Single cell RNA sequencing of endogenous and cultured chicken primordial germ cells

The primordial germ cells (PGCs), precursor cells of germ cells, are formed outside the embryo and then migrate long distances to the gonads within the embryo. During this migration process, many PGCs fail to reach the gonads and disappear. Additionally, there is believed to be sexual dimorphism in migration ability. Chickens are the only animals where long-term maintenance culture of PGCs is possible, and cultured PGCs are utilized in both basic and applied research. Several questions remain unanswered regarding PGCs in general and cultured PGCs in chickens, such as whether PGCs exhibit heterogeneity, the extent of sexual dimorphism in PGCs, and to what extent the properties of cultured chicken PGCs reflect those of endogenous PGCs. To address these questions, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on endogenous and cultured PGCs of chickens.