- Title:
- Complete in vitro generation of fertile oocytes from mouse primordial germ cells
- Journal:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Kanako Morohaku, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1603817113
- Author(s):
- Morohaku K1, Tanimoto R1, Sasaki K1, Kawahara-Miki R2, Kono T1, Hayashi K3, Hirao Y4, Obata Y5
- Author(s) affiliation:
- 1Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan;
2NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan;
3Department of Developmental Stem Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan;
4Division of Animal Breeding and Reproduction Research, Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
5Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Short description:
- Throughout the life of female mammals, only a small number of viable oocytes are produced. The mechanisms underlying the creation and selection of competent oocytes remain unclear. Here, we propose a novel approach for elucidating these unsolved questions, involving the use of an in vitro system established in the present study, which can fully reproduce mammalian oogenesis from mouse fetal primordial germ cells. Reconstitution of the entire oogenesis process has not been previously accomplished. Our system will assist in understanding the mechanisms of oogenesis and also create a new gamete resource in mammals.
- Link to the journal
Abstract taken from PubMed
- Abstract:
- Reconstituting gametogenesis in vitro is a key goal for reproductive biology and regenerative medicine. Successful in vitro reconstitution of primordial germ cells and spermatogenesis has recently had a significant effect in the field. However, recapitulation of oogenesis in vitro remains unachieved. Here we demonstrate the first reconstitution, to our knowledge, of the entire process of mammalian oogenesis in vitro from primordial germ cells, using an estrogen-receptor antagonist that promotes normal follicle formation, which in turn is crucial for supporting oocyte growth. The fundamental events in oogenesis (i.e., meiosis, oocyte growth, and genomic imprinting) were reproduced in the culture system. The most rigorous evidence of the recapitulation of oogenesis was the birth of fertile offspring, with a maximum of seven pups obtained from a cultured gonad. Moreover, cryopreserved gonads yielded functional oocytes and offspring in this culture system. Thus, our in vitro system will enable both innovative approaches for a deeper understanding of oogenesis and a new avenue to create and preserve female germ cells.
- Link to the paper on PubMed
