Members of the Laboratory of Germ Cells succeeded as the first ones in the delivery of nanoparticles (iron oxide) into primordial germ cells (gamete precursors) in vivo. The nanoparticles were micro-injected into germ plasm of embryo just after fertilization. This specific cytoplasm has a crucial role for formation and differentiation of germ cells. The nanoparticles were fluorescently tagged which enabled tracing of the primordial germ cell migration during embryogenesis. After arrival of the primordial germ cells into germinal ridge (future gonads), the development of these cells was possible using microtomography. This method opens new possibilities to study germ cells development in vivo, isolate these cells using a magnet (followed by in vitro cultivation, cryopreservation and transplantation into surrogate parents) or conversely their elimination for sterilization purpose and production of surrogate parents using hypothermia (heating in alternating electromagnetic field). Furthermore, our study was performed on valuable sturgeons, which are one of the most critically endangered group of species according to the Red List of Threatened Species.
Detailed information can be found in the original article: Khanzai Baloch, A.R., Fučíková, M., Rodina, M., Metscher, B., Tichopád, T., Shah, A.M., Franěk, R., Pšenička, M., 2019. Delivery of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles into Primordial Germ Cells in Sturgeon. Biomolecules 9: 333.
