Cell Research

Shanghai, August 7, 2012 / biological Valley BIOON / - Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Feng Lixin research group recently found that spermatogonial stem cells can be induced to form egg. In the course of normal development, on the mesodermal cells derived primordial germ progenitor cells (primordial germ cells, PGCs) is a common precursor cell spermatogonial stem cells and oocytes. Previous studies have found that under certain culture conditions, the spermatogonial stem cells can be induced into pluripotent stem cells. Other studies have shown that pluripotent embryonic stem cells can be differentiated to develop into PGCs and egg cells. Spermatogonial stem cells to differentiate into the egg cell research has not been reported. Li-Xin Feng research group induced spermatogonial stem cell-derived egg the size of the body normal egg and the expression egg specific markers, in vitro fertilization and the formation of parthenogenetic embryos. Y and on the X chromosome of changes in gene expression, and to maintain the spermatogonial stem cell-associated gene is turned off, while the oocyte-specific expression of the gene on the X chromosome are activated. Meanwhile, stem cell-derived egg cells lost the father epigenetic imprinting, the epigenetic imprinting matrilateral. This study demonstrated the spermatogonial stem cells have the potential egg cells were induced to show its strong plasticity. The study may provide an ideal model for the analysis of molecular and epigenetic regulation of reproductive cell fate, and the establishment of epigenetic imprinting. Related research was recently published in the journal Cell & Bioscience.