Reconstitution of oocyte development from cynomolgus embryonic stem cells in vitro

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 42030:Animal life science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Motani Sayuri 京都大学, 高等研究院, 特定研究員 (30792428)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: カニクイザル / ES細胞 / 再構成卵巣

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, it was aimed to establish the in vitro culture system to induce mature oocytes from cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) embryonic stem cells. We developed culture method named “stepwise xenogenic reconstituted ovary (xrOvary) culture system” to induce differentiation to oocyte-like cells in stepwise manner. Germ cells derived from female ES cells were aggregated with mouse gonadal somatic cells to obtain oogonia-like cells, and then oocyte-like cells. By transcriptomic analysis, oocyte-like cells showed the gene expression profiles similar to the oocyte at prophase in vivo. In addition, genome-wide DNA demethylation was observed in the oocyte-like cells.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学、分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

試験管内再構成系を用いて成熟卵子を得ることができれば、カニクイザルのような寿命や成長周期の長い動物において、新たな生殖工学技術を提供することになり、霊長類や大型動物を用いた遺伝子工学技術の大きな発展にも寄与すると期待される。課題申請当初の目標であった成熟卵子誘導系の樹立には至らなかったが、本研究成果はその初期段階に相当し、学術的意義は高いと考える。今後は、２ステップ再構成卵巣法の確立に付随した成果を基に、培養系を改善し当初の目標達成を目指したい。