Abstract: This study aimed at developing a novel technique of isolating the Oct-4 expressing cells from the sheep amniotic fluid and fetal renal tissues, respectively, and comparatively analyzing the difference in the molecular characteristic of these two differently derived cells with Real-time PCR. The results showed that the cells from the sheep amniotic fluid and fetal renal tissue were both positive for Oct-4, embryonic germ cells gene SSEA-1, the main organization compatibility antigen gene MHC-Ⅱ, apoptosis gene Bax, and inhibition gene of apoptosis Bcl-2, negative for the symbol marker of MHC-Ⅰ, Nanog and TERT, but there were marked differences in the relative expression levels of Oct-4， Bax and Bcl-2 genes. Furthermore, AFSC and RTSC were both capable of forming embryoid bodies through the suspension culture in vitro. In conclusion, our study successfully established a new procedure of isolating and culturing Oct-4 expressing cells derived from the sheep amniotic fluid and fetal renal tissues, which might have the same origin.

Key words: sheep; 0.01% trypsin medium; sheep amniotic fluid; fetal renal tissue; Oct-4; cell; embryoid bodies