Background: Germ cells undergo towards male or female pathways to produce spermatozoa or oocyte respectively which is essential for sexual reproduction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential of trans-differentiation to the multiple cell lineages.
Methods: Herein, rat MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and characterized by their morphological features, expression of MSC surface markers, and in vitro differentiation capability.
Results: Thereafter, we induced these cells only by retinoic acid supplementation in MSC medium and, could able to show that bone marrow derived MSCs are capable to trans-differentiate into male germ cell-like cells in vitro. We characterized these cells by morphological changes, the expressions of germ cell specific markers by immunophenotyping and molecular biology tools. Further, we quantified these differentiated cells.
Conclusions: This study suggests that only Retinoic acid in culture medium could induce bone marrow MSCs to differentiate germ cell-like cells in vitro . This basic method of germ cell generation might be helpful in the prospective applications of this technology.

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Kuldeep Kumar(Division of Physiology and Climatology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute)
• Kinsuk Das(Department of Veterinary Physiology, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences)
• Ajay Kumar(Biochemistry and Food Science Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute)
• Purnima Singh(Division of Physiology and Climatology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute)
• Madhusoodan A. P(Division of Physiology and Climatology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute)
• Triveni Dutt(Division of Livestock Production and Management, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute)
• Sadhan Bag(Division of Physiology and Climatology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute) Corresponding author