Is the embryo culture system useful for collecting primordial germ cells from endangered avian embryos?
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2002 |
Authors: |
Takaharu Kawashima, Rika Sakai, Koichiro Kano, Yoshinori Tamaki, Koichiro Hashimoto |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services |
Keywords: |
chickens, circulating primordial germ cells, embryo culture, endangered species |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.10030.abs The development of artificial means to conserve endangered avian species appears to be urgently needed. Procedures developed in recent years for experimental embryology with primordial germ cells (PGCs) may help prevent the extinction of endangered species. To this end, we examined the embryo culture system (ECS) for collection of PGCs using chick embryos as a model system. Our results showed that the ECS had no detrimental effect on the number of PGCs that could be collected from the bloodstream at the optimal developmental stages. Also, our findings indicated that the number of PGCs recoverable from the blood depended on the developmental stage. We conclude that the ECS, which allows direct observation of embryos during development, is very useful for collecting PGCs and for obtaining basic developmental information that can be extended to invaluable endangered avian embryos. Various aspects of the ECS are discussed. Zoo Biol 21:287–294, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.