Skip to main content
Log in

Analysis of chicken primordial germ cells

  • JAACT Special Issue
  • Published:
Cytotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursors of germline cells. Although avian PGCs have been used to produce transgenic birds, their characteristics largely remain unknown. In this study, we isolated PGCs from chicken embryos at various developmental stages and analyzed the gene expression. Using the expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) as a marker of chicken PGCs, we purified PGCs from embryos by fluorescence-activated cell sorting after incubation for 2.5–8.5 days. The number of SSEA-1+ cells was almost unchanged during days 2.5–8.5 of incubation in females but continuously increased in male. Expression of several genes, including Blimp1, SOX2, and CXCR4, was observed in SSEA-1+ cells but not in SSEA-1 cells in both female and male embryos. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis revealed that the expression of CXCR4, a chemokine receptor essential for migration of PGCs from the bloodstream to the gonads, was reduced after the circulating PGC stage (day 2.5).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Program for Promotion of Basic Research Activities for Innovative Biosciences (PROBRAIN) by Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (BRAIN).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ken-ichi Nishijima.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Motono, M., Ohashi, T., Nishijima, Ki. et al. Analysis of chicken primordial germ cells. Cytotechnology 57, 199–205 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-008-9156-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-008-9156-x

Keywords

Navigation