Differentiation of female Oct4‐GFP embryonic stem cells into germ lineage cells

Abstract

Due to high infertility ratio nowadays, it is essential to explore efficient ways of enhancing mammalian reproductivity, in particular female reproductivity. Using female Oct4‐GFP embryonic stem cells, we mimic the in vivo development procedure to induce ES cells into epiblast cell‐like cells (EpiLCs) and then primordial germ cell‐like cells (PGCLCs). GFP positive PGCLCs that showed typical PGC markers and epigenetic modification were efficiently obtained. Further transplantation of the GFP positive PGCLC and native ovary cell mixture into ovary of infertile mice revealed that both MVH and GFP positive cells could be developed in ovary, but no later developmental stage germ cells were observed. This study suggested that Oct4‐GFP ES cells may be only suitable for tracing early germ cell development.