Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Author Spotlight: PGC Cryopreservation – An Alternative Approach Towards Long-Term Preservation of Drosophila Strains
Published on: December 1, 2023
A reviewed chronology of primordial germ cells migration in the chick embryo
M Lejong1, N Vanmuylder1, M Choa-Duterre1
1Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Biomécanique et Organogenèse, faculté de médecine, université libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Introduction:
Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs) are present in all sexually reproducing animals. They differentiate into spermatozoa or oocytes and are therefore responsible for the transmission of genetic and epigenetic information across generations. In birds, PGCs are first observed in the center of the blastodisc at stage Eyal-Giladi X. With the formation of the primitive streak, germ cells are translocated anteriorly to the germinal crescent. At stage Hamburger- Hamilton 10-12, they enter the vasculature before migrating through the dorsal mesentery towards the genital ridges.
Material And Methods:
Embryos from stages Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) 16 to 22 were collected. Blood samples were taken from the dorsal aorta and from the heart in order to perform blood smears and PAS staining. Embryos were dissected and fixed in Serra's medium. Sections were placed on slides for PAS staining. A sample of each embryo was collected for DNA extraction and PCR in order to determine the sex of the embryos.
Results:
PGCs were observed in blood circulation until stage HH 20 on blood smears and until stage HH 19 on histological sections. The first PGCs arrived in the genital ridges were observed from stage HH 17. A few germ cells were still migrating in the dorsal mesentery at stage HH 22. The aim of this study was to review the chronology of the migration of PGCs in chick embryos.
More Related Videos
05:34Primordial Germ Cell Transplantation for CRISPR/Cas9-based Leapfrogging in Xenopus
Published on: February 1, 2018
12:06Generation 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
Related Concept Videos
06:22Primordial Germ Cell Cryopreservation and Revival of Drosophila Strains
05:34Primordial Germ Cell Transplantation for CRISPR/Cas9-based Leapfrogging in Xenopus
07:26An Introduction to the Chick: Gallus gallus domesticus
07:24Development of the Chick
This video review of chick development begins by describing the process of egg fertilization and formation within the chicken reproductive tract. Next, the most commonly used chick staging...
12:06Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
08:46Single Cell Transfection in Chick Embryos