✍In vitro gametogenesis from embryonic stem cells in livestock species

In vitro gametogenesis from embryonic stem cells in livestock species: recent advances, opportunities, and challenges to overcome

🌐Link to the paper: https://academic.oup.com/.../doi/10.1093/jas/skad137/7151350

The paper discusses the recent advances, opportunities, and challenges in the field of in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) from embryonic stem cells (ESC) in livestock species. It highlights the importance of IVG in revolutionizing animal agriculture, wildlife conservation, and human-assisted reproduction.

The paper provides an overview of the recent advances in the establishment of livestock pluripotent stem cells (PSC) and the progress towards in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) in livestock species. It also discusses the importance of IVG in revolutionizing animal agriculture, wildlife conservation, and human assisted reproduction. The paper highlights the potential and challenges of combining these advances to enable the generation of gametes from livestock PSC in vitro. The paper also presents breakthroughs made in rodents regarding IVG and the current progress towards livestock IVG, including the importance of a detailed understanding of fetal germline development. Finally, the paper discusses some key advances that will be critical to enable this technology at scale.

The paper discusses the potential of in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) from embryonic stem cells (ESC) in livestock species, which could revolutionize animal agriculture, wildlife conservation, and human assisted reproduction. The successful generation of gametes from livestock PSC in vitro could have practical implications such as:

🟣Improving animal breeding programs by enabling the production of genetically superior animals with desirable traits.

🟣Preserving endangered species by producing viable gametes from preserved PSC.

Providing a new approach for human assisted reproduction, particularly for individuals with fertility issues or same-sex couples.

🟣Reducing the need for animal sacrifice in research by enabling the study of gametogenesis in vitro.

However, the paper also highlights the challenges that need to be overcome before IVG can be achieved at scale, such as the need for a detailed understanding of fetal germline development and the regulatory pathways at play on a species-by-species basis.

The paper concludes that significant progress has been made towards the accomplishment of in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) from embryonic stem cells (ESC) in livestock species, but most of the advances have been made in mouse models. The authors suggest that a deeper understanding of the early events in fetal primordial germ cell (PGC) specification and development within the gonad is necessary before any major breakthroughs are possible in livestock IVG.

Once consistent differentiation of PGC-like cells from PSC in livestock species is achieved, new systems will be necessary to take these PGC-like cells through oogenesis and spermatogenesis to yield competent gametes. The authors also suggest that major efforts will likely continue to be employed by research institutions and industry towards the development of methods to achieve efficient generation of gametes in vitro, given the potential impact of IVG for animal agriculture.

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