Project description:Oocytes mature in a specialized fluid-filled sac, the ovarian follicle, which provides signals needed for meiosis and germ cell growth. Methods have been developed to generate functional oocytes from pluripotent stem cell–derived primordial germ cell–like cells (PGCLCs) when placed in culture with embryonic ovarian somatic cells. In this study, we developed culture conditions to recreate the stepwise differentiation process from pluripotent cells to fetal ovarian somatic cell–like cells (FOSLCs). When FOSLCs were aggregated with PGCLCs derived from mouse embryonic stem cells, the PGCLCs entered meiosis to generate functional oocytes capable of fertilization and development to live offspring. Generating functional mouse oocytes in a reconstituted ovarian environment provides a method for in vitro oocyte production and follicle generation for a better understanding of mammalian reproduction.
Project description:Reconstitution of female germ-cell development in vitro is a key challenge in reproductive biology and medicine. We show here that female (XX) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in mice are induced into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs), which, when aggregated with female gonadal somatic cells as reconstituted ovaries, develop pre-meiotic germ cell characteristics, including X-reactivation, imprint erasure, and cyst formation. Upon transplantation under ovarian bursa, PGCLCs in the reconstituted ovaries mature into germinal vesicle-stage oocytes, which, through in vitro maturation and fertilization, contribute to fertile offspring. Our culture system serves as a robust foundation for the investigation of key properties of female germ cells, including the acquisition of totipotency, and for the reconstitution of whole female germ-cell development in vitro.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility. Gene expression was measured in whole testis from males aged 62-86 days. Samples include 190 first generation lab-bred male offspring of wild-caught mice from the Mus musculus musculus - M. m. domesticus hybrid zone.
Project description:Reconstitution of female germ-cell development in vitro is a key challenge in reproductive biology and medicine. We show here that female (XX) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in mice are induced into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs), which, when aggregated with female gonadal somatic cells as reconstituted ovaries, develop pre-meiotic germ cell characteristics, including X-reactivation, imprint erasure, and cyst formation. Upon transplantation under ovarian bursa, PGCLCs in the reconstituted ovaries mature into germinal vesicle-stage oocytes, which, through in vitro maturation and fertilization, contribute to fertile offspring. Our culture system serves as a robust foundation for the investigation of key properties of female germ cells, including the acquisition of totipotency, and for the reconstitution of whole female germ-cell development in vitro. We performed expression analysis of female PGC-like cells [PGCLCs; day 3 (d3), day 6 (d6), and day 3 followed by day 6 in aggregation with female embryonic day (E) 12.5 gonadal somatic cells (d3ag6)] in comparison to in vivo embryonic PGCs (E12.5 female PGCs and E9.5 PGCs) and male d6 PGCLCs. PGCLCs were marked with fluorescence of Blimp1-mVenus, stella-ECFP transgenic reporters (BVSC). PGCs were marked with fluorescence of the stella-EGFP transgenic reporter.
Project description:Women diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) cannot produce oocytes and therefore are not candidates for the majority of current assisted reproductive technology treatments. POI can in some cases arise due to errors in primordial germ cell (PGC) specification and PGC differentiation into oogonia and oocytes. To address the ability to reverse germ cell loss in infertile women through induced reprogramming followed by germ cell differentiation, we derived hiPSCs from monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for POI. hiPSC lines derived from all research participants successfully differentiated into primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs), as determined by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and 10x single-cell RNA sequencing. Therefore, we demonstrate that after epigenetic reprogramming, infertile women with POI can re-specify germ cells. The research presented here advances efforts of fertility restoration and understanding of the germ cell lineage.