiation into all three embryonic germ layers. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.4-5
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• 2009

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 1988

Utilizatin of primordial germ cell(PGC) as transferor of genetic materials is great potential in manipulating genes to promote genetic performances in chicken. This study explored that PGCs from early embryos as vehicle for molecular breeding strategles were isolated, these chromosomally marked donor PGCs were transplanted to germinal crescent of host embryos, and genetic materials of donor PGC were identified at the proliferative stage in host gonads.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.40-46
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• 2001

The use of pluripotent stem cells has tremendous advantages for various purposes but these cell lines with proven germ-line transmission have been completely established only in the mouse. Embryonic germ (EG) cell lines are also pluripotent and undifferentiated stem cells established from primordial germ cells (PGCs). This study was conducted to establish and characterize the chicken EG cells derived from gonadal primordial germ cells. We isolated gonadal PGCs from 5.5-day-old (stage 28) White leghorn (WL) embryos and established chicken EG cells lines with EG culture medium supplemented with human stem cell factor (hSCF), murine leukemia inhibitory factor (mLIF), bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), human interleukin-11 (hIL-11), and human insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-I). These cells grew continuously for 4 months (10 passages) on a feeder layer of mitotically active chicken embryonic fibroblasts. These cells were characterized by screening with the Periodic acid-Shiff＇s reaction, anti-SSEA-1 antibody, and a proliferation assay after several passages. As the results, the chicken EG cells maintained characteristics of undifferentiated stem cells as well as that of gonadal PGCs. When cultured in suspension, the chicken EG cells successfully formed an embryoid body and differentiated into a variety of cell types when re-seeded onto culture dish. The chicken EG cells were injected into blastodermal layer at stage X and dorsal aorta of recipient embryo at stage 14 (incubation of 53hrs) and produced chimeric chickens with various differentiated tissues derived from the EG cells. The germline chimeras were also successfully induced by using EG cells. Thus, Chicken EG cells will be useful for the production of transgenic chickena and for studies of germ cell differentiation and genomic imprinting.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.459-466
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• 1994

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in aves are the progenitor cells for the gametes. These cells first appear in the epiblast (Eyal-Giladi et al.. 1981). Then translocate and concentrate to endoderm of germinal crescent area in the junction of the area opaca and area pellucida lateral to the primitive streak in stage 4 through 7. They separate from the endoderm, temporarily circulate via the blood vascular system, leave the blood vessels, and finally settle down in the gonadal anlagen at stage 20-24 where they rapidly proliferate to form germ cells. Recently, several attempts have been made to introduce foreign gene into the avian genome to form a transgenic chicken. The stem cells most readily available as vehicles for genetic manipulation of germline in avian species are the PGCs. PGCs have recently been manipulated genetically and used successfully as a vector for gene transfer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.427-434
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• 1994

The primordial germ cells (PGCs) were transfected in vitro and expressed the exogenous RSVLTR/${\beta}G2$ plasmid, suggesting thaI PGC is a possible vector for direct gene transfer into the germ line. Transfection efficiency of cell suspensions containing PGCs was 1.5% by liposome mediated DNA transfection. By microinjection of the transfected PGCs into the host germinal crescent, PGCs migrated via blood vessel to the future gonad and these transfected PGCs resulted in the RSVLTR/${\beta}G2$ expression in the gonad. The results from the seeding of PGCs on the chorioallantoic membrane were insufficient to test the hypothesis that PGCs can penetrate or invade the chorioallantoic membrane for transport via the circulatory system.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.557-562
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• 1995

In this study, characteristics of chick primordial germ cells (PGCs), which is the founder cell of the germline, and gonadal development of the chick embryo between 12hrs and 6 day of incubation were investigated by transverse serial sections of chick embryos under the light microscopic observation. In embryo stage 20 (3 day of incubation), there are a lot of PGCs at the mesenchym, which were moving to the thickened epithelium (gonadal ridge). The PGCs arrive at both right and left gonad primordial in equal number prior to stage 24 (4 day of incubation), but in the following stages, the distribution of the PGCs became asymmetrical. More PGCs colonized the left than the right gonad, but the reason for the unequal distribution of PGCs is uncertain. The PGCs have mostly settled in the gonadal ridge (GR) at 6 day embryo. This study was conducted to investigate characteristics of the PGC migration and gonadal formation and observe the best condition for PGC isolation, culture and to attempt the possibility of the production for transgenic germline chimeras with manipulated PGCs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.358-367
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• 2008

