Gene expression profiling of supporting, interstitial/stromal, and germ cells in the differentiating mouse gonads

The aim of this study was to analyze the gene expression profile for three main cell lines (supporting, interstitial/stromal, and germ cells) isolated from developing gonads at the critical period of sexual differentiation (between 11.5, and 13.5 dpc). Three cell lines (supporting, interstitial/stromal, and germ cells) were isolated from murine fetal XX and XY gonads at three time points (11.5, 12.5, and 13.5 dpc). Transgenic mouse strains with the expression of cell type specific fluorescent markers were used to isolate the cell lines. Cells were sorted using FACS method and then the RNA was extracted.