Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of the gametes of the adult. PGCs derive from cells of the most proximal part of the cup-shaped epiblast corresponding to the presumptive region of the extraembryonic mesoderm. At 7.2 days post coitum (dpc) a small group of PGCs located at the base of the allantois can be recognised due to a strong alkaline phosphatase activity. Thus far, scant information was available on the mechanism(s) controlling the lineage of PGCs in the mouse embryo. However, results obtained in mice defective for bone morphogenetic protein-4 (Bmp4) secreted molecule revealed that this growth factor has important functions for the derivation of PGCs from extraembryonic mesoderm cells. In this paper, we have studied the effects in culture of Bmp4 on epiblast cells obtained from egg-cylinder stage mouse embryos (5.5-6.0dpc) and PGCs from 11.5dpc embryos. We found that Bmp4 treatment enables recruitment of pluripotent cells to a PGC phenotype by a multi-step process involving an initial pre-commitment of epiblast cells and a following stage of PGC phenotypic determination. We further provide evidences that Bmp4 may promote the growth of gonadal PGCs through a Smad1/4 signalling.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 15-24 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Mechanisms of Development |
| Volume | 112 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
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Keywords
- Bone morphogenetic protein-4
- Epiblast
- Germ cell lineage
- Primordial germ cells
- Smad
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Cite this
Derivation in culture of primordial germ cells from cells of the mouse epiblast : Phenotypic induction and growth control by Bmp4 signalling. / Pesce, Maurizio; Gioia Klinger, Francesca; De Felici, Massimo.
In: Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 112, No. 1-2, 2002, p. 15-24.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Derivation in culture of primordial germ cells from cells of the mouse epiblast
T2 - Phenotypic induction and growth control by Bmp4 signalling
AU - Pesce, Maurizio
AU - Gioia Klinger, Francesca
AU - De Felici, Massimo
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of the gametes of the adult. PGCs derive from cells of the most proximal part of the cup-shaped epiblast corresponding to the presumptive region of the extraembryonic mesoderm. At 7.2 days post coitum (dpc) a small group of PGCs located at the base of the allantois can be recognised due to a strong alkaline phosphatase activity. Thus far, scant information was available on the mechanism(s) controlling the lineage of PGCs in the mouse embryo. However, results obtained in mice defective for bone morphogenetic protein-4 (Bmp4) secreted molecule revealed that this growth factor has important functions for the derivation of PGCs from extraembryonic mesoderm cells. In this paper, we have studied the effects in culture of Bmp4 on epiblast cells obtained from egg-cylinder stage mouse embryos (5.5-6.0dpc) and PGCs from 11.5dpc embryos. We found that Bmp4 treatment enables recruitment of pluripotent cells to a PGC phenotype by a multi-step process involving an initial pre-commitment of epiblast cells and a following stage of PGC phenotypic determination. We further provide evidences that Bmp4 may promote the growth of gonadal PGCs through a Smad1/4 signalling.
AB - Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the embryonic precursors of the gametes of the adult. PGCs derive from cells of the most proximal part of the cup-shaped epiblast corresponding to the presumptive region of the extraembryonic mesoderm. At 7.2 days post coitum (dpc) a small group of PGCs located at the base of the allantois can be recognised due to a strong alkaline phosphatase activity. Thus far, scant information was available on the mechanism(s) controlling the lineage of PGCs in the mouse embryo. However, results obtained in mice defective for bone morphogenetic protein-4 (Bmp4) secreted molecule revealed that this growth factor has important functions for the derivation of PGCs from extraembryonic mesoderm cells. In this paper, we have studied the effects in culture of Bmp4 on epiblast cells obtained from egg-cylinder stage mouse embryos (5.5-6.0dpc) and PGCs from 11.5dpc embryos. We found that Bmp4 treatment enables recruitment of pluripotent cells to a PGC phenotype by a multi-step process involving an initial pre-commitment of epiblast cells and a following stage of PGC phenotypic determination. We further provide evidences that Bmp4 may promote the growth of gonadal PGCs through a Smad1/4 signalling.
KW - Bone morphogenetic protein-4
KW - Epiblast
KW - Germ cell lineage
KW - Primordial germ cells
KW - Smad
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036177598&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036177598&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0925-4773(01)00624-4
DO - 10.1016/S0925-4773(01)00624-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 11850175
AN - SCOPUS:0036177598
VL - 112
SP - 15
EP - 24
JO - Mechanisms of Development
JF - Mechanisms of Development
SN - 0925-4773
IS - 1-2
ER -