Tracing the emergence of primordial germ cells from bilaminar disc rabbit embryos and pluripotent stem cells

Rabbit embryos develop as bilaminar discs at gastrulation as in humans and most other mammals, whereas rodents develop as egg cylinders. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) appear to originate during gastrulation according to many systematic studies on mammalian embryos. Here, we show that rabbit PGC (rbPGC) specification occurs at the posterior epiblast at the onset of gastrulation. Using newly derived rabbit pluripotent stem cells, we show robust and rapid induction of rbPGC-like cells in vitro with WNT and BMP morphogens, which reveals SOX17 as the critical regulator of rbPGC fate as in several non-rodent mammals. We posit that development as a bilaminar disc is a crucial determinant of the PGC regulators, regardless of the highly diverse development of extraembryonic tissues, including the amnion. We propose that investigations on rabbits with short gestation, large litters, and where gastrulation precedes implantation can contribute significantly to advances in early mammalian development.

Automated summary

Studies have shown that rabbit primordial germ cells are specified in the posterior epiblast at the onset of gastrulation. By using newly derived rabbit pluripotent stem cells, researchers were able to induce rabbit PGC-like cells rapidly and robustly in vitro, highlighting SOX17 as a critical regulator of rabbit PGC fate, similar to several non-rodent mammals. This research suggests that investigating rabbits, with their short gestation period and large litters, can significantly contribute to advances in early mammalian development.