Is germ cell differentiation ocurred from somatic cells in vivo?

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25650110
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: University of Shizuoka
• Principal Investigator: Kobayashi Tohru 静岡県立大学, 食品栄養科学部, 教授 (30221972)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 生殖細胞 / 精巣 / イモリ / 可塑性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The characteristics of columnar cells of the peritoneal epithelium in slender cords were examined in newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster. The columnar cells were not positive for VASA or SGSA-1 antibodies, which are recognized germ cells containing gonial germ cells specifically. These cells did not show the localization of nuage, which is reported as germ cell specific electron-dense structure. After the treatment of estrogen benzoates, several columnar cells showed the VASA-positive. Furthermore, nuage structure was seen in these VASA-positive cells by electron microscopy. These results suggest the possibility that the columnar cell of the peritoneal epithelium in slender cords in the newt can trans-differentiate into gonial germ cell like cells after estrogen treatment.

Free Research Field

生殖生物学