Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background: Recent publications regarding the differentiation of stem cells to germ cells have motivated researchers to make new approaches in infertility. In vitro production of germ cells improves the understanding of differentiation process of male and female germ cells. Since using embryonic stem cells for this purpose has been associated with tumorogenesis and ethical criticisms, the mentioned cells were suggested to be replaced with some adult multipotent stem cells. In this study, we used Retinoic acid to induce the differentiation of stem cells into germ cells . To find appropriate non invasive source replacement for embryonic stem cells in this study we evaluated differential potentials of Adipocyte Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSCs) to germ like cells.

  Methods : To find the differentiation capabilitypurified ADMSCs were obtained and differentiated to osteoblasts and adipocytes by using appropriate culture medium (Alizarin Red S and Oil red-O). Superficial markers for mesenchymal stem cells (expression of CD90 and CD44 and non-expression of CD45 and CD31) were investigated by flow cytometry to confirm mesenchymal lineage production. The cells were differentiated to germ cells in mediums containing Retinoic acid for 7 days. To evaluate germ cells characteristic markers (Mvh and Dazl) flow cytometry and imunoflorescence were used.

  Results: Presence of stem cell superficial markers (CD90 and CD44) and absence of endothelial and blood cell markers (CD31 and CD45) were confirmative for the mesenchymal origin of these cells. The cells were able to differentiate into osteoblast and adipocyte cells. This fact was representative for the multipotential entity of the examined cells. After treating the cells with Retinoic acid, flow cytometry and imunoflorescence results showed remarkable expression of germ cells characteristic markers (Mvh and Dazl).

  Conclusions: By this study, it was found that germ cell markers were expressed in ADMSCs after adding exogenous Retinoic acid into culture medium.