Kim Young Min, Han Jae Yong
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Int J Dev Biol. 2018;62(1-2-3):145-152. doi: 10.1387/ijdb.170283jh.
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the founder cells for mature gametes, the vehicles by which individuals transmit genetic and epigenetic information to later generations. Since the 19 century, avian species (chickens in particular) have been widely used for germ cell research. Previous studies have used chicken PGCs for a variety of research applications, including as a model for studies focusing on germline development. Other applications of chicken PGCs, including conservation efforts for avian species and methods of producing transgenic birds, have further reinforced the importance of these cells. However, much remains to be revealed about the origin and role of PGCs during their development in the chicken. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of chicken PGCs, focusing in particular upon their initial profiles and physiological changes during development as regulated by environmental factors and/or intrinsic mechanisms. We also emphasise sex-dependent differences in PGC development after settlement within the gonads, as well as future applications for avian PGCs.
原始生殖细胞（PGCs）是成熟配子的起始细胞，是个体将遗传和表观遗传信息传递给后代的载体。自19世纪以来，鸟类物种（特别是鸡）已被广泛用于生殖细胞研究。先前的研究已将鸡原始生殖细胞用于各种研究应用，包括作为专注于生殖系发育研究的模型。鸡原始生殖细胞的其他应用，包括鸟类物种的保护工作和生产转基因鸟类的方法，进一步强化了这些细胞的重要性。然而，关于原始生殖细胞在鸡体内发育过程中的起源和作用，仍有许多有待揭示。在这里，我们对鸡原始生殖细胞进行了全面综述，特别关注其初始特征以及在发育过程中受环境因素和/或内在机制调控的生理变化。我们还强调了原始生殖细胞在性腺内定居后发育过程中的性别差异，以及鸟类原始生殖细胞的未来应用。
