Vol. 10, Special Issue 4 (2021)

Author(s):
Ramkumaar RK and Ananthakumar KV

Abstract:
This study was carried out in goat (Capra hircus) pre-implantation embryos from which the stem cell like cells have been isolated and been characterized. Establishment of stable immortal ES cell lines using embryo as a source of isolation in domesticated farm animals, in particular for Goat, which are closer to human than mouse has not been reported. This information could contribute to the improvement of agricultural biotechnology, genetic modifications, developmental biology and regenerative medicine in humans, biotechnology and agriculture. Therefore, the discovery of effective protocols to derive and maintain ES cells and the induction of somatic cells from ES cells in goat is of importance.ES cells in their undifferentiated state are characterized by distinct morphology and expression of specific markers is an important criterion for pluripotent or undifferentiated state of cells. The expression of these markers is found to be exclusive to a particular species. In vitro derived embryos were subjected to enzymatic and mechanical method to derive the blastomeres. Blastomeres were cultured in knockout DMEM medium on mitotically inactivated goat fetal fibroblast feeder layer at 37 ºC until the primary outgrowth of ES-like cells were observed. The ES cell like cells was found positive for SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG pluripotent markers. They were morphologically dome shaped elevated in nature with compact cells and similar to the buffalo embryonic stem cells. In conclusion, the gES-like cells obtained in this study not only shows morphological similarity to authenticated ES cells but also had a positive for SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG markers confirmed by RT-PCR. Embryoid body formation by suspension culture was observed.