Rat Post-implantation Epiblast-derived Pluripotent Stem Cells Produce Functional Germ Cells

Overview

Journal Cell Rep Methods

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2023 Sep 6

PMID 37671016

Authors

Kenyu Iwatsuki

Mami Oikawa

Hisato Kobayashi

Christopher A Penfold

Makoto Sanbo

Takuya Yamamoto

Shinichi Hochi

Kazuki Kurimoto

Masumi Hirabayashi

Toshihiro Kobayashi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In mammals, pluripotent cells transit through a continuum of distinct molecular and functional states en route to initiating lineage specification. Capturing pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) mirroring pluripotent states provides accessible models to study the pluripotency program and mechanisms underlying lineage restriction. Here, we develop optimal culture conditions to derive and propagate post-implantation epiblast-derived PSCs (EpiSCs) in rats, a valuable model for biomedical research. We show that rat EpiSCs (rEpiSCs) can be reset toward the naive pluripotent state with exogenous , albeit not with the other five candidate genes (, , , , and ) effective in mice. Finally, we demonstrate that rat EpiSCs retain competency to produce authentic primordial germ cell-like cells that undergo functional gametogenesis leading to the birth of viable offspring. Our findings in the rat model uncover principles underpinning pluripotency and germline competency across species.

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