Similarities between oocytes and macrophages. An overview

Oocytes behave as macrophages as they internalize solid and liquid substances required for their growth and competence. This activity is more pronounced in lower invertebrates. The slowing of endocytic activity may be caused by constraints imposed by surrounding nurse cells and by the amount of accumulated yolk precursors. The genes concerned with endocytic activity in oocytes are controlled by a negative feedback signal provided by accumulated yolk and/or by signal transduction.