Reconstitution of human fetal ovaries reveals niche requirements for primordial germ cell-like cell progression

However, further maturation steps of hPGCLCs rely on mouse feeders, or co-culture with mouse gonadal somatic cells. Exposure of hPGCLCs to human embryonic niche has not been attempted.

Here, we co-cultured female hPGCLCs in two distinct somatic compartments. In reconstituted ovary (rOv) culture, human fetal germ cells proliferate and initiate meiosis, while hPGCLCs upregulate gonadal germ cell markers such as DDX4. Additionally, hPGCLCs can be supported in 3D culture by the amnion-like cells (AMLC) generated during PGCLC differentiation.