TGFβ1 Stimulates the Proliferation of Quiescent Oogonial Stem Cells in Chicken.

Abstract

Oogonial stem cells (OSCs) are a type of germ stem cell present in the adult ovary. They have the ability to self-renew through mitosis and differentiate into oocytes through meiosis. We have previously identified a population of OSCs in chicken ovary, but the underlying mechanism control their activation and proliferation were unclear. In this study, we observed that OSCs showed robust proliferation when cultured on a layer of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF), suggesting that CEF may secrete certain crucial factors that activate OSC proliferation. We further detected Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) as a potent signaling molecule to promote OSC proliferation. Additionally, we revealed the signaling pathways that play important roles in the downstream of TGF-β1-induced OSC proliferation. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying OSC proliferation in chickens and offer a foundation for future research on in situ activation of OSC proliferation in ovary and improvement of egg-laying performance in chickens.