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Semin Reprod Med 2013; 31(01): 014-023
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331793
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Germ Cell Differentiation from Pluripotent Cells

Jose V. Medrano
1   Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (FIVI), Parc Cientific Universitat de Valencia, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
,
Renee A. Reijo Pera
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
,
Carlos Simón
1   Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (FIVI), Parc Cientific Universitat de Valencia, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
17 January 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Infertility is a medical condition with an increasing impact in Western societies with causes linked to toxins, genetics, and aging (primarily delay of motherhood). Within the different pathologies that can lead to infertility, poor quality or reduced quantity of gametes plays an important role. Gamete donation and therefore demand on donated sperm and eggs in fertility clinics is increasing. It is hoped that a better understanding of the conditions related to poor gamete quality may allow scientists to design rational treatments. However, to date, relatively little is known about human germ cell development in large part due to the inaccessibility of human development to molecular genetic analysis. It is hoped that pluripotent human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells may provide an accessible in vitro model to study germline development; these cells are able to differentiate to cells of all three primary embryonic germ layers, as well as to germ cells in vitro. We review the state of the art in germline differentiation from pluripotent stem cells.

Keywords

differentiation - germ cells - induced pluripotent stem cells - human embryonic stem cells
 

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