Identification Of Human Primordial Germ Cell

[Background and Objective] Human primordial germ cells are progenitors of oocytesand sperms, and important sources of human survival and regeneration. The primordialgerm cells originate from tissues out of gonads, then migrate to the primordial genitalridges. During this preriod, they experience a series of changes such as proliferation,differentiation. Currently much progresses have been made in avian and mouse, but forhuman primordial germ cells, their origin, migration, proliferation and differentiationare still obscure.This study will use whole embyos of early abortus to investigate themigration pathway of human PGCs, which is significant for the investigation of earlydevelopment of human germ cells and ovaries.[Motheds] With the approval of the Ethics Committee of the PLA General Hospital,informed consent signed by the outpatients of the department of Obs&Gyn, freshabortus were collected. Calculation of gestational age was based o n information aboutthe last menstrual period, and measurements of croun rump and foot lengths. Embryoswere fixed in10%formalin, embeded in paraffin wax, stained by HE andimmunohistochemistry. The markers of undifferentiated germ cells, such as AP andOct-4, were detected.[Results]1、We can prepare complete early human embryos slices with the dissectingmicroscope, the head, anterior limb bud, posterior limb bud, heart, vertebral column andyolk sac are seen clearly.2、AP stain in ice embryo slices: there are AP positive cells inthe hind gut of embryo.3、Immunohistochemistry stain: there are Oct-4positive cells inthe hind gud of34-35d embryo.[Conclusions]1、It is possible to prepare complete slices of early human embryos.2、The result that ice slices of early human embryo are positive AP illustrates that there are PGCs in migrating possibly.3、 Immunohistochemistry stain: there are Oct-4positivecells, known as PGCs.