Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the embryo give rise to functional gametes in the adult animal. Considering their importance in the continuation of the species, it is no wonder that there is much interest in understanding the biology of these highly specialized cells. Much has been learned from the analysis of mouse mutants that are defective in germ-cell proliferation and survival. However, given the relative inaccessibility of PGCs in the embryo, the ability to culture these cells in vitro has led to a greater understanding of the mechanism by which growth factors control their proliferation, migration, and differentiation in vivo. This chapter will outline methods to obtain PGCs from various embryonic stages, culture them in vitro, stain them for endogenous alkaline phosphatase activity, and finally generate embryonic germ (EG) cell lines.
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Labosky, P.A., Hogan, B.L.M. (1999). Mouse Primordial Germ Cells. In: Sharpe, P.T., Mason, I. (eds) Molecular Embryology. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 97. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-270-8:201
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-270-8:201
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
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Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-270-8
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