Abstract
DESPITE the importance of germ cells to the survival of species, surprisingly little is known about their embryological origin, proliferation, migration and entry into mitotic arrest or meiosis1–5. Mutations in the murine Dominant White Spotting (W) and Steel genes, which respectively encode the c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor and the c-kit ligand (or Steel factor), impair the development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vivo, as well as haematopoietic stem cells and neural crest-derived melanoblasts3,6–16. Here we use a monoclonal antibody against c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor and recombinant Steel factor to study the c-kit receptor-ligand system in cultured PGCs. In addition, we show that leukaemia inhibitory factor (also known as differentiation inhibitory activity)17,18, a factor secreted by STO fibroblasts, can stimulate proliferation of primordial germ cells in vitro.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ginsburg, M., Snow, M. H. L. & McLaren, A. Development 110, 521–528 (1990).
Tam, P. P. L. & Snow, M. H. L. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 64, 133–147 (1981).
Mintz, B. & Russell, E. S. J. exp. Zool. 134, 207–230 (1957).
Godin, I., Wylie, C. & Heasman, J. Development 108, 357–363 (1990).
Donovan, P. J. et al. Cell 44, 831–838 (1986).
Chabot, B. et al. Nature 335, 88–89 (1988).
Geissler, E. N., Ryan, M. A. & Housman, D. E. Cell 55, 185–192 (1988).
Martin, F. H. et al. Cell 63, 203–211 (1990).
Williams, D. E. et al. Cell 63, 167–174 (1990).
Zsebo, K. M. et al. Cell 63, 195–201 (1990).
Zsebo, K. M. et al. Cell 63, 213–224 (1990).
Huang, E. et al. Cell 63, 225–233 (1990).
Copeland, N. G. et al. Cell 63, 175–183 (1990).
Flanagan, J. G. & Leder, P. Cell 63, 185–194 (1990).
Anderson, D. M. et al. Cell 63, 235–243 (1990).
Nocka, K. et al. EMBO J. 9, 3287–3294 (1990).
Smith, A. G. et al. Nature 336, 688–690 (1988).
Williams, L. et al. Nature 336, 684–687 (1988).
Orr-Urtreger, A. et al. Development 109, 911–923 (1990).
Manova, K. & Bachvarova, R. F. Devl Biol. 146, 312–324 (1991).
Matsui, Y., Zsebo, K. & Hogan, B. L. M. Nature 347, 667–669 (1990).
Schmitt, R. M., Bruyns, E. & Snodgrass, R. H. Genes Dev. 5, 728–740 (1991).
Nishikawa, S. et al. EMBO J. 10, 2111–2118 (1991).
Ogawa, M. et al. J. exp. Med. 174, 63–71 (1991).
Flanagan, J. G., Chan, D. C. & Leder, P. Cell 64, 1025–1035 (1991).
Rottapel, R. et al. Molec. cell. Biol. 11, 3043–3051 (1991).
Godin, I. et al. Nature 352, 807–809 (1991).
Dolci, S. et al. Nature 352, 809–811 (1991).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matsui, Y., Toksoz, D., Nishikawa, S. et al. Effect of Steel factor and leukaemia inhibitory factor on murine primordial germ cells in culture. Nature 353, 750–752 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353750a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/353750a0
This article is cited by
-
Loss of Dead end1 induces testicular teratomas from primordial germ cells that failed to undergo sexual differentiation in embryonic testes
Scientific Reports (2023)
-
Using a testis regeneration model, FGF9, LIF, and SCF improve testis cord formation while RA enhances gonocyte survival
Cell and Tissue Research (2022)
-
Identification of primordial germ cell-like cells as liver metastasis initiating cells in mouse tumour models
Cell Discovery (2020)
-
Differentiation of Mouse Primordial Germ Cells into Functional Oocytes In Vitro
Annals of Biomedical Engineering (2017)
-
Morphologic and proliferative characteristics of goat type a spermatogonia in the presence of different sets of growth factors
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2014)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
