“Offspring from Oocytes Derived from in Vitro Primordial Germ Cell–Like Cells in Mice”

A report from a team of researchers at Kyoto University published online in Science, and reported widely (see further reading), has demonstrated the ability of primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs) derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to produce oocytes which are capable of generating live fertile offspring. This report is published from the same group who previously demonstrated that PGCLCs can give rise to sperm in a report published in Cell (see original paper from Hayashi et al, 2011 and review on the Stem Cells Portal). This work could provide an important platform to further our understanding of the basic underpinnings behind mammalian development and infertility.

Read this exciting new Science paper here - Hayashi et al, 2012.

References

Hayashi K., et al. Offspring from Oocytes Derived from in Vitro Primordial Germ Cell–Like Cells in Mice. Science 2012 DOI: 10.1126/science.1226889/

Hayashi K., et al. Reconstitution of the mouse germ cell specification pathway in culture by pluripotent stem cells. Cell. 2011 Aug 19;146(4):519-32.

Further Reading

BBC - Life created from eggs made from skin cells

New Scientist - Mouse eggs created from stem cells for the first time

The Telegraph (UK) - Eggs created from stem cells in fertility breakthrough

Nature - Mouse stem cells lay eggs

Science News - Mouse stem cells yield viable eggs

Stem Cells Portal - Reconstitution of the Mouse Germ Cell Specification Pathway in Culture by Pluripotent Stem Cells