Research note: Unveiling the impact of ovotransferrin on chicken primordial germ cells biological processes

In the field of genetic breeding, primordial germ cells (PGCs) have become essential cells for gene editing and genetic improvement due to their unique developmental potential and genetic characteristics. However, the low proliferation efficiency and instability of culture systems pose significant challenges, severely limiting the application of PGCs in genetic breeding. In this study, the biological effects of ovotransferrin on chicken PGCs, focusing on its role in regulating key cellular processes. Treatment with 0.5 mg/ml ovotransferrin significantly promoted cell proliferation, enhanced cell adhesion, reduced oxidative stress, and suppressed apoptosis in cultured PGCs. These findings reveal a regulatory role of ovotransferrin in maintaining PGCs survival and function, providing new insights into optimizing PGC culture systems through targeted modulation of cell fate.