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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
12:06
Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: January 11, 2019
Methylation changes in porcine primordial germ cells
Stoyan G Petkov1, Wade A Reh, Gary B Anderson
1Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. sgpetkov@ucdavis.edu
Molecular Reproduction and Development
|April 22, 2008
Summary
Porcine primordial germ cells (PGC) undergo DNA demethylation during development. In culture, PGC halt this process and gain new methylation marks, differing between sexes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Epigenetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Epigenetic reprogramming, including DNA methylation erasure, is crucial for germ cell development and totipotency.
- Understanding these epigenetic changes in porcine primordial germ cells (PGC) is vital for reproductive biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate DNA methylation changes in porcine PGC during early pregnancy (Days 24-31).
- To analyze methylation patterns in cultured embryonic germ cells (EGCs) derived from porcine PGC.
Main Methods:
- Examined methylation status of centromeric repeats and IGF2-H19 differentially methylated domains (DMDs) in porcine PGC and EGCs.
- Compared methylation levels between male and female PGC/EGCs at different developmental stages and in culture.
Main Results:
- Porcine PGC showed rapid demethylation of centromeric repeats and IGF2-H19 DMDs between Days 24-28.
- Male PGC reacquired methylation by Days 30-31, while female PGC remained hypomethylated.
- Cultured EGCs exhibited hypermethylation compared to in vivo PGC, with sex-specific differences in females.
Conclusions:
- Porcine PGC undergo demethylation post-genital ridge colonization, mirroring murine PGC.
- In vitro culture disrupts the PGC demethylation program, leading to altered methylation patterns and potential new marks.
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