How to Make a Gonad: Cellular Mechanisms Governing Formation of the Testes and Ovaries

Ungewitter, Erica; Yao, Hisayuki

doi:10.1159/000338612

Cited by 69 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 189 publications

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“…This differentiation is known to involve key regulators such as forkhead box protein L2 (FOXL2), b-catenin, R-spondin 1 (RSPO1) and Wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 4 (WNT4; Liu et al 2010). Little histological organisation emerges during early ovarian development, and germ cells remain mixed with somatic cells until the formation of follicles, where a single oocyte is surrounded by granulosa cells and theca cells (Ungewitter & Yao 2013). Compared with the testis, much less is known about the signalling environment present in the ovary and how the sex-specific differentiation of the different cell lineages is coordinated.…”

Section: Sex Determination and Early Gonad Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the role of germ cells in mammalian gonad development: quiet passengers or back-seat drivers?

2015

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In addition to their role as endocrine organs, the gonads nurture and protect germ cells, and regulate the formation of gametes competent to convey the genome to the following generation. After sex determination, gonadal somatic cells use several known signalling pathways to direct germ cell development. However, the extent to which germ cells communicate back to the soma, the molecular signals they use to do so and the significance of any such signalling remain as open questions. Herein, we review findings arising from the study of gonadal development and function in the absence of germ cells in a range of organisms. Most published studies support the view that germ cells are unimportant for foetal gonadal development in mammals, but later become critical for stabilisation of gonadal function and somatic cell phenotype. However, the lack of consistency in the data, and clear differences between mammals and other vertebrates and invertebrates, suggests that the story may not be so simple and would benefit from more careful analysis using contemporary molecular, cell biology and imaging tools.Reproduction (2015) 149 R181-R191

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Section: Sex Determination and Early Gonad Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the role of germ cells in mammalian gonad development: quiet passengers or back-seat drivers?

2015

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“…In rodents, for which the period between gonadal differentiation and meiosis is minimal, the formation of clear ovigerous cords was reported not to occur (Byskov 1986). However, more recent studies have referred to not only the presence of membrane-bound germ cell clusters and ovigerous cords in rodents (Ungewitter & Yao 2013), but also their role and importance in successful ovarian development (Nicholas et al 2010, Kimura et al 2011. The evidence increasingly supports the presence of membrane-enclosed clusters of germ cells and somatic cells in all mammalian fetal ovaries, although the timing and extent of their development may be the subject of some interspecies variation.…”

Section: Ovigerous Cord Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of mammalian ovary

Smith¹,

Wilhelm²,

Rodgers³

2014

Journal of Endocrinology

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Pre-natal and early post-natal ovarian development has become a field of increasing importance over recent years. The full effects of perturbations of ovarian development on adult fertility, through environmental changes or genetic anomalies, are only now being truly appreciated. Mitigation of these perturbations requires an understanding of the processes involved in the development of the ovary. Herein, we review some recent findings from mice, sheep, and cattle on the key events involved in ovarian development. We discuss the key process of germ cell migration, ovigerous cord formation, meiosis, and follicle formation and activation. We also review the key contributions of mesonephric cells to ovarian development and propose roles for these cells. Finally, we discuss polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, and pre-natal undernutrition; three key areas in which perturbations to ovarian development appear to have major effects on post-natal fertility.

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“…Cells derived from the mesonephros tissue are important for testis development in both birds and mammals [Ayers et al, Ungewitter and Yao, 2013]. The bipotential gonads of these vertebrates also show conserved dual structures, the medulla and cortex.…”

Section: Lineage Of Gonadal Somatic Cells In Vertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some gonadal cell lineages come from the coelomic epithelium, and the mesonephros-derived cells contribute substantially to gonadal formation in mammals [Ungewitter and Yao, 2013]. However, there is no evidence for this pathway in teleosts where the gonadal primordium develops simultaneously with the formation of the coelomic epithelium and cavity.…”

Section: Lineage Of Gonadal Somatic Cells In Vertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gonadal Development in Fish

Nishimura

Tanaka

2014

Sex Dev

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Vertebrate reproduction depends on the function of 2 distinct gametes, sperm and eggs, which develop in 2 different organs, the testis and the ovary. Testes and ovaries are composed of germ cells, supporting cells and interstitial cells. In this review, we describe the origin and the fate of these cell lineages and how they interact with each other to form sexually dimorphic reproductive organs in medaka. We delineate how the temporally different association and establishment of these lineages contribute to a variety of seemingly different sex differentiation processes among teleost fish. Thus, teleosts represent an intriguing group in which to study the fundamental processes of gonadal development through comparing conserved and unique mechanisms.

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How to Make a Gonad: Cellular Mechanisms Governing Formation of the Testes and Ovaries

Cited by 69 publications

References 189 publications

On the role of germ cells in mammalian gonad development: quiet passengers or back-seat drivers?

On the role of germ cells in mammalian gonad development: quiet passengers or back-seat drivers?

Development of mammalian ovary

Gonadal Development in Fish

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