Derivation and characteristics of pluripotent embryonic germ cells in duck

Embryonic germ (EG) cells derived from primordial germ cells are undifferentiated and pluripotent stem cells. In our study, primordial germ cells isolated from the genital ridges of Beijing duck (Anas domestica) embryo at stage 28 were co-cultured with mice embryonic fibroblasts. Duck EG cells grew with a high nuclear:cytoplasm ratio and were positive for periodic acid-Schiff and alkaline phosphatase staining. The duck EG cells could proliferate for more than a month in repeated subculture and maintain a diploid karyotype. They expressed the pluripotent markers such as stage-specific embryonic antigen-1, stage-specific embryonic antigen-4, tumor rejection antigen-1-60, and tumor rejection antigen-1-81. Furthermore, the EG cells could form embryoid bodies and differentiate to osteoblast in vitro. This study explored the isolation and culture process of duck EG cells using the culture methods of chicken EG cells and investigated biological characteristics of Beijing duck EG cells. Our results showed that methods published for the culture of chicken EG cells could be applied to the culture of duck EG cells. Duck EG cells will be useful for the differentiation of EG cells in avian species.