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Updated: Jul 23, 2026

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells
14:01

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

Published on: October 22, 2009

Pluripotential stem cells derived from migrating primordial germ cells

G Durcova-Hills1, J Ainscough, A McLaren

  • 1Wellcome/CRC Institute, Cambridge, UK.

Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity
|January 5, 2002
PubMed

Insights

New embryonic germ cell (EGC) lines derived from mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs) show pluripotency and normal karyotype. Imprint erasure for key genes occurs before 9.5 days post coitum in male germ cells.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Stem cell research
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Embryonic germ cells (EGCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from primordial germ cells (PGCs).
  • Previous studies have successfully derived EGCs from mouse PGCs at various developmental stages.
  • Understanding the properties and developmental potential of EGCs is crucial for regenerative medicine and developmental studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive and characterize new embryonic germ cell (EGC) lines from migrating mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs) at 9.5 days post coitum (dpc).
  • To assess the developmental potency and epigenetic status, specifically DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes, in these newly derived EGC lines.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of EGC lines from 9.5 dpc mouse embryos.
  • Characterization of EGCs for pluripotency markers (colony morphology, alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-1) and karyotype analysis.
  • In vivo assessment of developmental potency using fetal chimera assays.
  • Analysis of DNA methylation status of imprinted genes (Igf2r, p57Kip2, Lit1, H19, Igf2) using methylation-sensitive techniques.

Main Results:

  • Four male EGC lines were successfully derived from 9.5 dpc migrating PGCs, all exhibiting normal karyotypes and typical EGC properties.
  • In vivo studies demonstrated that two EGC lines contributed to various tissues in fetal chimeras.
  • Epigenetic analysis revealed that Igf2r, p57Kip2, and Lit1 were unmethylated, while H19 and Igf2 showed hypo-methylation in the 9.5 dpc EGC line compared to 11.5 dpc EGC lines.

Conclusions:

  • Newly derived 9.5 dpc male EGC lines possess pluripotency and developmental potential.
  • The findings suggest that imprint erasure in the male germ line for the examined imprinted genes occurs before 9.5 dpc.

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