Germ cells

Recently, cell signaling has been shown to be required for the formation of germ cells in the mouse embryo, direct observation of germ cell migration in living mouse embryos has been achieved, novel genes that control germ-cell migration have been identified in Drosophila, and the roles of many components of germ plasm in several species have become clearer.     

Germ line mosaicism

Mosaicism in germ cells has been recognized, over the past few years, as an important and relatively frequent mechanism at the origin of genetic disorders. There are two possibilities for the existence of such a mosaicism: one is that the mutation occurs in a germ cell that continues to divide. The other possibility is that the mutation occurs very early in a somatic cell before the separation to germinal cells and is therefore present both in somatic and germinal cells. Depending on various factors, such as the gene involved and/or the degree of mosaicism, the carrier of a somatic and germline mosaicism may be asymptomatic or may present with various symptoms of the disease. There are still relatively few reports in the literature in which the origin of germ-line mosaicism has been analyzed; nevertheless, they allow for a better insight into the mechanisms involved. In some diseases, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, new mutations are often present as asymptomatic somatic and germline mosaicism in one of the parents of the propositus. In other disorders, such as neurofibromatosis, somatic mosaicism is very rare in the parents of the propositus, perhaps since such mosaicism causes clinical symptoms. These differences are particularly important for genetic counseling in order to evaluate the risk for another affected child after the birth of the propositus. Received: 15 September 1997 / Accepted: 12 January 1998     

Germ Cell Tumors of the Testes

Most malignant testicular neoplasms are of germ cell origin. They are divided into five basic types: seminomas, embryonal carcinomas, teratocarcinomas, adult teratomas and choriocarcinomas. Clinically they may present as an enlarging testicular mass, or with symptoms resulting from metastases or hormonal secretions. The treatment of choice for patients with seminomas is orchiectomy, followed by radiation therapy. This combination results in an 80 to 100 percent five-year survival rate in patients with nonmetastatic or locally metastatic disease. The treatment of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors is more controversial. An aggressive approach, however, with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and adjuvant chemotherapy has resulted in an overall 78 percent survival rate. Several placental and fetal proteins are secreted by these tumors. Two of these, human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein, have been shown to be useful for the diagnosis of these neoplasms, for following the disease activity during therapy and for detection of recurrences.     

Rethinking Embryonic Germ Layers

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小鼠原生殖细胞的研究进展

在动物的整个生命周期中,生殖细胞提供了各代间的连续性。对于多数动物来说,其生殖细胞不是在生殖腺中产生的,其前身原生殖细胞（ＰｒｉｍｏｒｄｉａｌＧｅｒｍＣｅｌ简称ＰＧＣ）是迁移到正在发育着的生殖腺中的。近年来,由于ＰＧＣ体外培养技术的不断完善,ＰＧＣ的...     

从原始生殖细胞分离克隆鸡胚胎生殖细胞的研究

从孵化 5 5天的鸡胚生殖腺中分离得到大量原始生殖细胞 (PGCs)集落 ,这些集落的细胞经多次克隆传代具有胚胎生殖细胞 (EG)的诸多特征 ,如有连续传代的能力 (传至第 9代 ) ,细胞集落有典型鸟巢状结构 ,PAS染色阳性 ,AKP染色阳性 ,在无饲养层无分化抑制因子LIF时可以自发分化成几种细胞类型 ,包括成纤维细胞、神经细胞、自律细胞等 ,悬浮培养时具有形成类胚体的能力。上述发现表明该细胞具EG细胞的诸多特性 ,为类EG细胞     

小鼠生殖细胞的胚胎发育

本文综述了近年来小鼠胚胎发育过程中生殖细胞的起源、迁移与增殖、性别分化及其基因组修饰等方面的研究进展。小鼠生殖细胞在7~7.5dpc时由原始生殖细胞（PGC）演变而来,至12.5dpc时PGC全部迁移进入生殖嵴,到13.5dpc时停止分裂。Steel/c-kit信号途径在PGC迁移过程中起重要作用。生殖细胞的性别主要是由生殖腺中体细胞的微环境决定的。Y染色体上存在精子形成所必需的基因。生殖细胞的全基因组范围的重新甲基化晚于胚胎体细胞的重新甲基化,到18.5dpc时才完成。雌性生殖细胞的X染色体重新活化在14.5~15.5dpc时完成,并且与生殖嵴的性别分化无关。 Abstract:This paper reviewed the recent progress of the origin,migration and proliferation,sex determination,and genomic modification of murine germ cells during its embryonic development. Murine germ cells originate from primordial germ cells at about 7~7.5dpc. Then PGCs migrated into germinal ridge at about 12.5dpc during which Steel/c-kit signal pathway plays important roles and stopped division at 13.5dpc. The sex of germ cells was mainly determined by the soma microenvironment in the gonad. And there are essential genes for sperm formation on the Y chromosome. The de novo methylation of murine germ cells was much later than soma cells and was completed at about 18.5dpc. The X chromosome reactivation of female germ cells was finished at about 14.5~15.5dpc which was independent of sexual differentiation of germinal ridge.     

