Effects of specific and prolonged expression of zebrafish growth factors, Fgf2 and Lif in primordial germ cells in vivo

► We discovered that nanos3 3′UTR prolonged PGC-specific protein expression up to 26 days. ► Expression of Fgf2 in PGCs significantly increased PGC number at later developmental stages. ► Expression of Lif in PGCs resulted in a significant disruption of PGC migration. ► Lif illicited its effect on PGC migration through Lif receptor a. ► Our approach could be used to achieve prolonged PGC-specific expression of other proteins.