Mouse primordial germ cells produce cysts that partially fragment prior to meiosis
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Mammalian germ cells divide mitotically and form nests of associated cells just prior to entering meiosis. At least some nests contain germline cysts that arise by synchronous, incomplete mitotic divisions, but others may form by aggregation. To systematically investigate early murine germ cell development, we lineage marked the progeny of individual, newly arrived primordial germ cells in the E10.5 gonad. All the marked germ cells initially develop into clones containing two, four or eight cells, indicating cyst formation. Surprisingly, growing cysts in both sexes partially fragment into smaller cysts prior to completion and associate with cysts from unrelated progenitors. At the time divisions cease, female clones comprise five cysts on average that eventually give rise to about six primordial follicles. Male cyst cells break apart and probably become spermatogonial stem cells. Thus, cysts are invariant units of mouse germ cell development and cyst fragmentation provides insight into the amplification of spermatogonial stem cells and the origin of primordial follicles.
Source: Development
DOI: 10.1242/dev.093864
Authors: Lei Lei, Allan C. Spradling
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
OpenAlex ID: W2071040218