Japanese society of Ova Research

Abstract

Vol.29 No.1

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Mini Review
Embryonic Stem Cells: A Novel Attractive Research Tool for Germ Cell Development
JMOR, 29(1) 11-16, 2012
DOI: 10.1274/jmor.29.11
Naoto Fukunaga1 Takeshi Teramura2,3* Yoshihiko Hosoi1** 
1Department of Biology Oriented Science and Technology, Kinki University, Wakayama 649-6493, Japan
2Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka 589-8511, Japan
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty of Medicine, Mie 514-8507, Japan

Despite recent astonishing advances in the treatment of infertility by assisted reproductive technology (ART), the fundamental approaches to solving complete infertility due to congenital absence of germ cells or impaired fertility arising from gonadotoxic therapies during prepubertal childhood still remain unclear. Current findings in stem cell biology have resulted in new possibilities for the treatment of reproductive diseases, i.e., germ cell formation may be inducible in vitro. The idea of generating artificial germ cells or gametes may lead to a solution for the treatment of infertility. In this article, we review the recent advances in research into formation of primordial germ cells (PGCs), which are the precursors of gametes, in vitro.

Keywords: Embryonic stem cells  Germ cells  In vitro differentiation  Assisted reproductive technology 
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