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Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical analysis of diploid germ cells isolated from fetal rabbit gonads

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

André Moens ,
Bernadette Fléchon ,
Jéril Degrouard ,
Xavier Vignon ,
Jianchi Ding ,
Jacques-Edmond Fléchon ,
Keith James Betteridge  and
Jean-Paul Renard
André Moens
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Bernadette Fléchon
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Jéril Degrouard
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Xavier Vignon
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Jianchi Ding
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Jacques-Edmond Fléchon*
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Keith James Betteridge
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
Jean-Paul Renard
Affiliation:
INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France, and Ontario Veterinary College, Canada
*
Dr J.E. Fléchon, Unité de Biologie Cellulaire et de Microscopie Electronique, INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, 78352 Cedex, France. Tel: +33 134652537. Fax: +33 134652241. e-mail: flechon@biotec.jouy.inra.fr.
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Summary

Germ cells were isolated from rabbit fetal gonads between 18 and 22 days post coitum and examined morphologically, ultrastructurally and for immunocytochemical and cytochemical characteristics. Observations were compared with the information available from the corresponding cells of other mammalian species. The general morphology and ultrastructure of healthy isolated rabbit fetal germ cells were found to be very similar to those of the rabbit and mouse diploid germ cells in situ. Moreover, rabbit fetal germ cells shared common immunocytochemical characteristics with mouse undifferentiated embryonic stem cells or embryonic carcinoma cells, such as the presence of TEC-1 (SSEA-1) antigens, a peripheral network of F-actin, the absence of cytokeratins 8/18 and lamins A/C and an alkaline phosphatase activity. No difference between the sexes was observed. Morphological and physiological similarities with the migrating and cultured primordial germ cells of the mouse also suggest that diploid rabbit germ cells would be good candidates for deriving pluripotential embryonic germ cells (EG cells) if favourable culture conditions could be found. In conclusion, the rabbit may be suitable model for investigations on EG cells in domestic mammals with delayed meiosis.

Keywords

Rabbit fetal germ cellsImmunocytochemistryUltrastructure
Type
Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , February 1997 , pp. 47 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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