Selection of the Inducer for the Differentiation of Chicken Embryonic Stem Cells into Male Germ Cells In Vitro

PLoS One. 2016 Oct 14;11(10):e0164664. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164664. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Several inducers have been used to differentiate embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into male germ cells but the induction process has been inefficient. To solve the problem of low efficiency of inducer for ESCs differentiation into male germ cells, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), Am80(the retinoic acid receptor agonist), and estradiol (E2) was used to induce ESCs to differentiate into male germ cells in vitro. ESCs were cultured in media containing ATRA, Am80, or E2 respectively which can differentiate ESCs into a germ cell lineage. In process of ATRA and Am80 induction Group, germ cell-like cells can be observed in 10 days; but have no in E2 induction Group. The marker genes of germ cell: Dazl, Stra8, C-kit, Cvh, integrinα6, and integrinβ1 all showed a significant up-regulation in the expression level. The ATRA-induction group showed high expression of C-kit and Cvh around 4 days, and integrinα6 and integrinβ1 were activated on day 10, respectively, while the E2-,Am80- induction group showed a high expression of C-kit as early as 4 days immunocytochemistry results shown that, integrinα6 and integrinβ1 could be detected in the ATRA-, Am80-, and E2-induction group, Positive clones in the ATRA group were greater in number than those in the other two groups. we conclued that ATRA, Am80, and E2 can promote the expression of the corresponding genes of germ cells, and had different effect on the differentiation of ESCs into male germ cells. ATRA was the most effective inducer of germ cell differentiation.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Benzoates / pharmacology
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chickens
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Germ Cells / cytology*
  • Germ Cells / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Integrins / genetics
  • Integrins / metabolism
  • Lewis X Antigen / genetics
  • Lewis X Antigen / metabolism
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein / genetics
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / pharmacology
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Benzoates
  • Integrins
  • Lewis X Antigen
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes
  • tamibarotene
  • Estradiol
  • Tretinoin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31301959, 31272429,31472087), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20123250120009), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2012M511326, 2014T70550), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20161331), the science and technology projects fund of Yangzhou City (YZ2015105) and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions 2011-137 Dr. Yani Zhang.