The embryonic germ cell (EGCs) of mice is a kind of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated from pre- and post-migratory primordial germ cells (PGCs). Most previous studies on DNA methylation of EGCs were restricted to 12.5 days post coitum (dpc). This study was designed to establish and characterize murine EGC lines from migrated PGCs as late as 13.5 dpc and to estimate the degrees of methylation of their imprinted genes as well as of the non-imprinted locus, Oct4, using an accurate and quantitative method of measurement. We established five independent EGC lines from post migratory PGCs of 11.5-13.5 dpc from C57BL/6 ${\times}$ DBA/2 F1 hybrid mouse fetuses. All the EGCs exhibited the typical features of pluripotent cells including hypomethylation of the Oct4 regulatory region. We examined the methylation status of three imprinted genes; Igf2, Igf2r and H19 in the five EGC lines using bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis. Igf2r was almost unmethylated in all the EGC lines irrespective of the their sex and stage of isolation; Igf2 and H19 were more methylated than Igf2r, especially in male EGCs. Moreover, EGCs derived at 13.5 dpc exhibited higher levels of DNA methylation than those from earlier stages. These results suggest that in vitro derived EGCs acquire different epigenotypes from their parental in vivo migratory PGCs, and that sex-specific de novo methylation occurs in the Igf2 and H19 genes of EGCs.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.74-76
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• 2001

Comparing to mammals, male bird has the homozygote ZZ and female has the heterozygote n. Therefore, the sex of fertilized eggs is defined by female chromosome constitution. Although this cytological observation had been established, the molecular and cellular mechanism of germ cell differentiation are essentially unknown in aves. Especially, the differentiation of germ cells in mixed-sex chimeras has not yet been clearly elucidated. Primordial germ cells, which are the progenitors of sperm or egg after sexual maturity, firstly arise in the epiblast and migrate to embryonic gonads through the blood vessel. During the embryo development, these PGCs differentiate in the pathway of mate or female, respectively and develop the sperm or egg cells after sexual maturity. In this paper, we confirmed that the female PGCs could migrate into the recipient male gonads after transferring and differentiate into germ cells in the embryonic stages. The primordial germ cells were isolated from the female embryonic gonads of 5.5-day-old incubation and re-injected into the male recipient embryos of 2-day-old incubation, which produced mixed-sex chimera in the germline. The finding in this study demonstrated the ability of migration and differentiation of gonadal primordial germ cells in mixed-sex chicken.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1227-1231
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• 2002

A powerful tool for chicken transgenesis could be established by employing a germline chimera production through primordial germ cell transplantation. This study was conducted to examine whether foreign gene-transfected gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs) have a migration activity into the gonad after transfer to recipient embryos. In Experiment 1, gPGCs of Korean Ogol Chicken were retrieved from 5.5-day-old embryos and subsequently transferred to the dorsal aorta of 2.5-day-old White Leghorn embryos after being labeled with PKH26 fluorescent dye. To confirm migration activity after transplantation, recipient embryos were sacrificed and examined on 3 days after transfer. Sex determination was concomitantly undertaken to examine whether sex of recipient embryos could affect the migration activity of gPGCs. All of embryonic gonads examined showed positive signals with PKH26 fluorescence and W-chromosome specific band by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was detected in male embryos when gPGCs with ZW chromosome were transferred to recipient embryos. In Experiment 2, retrieved gPGCs were transfected with LacZ gene-containing cytomegalovirus promoter ($pCMV{\beta}$) by electroporation and subsequently transferred to recipient embryos. LacZ gene expression was identified in the gonads of 6 or 10-day-old recipient embryos and hatched-chicks. A total of 20 embryos and 12 hatched-chicks were examined and 11 of them (10 embryos and one hatched chicken; 11/32=34.4%) expressed $\beta$-galactosidase, a marker substance of LacZ gene. The results of this study demonstrated that foreign gene-transfected gPGCs can migrate and settle down into the gonad after being transferred into the blood vessel of the recipient embryos. This established technique will contribute to developing a peer biotechnology for transgenic chicken.