A method allowing long term culture and expansion of chicken primordial germ cells

We developed an original method allowing long term culture (up to 20 month) of undifferentiated chicken PGCs, with good proliferation rates. We use a co-culture system: PGCs are cultivated in cell culture inserts, in the presence of irradiated Buffalo Rat Liver cells. According to our own experience, physical separation of PGCs and feeder cells limits the differentiation of PGCs. Our PGCs lines keep their original phenotype including their gonadal colonization ability. We also developed a novel cryopreservation method based on vitrification, in complement of a slow rate freezing.