Optimization for PGCLC induction in rats. (A) Morphology of mouse and rat ESCs and d2 EpiLCs induced by conventional protocol (2). (B) Experimental design for investigation of adhesive property of ESCs. (C) Evaluation of adhesive property in mouse and rat ESCs. (D) Morphology of floating aggregates during EpiLC induction from rESCs bearing Prdm14-H2BVenus. (E) FACS pattern of mPGCLC induction via mEpiLC in conventional 2D system and 3D system. Blimp1-EGFP reporter was used to quantify PGCLC induction efficiency. (F) Experimental design for optimization of culture conditions to test for viability of epiblast cells and induction of epiblast-derived rPGCs. (G) Comparison of basal medium for ex vivo culture of rat epiblast. Among the indicated medium, N2B27 is the most conducive for epiblast survival and growth. (H) Optimization of KSR concentrations for the survival of epiblast cells. (I) Wholemount IF of induced rPGCs from in vivo rat epiblasts. Prdm14-H2BVenus/TFAP2C double positive rPGCs are observed in 3 out of 3 epiblasts. Scale bars : 100 μm. Credit: Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abl4412

A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in Japan has produced offspring from in vitro–derived germ cells in rats. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their methodology and explains why they believe their work will lead to a better understanding of in vitro gametogenesis in other species.

In 2011, another team developed a way to reconstitute mouse germ cell specifications in vitro by differentiating mouse into primordial germ-like cells capable of gametogenesis. Since that time, multiple efforts have been mounted to repeat this effort in another species, but until now, all of them have failed, demonstrating how difficult the process can be. More specifically, the earlier research team developed a way to generate mouse sperm-like cells from , and then used those cells to impregnate a female mouse, who then give birth to healthy pups. In this new effort, the researchers used the earlier study as a template to replicate the process in rats.

The process started with inducing epiblast-like cells in an embryo from rat . The resultant cells were then placed in a medium containing a signaling molecule along with other ingredients, which encouraged them to grow into germ-like cells. Next, the cells were cultured along with gonadal somatic cells, a means of simulating a normal maturation process. Once they were mature, the cells were transplanted into the testes of a male rat that had been engineered to have no . Then they let nature take its course—the cells developed into mature sperm. The researchers then removed sperm samples from the rat and injected them directly into oocytes in a live female rat where they yielded healthy offspring. The researchers note that the offspring grew and were able to reproduce naturally.

The researchers note that after injection of the germ-like cells into the male testes, the males were not able to mate and produce offspring normally because the cells were not mature enough. They suggest more work is required to overcome this problem. But they also suggest that their work provides a path forward for achieving similar results in other species, and perhaps, someday in humans.

More information: Mami Oikawa et al, Functional primordial germ cell–like cells from pluripotent stem cells in rats, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abl4412

Journal information: Science