Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

In Ovo Intravascular Injection in Chicken Embryos
07:00

In Ovo Intravascular Injection in Chicken Embryos

Published on: June 3, 2022

7.5K

JAK-STAT signaling regulation of chicken embryonic stem cell differentiation into male germ cells

Yu Zhang1, Lei Zhang1, Qisheng Zuo1

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic, Breeding and Molecular Design, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, 88 South University Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Animal
|June 10, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway promotes chicken germ cell formation. Activating JAK-STAT signaling increases primordial germ cells (PGCs), while inhibiting it decreases them.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Signaling
  • Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway is vital for chicken germ stem cell differentiation.
  • The precise role of JAK-STAT signaling in regulating germ cell differentiation remained largely unknown prior to this study.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of JAK-STAT signaling in chicken germ cell differentiation.
  • To determine the effects of JAK-STAT pathway inhibition and activation on embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • JAK-STAT signaling was modulated using cucurbitacin I (inhibition) or interleukin 6 (activation) during ESC differentiation.
  • Gene and protein expression of JAK-STAT pathway components (JAK2, STAT3) and PGC markers (CVH, C-KIT) were analyzed using Western blotting and qRT-PCR.
  • Histological analyses (PAS, immunohistochemistry) were performed on gonadal sections to assess PGC development and gonad size.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling led to decreased JAK2 and STAT3 expression, reduced PGC markers, fewer CVH/C-KIT positive cells, and smaller gonads.
  • Activation of JAK-STAT signaling resulted in increased JAK2 and STAT3 expression, enhanced PGC marker CVH, a higher proportion of CVH/C-KIT positive cells, and significantly larger gonads.
  • JAK2 and STAT3 were identified as pivotal factors in JAK-STAT mediated intracellular signal transduction.

Conclusions:

  • JAK-STAT signaling effectively promotes PGC formation in the genital ridge during early embryogenesis in vivo.
  • The JAK-STAT pathway plays a positive regulatory role in the differentiation of ESCs to spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro.
  • JAK2 and STAT3 are critical mediators of JAK-STAT signaling in germ cell development.
Keywords:
Chicken embryonic stem cellsJAK-STAT signalingPrimordial germ cellsSpermatogonial stem cells

More Related Videos

Grafting of Beads into Developing Chicken Embryo Limbs to Identify Signal Transduction Pathways Affecting Gene Expression11:48

Grafting of Beads into Developing Chicken Embryo Limbs to Identify Signal Transduction Pathways Affecting Gene Expression

Published on: January 17, 2016

9.4K
Analysis of Cell Differentiation, Morphogenesis, and Patterning During Chicken Embryogenesis Using the Soaked-Bead Assay06:49

Analysis of Cell Differentiation, Morphogenesis, and Patterning During Chicken Embryogenesis Using the Soaked-Bead Assay

Published on: January 12, 2022

3.7K

Related Concept Videos

Maintenance of the ES Cell State01:14

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
2.8K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
13.4K
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
2.5K
Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation01:10

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
7.0K
Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
33.0K
Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
5.5K