Cell surface markers of mouse primordial germ cells defined by two monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies EMA‐1 and EMA‐6 bind to cell surface antigens of mouse primordial germ cells between 7 and 14 days of development. Primordial germ cells can be identified by alkaline phosphatase activity, and EMA‐1 and EMA‐6 apparently recognize this same population of cells prior to 14 days of development. EMA‐1 labels primordial germ cells in 8‐ to 13‐day mouse embryos and EMA‐6 in 8‐ to 10‐day embryos. A difference in the cells recognized by EMA‐1 and the lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin in early embryos suggests that these probes may be useful for studying primordial germ cells in situ or for isolating them from mouse embryos.