The ultrastructure of human reproduction. 1. The natural history of the female germ cell: origin, migration and differentiation inside the developing ovary

Motta, Pietro M.; Makabe, S; Nottola, Stefania Annarita

doi:10.1093/humupd/3.3.281

Cited by 95 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In both human and mouse ovaries, it has been shown that oocyte expulsion from the ovary surface contributes to the reduction of germ cell population in foetal and newborn ovaries (Peters 1969, Hiura & Fujita 1977, Wordinger et al 1990, Motta et al 1997. The contribution of germ cell exfoliation to the periovarian space in newborn mouse has been estimated to be 5-10% (Byskov & Rasmussen 1973), a figure that rises up to 25% loss from days 1 to 7 after birth when a more accurate stereological counting method is used (Kerr et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of healthy and atretic germ cells and follicles in the developing and post-natal ovary of the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus: evidence of continuous rise of the germinal reserve

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The female germ line in mammals is subjected to massive cell death that eliminates 60–85% of the germinal reserve by birth and continues from birth to adulthood until the exhaustion of the germinal pool. Germ cell demise occurs mainly through apoptosis by means of a biased expression in favour of pro-apoptotic members of theBCL2gene family. By contrast, the South American plains vizcacha,Lagostomus maximus, exhibits sustained expression of the anti-apoptoticBCL2gene throughout gestation and a low incidence of germ cell apoptosis. This led to the proposal that, in the absence of death mechanisms other than apoptosis, the female germ line should increase continuously from foetal life until after birth. In this study, we quantified all healthy germ cells and follicles in the ovaries ofL. maximusfrom early foetal life to day 60 after birth using unbiased stereological methods and detected apoptosis by labelling with TUNEL assay. The healthy germ cell population increased continuously from early-developing ovary reaching a 50 times higher population number by the end of gestation. TUNEL-positive germ cells were <0.5% of the germ cell number, except at mid-gestation (3.62%). Mitotic proliferation, entrance into prophase I stage and primordial follicle formation occurred as overlapping processes from early pregnancy to birth. Germ cell number remained constant in early post-natal life, but a remnant population of non-follicular VASA- and PCNA-positive germ cells still persisted at post-natal day 60.L. maximusis the first mammal so far described in which female germ line develops in the absence of constitutive massive germ cell elimination.Free Spanish abstractSpanish translation of this abstract is freely available athttp://www.reproduction-online.org/content/147/2/199/suppl/DC1

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of healthy and atretic germ cells and follicles in the developing and post-natal ovary of the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus: evidence of continuous rise of the germinal reserve

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…PGCs contain a large nucleus, few organelles, abundant glycogen and occasional lipid droplets, which could provide a source of energy during their migration (Motta et al, 1997). However, PGCs have also been shown to preferentially oxidise pyruvate over glucose (Brinster and Harstad, 1977) indicating aerobic oxidation in PGCs.…”

Section: Carbohydrate Metabolism Throughout Folliculogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolism throughout follicle and oocyte development in mammals

Collado-Fernandez¹,

Picton²,

Dumollard³

2012

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

133

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Metabolic studies of mammalian embryos started with the development of in vitro culture systems more than 40 years ago. More recently, metabolic studies have begun to shed light on the requirements of growing oocytes/follicles from the earliest stages of folliculogenesis. While growing oocytes preferentially metabolise pyruvate over glucose, the somatic compartment of ovarian follicles is more glycolytic. The metabolic preferences of the oocyte are reflected in the early zygote, which becomes increasingly dependent on glycolytic energy production as development progresses to the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, the intricate metabolic relationship between each oocyte and its somatic surroundings is critical for oocyte growth and developmental competence. Measurements of amino acid turnover in bovine oocytes indicate that glutamine, arginine and leucine are consistently depleted, while alanine is produced, showing similarities with amino acid turnover in preimplantation embryos. Amino acid profiling is a good predictor of embryo quality and might also turn out to be a predictor of oocyte developmental competence. Finally, recent studies have uncovered lipid metabolism in oocytes and early embryos, suggesting that endogenous fatty acids might be used for energy production. Together, metabolic studies have revealed the multiplicity of energetic substrates used by oocytes and early embryos, and suggest that the versatility of the metabolic pathways available for energy production is key for high developmental potential. Metabolic studies of early embryos are now being applied to follicle culture, and the goal of describing the metabolome of the growing oocyte in its follicle is now very attainable.

show abstract

“…The clusters of germ cells, or 'cysts', then begin to undergo 'breakdown', in which most of the oocytes are lost through apoptotic cell death, and the remaining oocytes become surrounded by a layer of somatic pre-granulosa cells (Fig. 1), forming 'primordial follicles' during mid-gestation (Cohen and Holloway, 2010;Gondos et al, 1986;Motta et al, 1997). Bidirectional communication and exchange of signaling molecules between oocytes and the surrounding granulosa cells are necessary for both the growth of the oocyte and the development of the follicle after birth (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The developmental origins of the mammalian ovarian reserve

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The adult mammalian ovary is devoid of definitive germline stem cells. As such, female reproductive senescence largely results from the depletion of a finite ovarian follicle pool that is produced during embryonic development. Remarkably, the crucial nature and regulation of follicle assembly and survival during embryogenesis is just coming into focus. This developmental pathway involves the coordination of meiotic progression and the breakdown of germ cell cysts into individual oocytes housed within primordial follicles. Recent evidence also indicates that genetic and environmental factors can specifically perturb primordial follicle assembly. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the mammalian ovarian reserve is established, highlighting the presence of a crucial checkpoint that allows survival of only the highest-quality oocytes.

show abstract

The ultrastructure of human reproduction. 1. The natural history of the female germ cell: origin, migration and differentiation inside the developing ovary

Cited by 95 publications

References 27 publications

Quantification of healthy and atretic germ cells and follicles in the developing and post-natal ovary of the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus: evidence of continuous rise of the germinal reserve

Quantification of healthy and atretic germ cells and follicles in the developing and post-natal ovary of the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus: evidence of continuous rise of the germinal reserve

Metabolism throughout follicle and oocyte development in mammals

The developmental origins of the mammalian ovarian reserve

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About