Development of fertile mouse oocytes from mitotic germ cells in vitro

Mammalian fetal ovaries contain numerous primordial germ cells (PGCs), although few mature oocytes are obtained from females, owing to apoptosis and follicle atresia. The regulatory mechanisms underlying oogenesis/folliculogenesis remain unknown. Development of methods for obtaining mature oocytes from PGCs in fetal ovaries in vitro could contribute to clarifying these mechanisms. The failure of follicle assembly has been found to be the most challenging aspect in conventional culture conditions. Recently, we established novel culture conditions that enable successful follicle assembly, sustaining interactions between the oocyte and somatic cells, and, in turn, promoting oocyte growth and maturation. Mature oocytes were differentiated from PGCs after a 1-month culture period. A hundred mouse offspring were obtained from approximately a thousand mature oocytes, indicating that oocytes that were differentiated from PGCs in vitro acquired totipotency after fertilization. Here we provide a detailed protocol for using this in vitro system. This in vitro system will potentially provide a novel platform for studying oogenesis and preservation of female germ cells.