PURIFICATION OF MOUSE PRIMORDIAL GERM-CELLS BY MINIMACS MAGNETIC SEPARATION SYSTEM

During migration toward gonadal ridges, primordial germ cells (PGCs; t he earliest identifiable germ cells in the embryo) are very few in num ber, move along different tissues, and are not identifiable by morphol ogical criteria alone. Here we report the use of the magnetic cell sor ter MiniMACS as a tool for the isolation of such rare cells from 10.5- to 13.5-days post coitum mouse embryos. Cells stained sequentially by TG-1 (a monoclonal IgM antibody known to bind to the surface of PGCs) and superparamagnetic microbeads coated with secondary anti-mouse IgM antibody were separated on a magnetic column. Unlabeled cells (somati c cells) pass through the column, while labeled cells (germ cells) are retained. The retained cells can be eventually easily eluted and imme diately used for biochemical studies or grown in suitable in vitro cul ture systems. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.