Generation of mouse functional oocytes in rat by xeno-ectopic transplantation of primordial germ cells

• Published in: Biology of reproduction 2014-10, Vol.91 (4), p.89-89
• Main Authors: Hayama, Tomonari, Yamaguchi, Tomoyuki, Kato-Itoh, Megumi, Hamanaka, Sanae, Kawarai, Mami, Sanbo, Makoto, Tamura, Chihiro, Lee, Youn-Su, Yanagida, Ayaka, Murayama, Hideyuki, Mizuno, Naoaki, Umino, Ayumi, Sato, Hideyuki, Yamazaki, Satoshi, Masaki, Hideki, Kobayashi, Toshihiro, Hirabayashi, Masumi, Nakauchi, Hiromitsu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Benzofurans; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Embryonic Stem Cells - transplantation; Female; Germ Cells; Heterografts; Kidney - cytology; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mice, SCID; Oocytes - physiology; Oogenesis - physiology; Quinolines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Stem Cell Transplantation
• ISSN: 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.121640

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are germ cell progenitors in the fetal genital ridge; female PGCs give rise to definitive oocytes that contribute to the next generation. Artificial PGCs have been induced in vitro from pluripotent stem cells and gonad-like tissue has been induced in vivo by cotransplantation of PGCs with PGC-free gonadal cells. To apply these technologies to human infertility treatment or conservation of rare species, PGC transplantation must be established in xenogenic animals. Here, we established a xenogeneic transplantation model by inducing ovary-like tissue from PGCs in xenogenic animals. We transplanted enzymatically dispersed PGCs with PGC-free gonadal cells under the kidney capsule of xenogenic immunodeficient animals. The transplanted cells formed ovary-like tissues under the kidney capsule. These tissues were histologically similar to the normal gonad and expressed the oocyte markers Vasa and Stella. In addition, mouse germinal vesicle-stage oocyte-like cells collected from ovary-like tissue in rats matured to metaphase II via in vitro maturation and gave rise to offspring by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Our studies show that rat/mouse female PGCs and PGC-free gonadal cells can develop and reconstruct ovary-like tissue containing functional oocytes in an ectopic xenogenic microenvironment.