Abstract
The idea that females of most mammalian species have lost the capacity for oocyte production at birth has been challenged recently by the finding that juvenile and adult mouse ovaries possess mitotically active germ cells. However, the existence of female germline stem cells (FGSCs) in postnatal mammalian ovaries still remains a controversial issue among reproductive biologists and stem cell researchers. We have now established a neonatal mouse FGSC line, with normal karyotype and high telomerase activity, by immunomagnetic isolation and culture for more than 15 months. FGSCs from adult mice were isolated and cultured for more than 6 months. These FGSCs were infected with GFP virus and transplanted into ovaries of infertile mice. Transplanted cells underwent oogenesis and the mice produced offspring that had the GFP transgene. These findings contribute to basic research into oogenesis and stem cell self-renewal and open up new possibilities for use of FGSCs in biotechnology and medicine.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Cell Line / cytology*
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Cell Line / metabolism
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Cell Line / transplantation*
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Cell Proliferation
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Cell Separation / methods
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DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
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Female
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Fertility / genetics*
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Gene Expression / genetics
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Genomic Imprinting / genetics
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Germ Cells / cytology*
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Germ Cells / metabolism
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Germ Cells / transplantation
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
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Karyotyping
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
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Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
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Oocytes / cytology
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Oocytes / metabolism
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Ovary / cytology*
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Pregnancy
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RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
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Stem Cells / cytology*
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Stem Cells / metabolism
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Telomerase / metabolism
Substances
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DAZL protein, mouse
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Octamer Transcription Factor-3
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Pou5f1 protein, mouse
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Telomerase
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Alkaline Phosphatase
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Ddx4 protein, mouse
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DEAD-box RNA Helicases