Germ cell sex determination

Whether a germ cell embarks on oogenesis, the female gametogenic pathway, or spermatogenesis, the male pathway, may be determined cell-autonomously, by the germ cell's own genes, or by the tissue environment in which it is located. The decision may or may not be associated with the time of entry into meiosis, and this in turn may be controlled wholly by the germ cell's own genes, or in part by the environment. These issues will be explored with reference to Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila and the mouse.     

Germ cell intercellular bridges

Stable intercellular bridges are a conserved feature of gametogenesis in multicellular animals observed more than 100 years ago, but their function was unknown. Many of the components necessary for this structure have been identified through the study of cytokinesis in Drosophila; however, mammalian intercellular bridges have distinct properties from those of insects. Mammalian germ cell intercellular bridges are composed of general cytokinesis components with additional germ cell-specific factors including TEX14. TEX14 is an inactive kinase essential for the maintenance of stable intercellular bridges in gametes of both sexes but whose loss specifically impairs male meiosis. TEX14 acts to impede the terminal steps of abscission by competing for essential component CEP55, blocking its interaction in nongerm cells with ALIX and TSG101. Additionally, TEX14-interacting protein RBM44, whose localization in stabile intercellular bridges is limited to pachytene and secondary spermatocytes, may participate in processes such as RNA transport but is nonessential to the maintenance of intercellular bridge stability.     

Germ cells are forever

Germ cells are the only cell type capable of generating an entirely new organism. In order to execute germline-specific functions and to retain the capacity for totipotency, germ cells repress somatic differentiation, interact with a specialized microenvironment, and use germline-specific networks of RNA regulation.     

Germ granules in Drosophila

Germ granules are hallmarks of all germ cells. Early ultrastructural studies in Drosophila first described these membraneless granules in the oocyte and early embryo as filled with amorphous to fibrillar material mixed with RNA. Genetic studies identified key protein components and specific mRNAs that regulate germ cell‐specific functions. More recently these ultrastructural studies have been complemented by biophysical analysis describing germ granules as phase‐transitioned condensates. In this review, we provide an overview that connects the composition of germ granules with their function in controlling germ cell specification, formation and migration, and illuminate these mysterious condensates as the gatekeepers of the next generation.     

In Vivo Epigenomic Profiling of Germ Cells Reveals Germ Cell Molecular Signatures

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Highlights? Modified small-scale ChIP-seq method applicable to small number of cells ? Genome-wide maps of H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K27ac, and H2BK20ac of germ cells in vivo ? Identification of active and inactive regulatory elements in germ cells in vivo ? Germ cell H3K27me3 regions are enriched for retrotransposon repeats     

Germ Cell Differentiation in Starfish: The Posterior Enterocoel as the Origin of Germ Cells in Asterina pectinifera

The origin of germ cells of Asterina pectinifera was traced back to the posterior enterocoel (PE) of 2-day bipinnaria by two steps. First, the cellular cluster, composed of presumptive germ cells in the coelomic epithelium at brachiolaria stage, was confirmed to be the origin of the aboral haemal sinus located near the hydroporic canal (HC-AHS) by continuous observation of the formation process of HC-AHS. Second, the origin of the cluster was traced back to the PE of 2-day bipinnaria by comparison of the number of the presumptive germ cells in microsurgically PE-removed bipinnariae with that of non-operated control larvae. A summary of the differentiation of germ cells in Asterina pectinifera is given/presented.     

Germ cell kinetics in the neonatal rabbit testis

Summary Germ cells in the developing rabbit testis were found to undergo several distinct changes in the first two weeks after birth. Mitotic activity, which had been high in the late fetal period, reached a peak on the day before birth, then diminished steadily and ceased entirely after five days of age. Extensive germ cell degeneration occurred in the first week after birth resulting in accumulation of pools of degenerating germ cells in the central portions of the seminiferous cords. Following shortly after the peak of mitotic activity, germ cells at various stages of preleptotene could be found in squash preparations. This corresponded to the time when germ cells in the rabbit ovary enter and proceed through meiotic prophase. There was no evidence of entry into leptotene or later stages of meiosis in the neonatal testis. The findings suggest that a similar stimulus for entry into meiosis may exist in both sexes, but a blockage occurs in the male.Technical assistance was provided by Margaret Randolph and David Knibbs