Gametogenesis

●
PCGs are the
precursors of gametes
●
PCGs are formed
outside of the gonads
●
PCGs and the germ line
are determined early in
development
What more is there to
learn?
●
determination of PGCs
●
migration of PGCs
●
spermatogenesis and
spermiogenesis
●
oogenesis
 Germ cell
determination
1. Cytoplasmic
localization of proteins
and mRNAs
●
germ plasm formation
during cleavage
– P-granules prevent
chromosomal diminution
●
= PGCs of nematodes
●
diverse mRNAs, including pos-1, mex-1, par-3, skn-1,
nos-2 and gld-1 mRNA Development. 2001 Apr;128(8):1287-98.
–pole plasm formation in
insects (pole cells =>
PGCs)
●
nuclei migrate to
posterior end at 9 th

nuclear division
●
mRNAs : germ cell-less
Vasa, Nanos, Oskar
** components of
germ/pole plasm inhibit
transcription and
translation
– cells are prevented
from differentiating
into other types of
2. inductive interactions
in the epiblast
●
occurs during
gastrulation
●
induction by
extraembryonic
ectoderm
Germ cell
migration
●
gonads in animals arise
later and at some
distance from PGC
origin
– PGCs must be
transported to gonads
before forming into
Stages of migration
●
passive movement
– reorganization of cells
during gastrulation
●
active migration
– induction
Drosophila
●
passive migration (30-40
cells)
●
PGCs travel from midgut
into visceral mesoderm
– repelled by wunen proteins
●
PGCs split into 2 groups
●
PGCs migrate to gonads
Amphibians
●
Presumtive PGCs (3-4
cells) from vegetal pole
brought to endoderm by
gastrulation
●
PGCs migrate along the
gut and across dorsal
mesentery
Birds and reptiles
●
area pellucida ->
germinal cresent
(multiply) -> blood
vessels -> mesentery
-> gonadal ridges
Mammals
●
epiblast ->
extraembryonic
mesoderm -> allantois
-> yolk sac (splits into 2
groups) -> hindgut ->
dorsal mesentery
(proliferation -stem cell
Spermatogenes
is
and
spermiogenesis
Spermiogenesis
●
formation of acrosomal
vesicle from GA
●
growth of flagellum
●
extrusion of cytoplasm
●
condensation and
remodelling of nucleus
●
presentation of egg-
binding proteins
Oogenesis
and oocyte
maturation
Maturation of oocytes
●
increase in size
●
formation of zona
pellucida
●
formation of cortical
layer (globular actin
and cortical granules)
●
growth of follicle
stimulated by FSH
(pituitary gland)
●
FSH receptors in follicular
granulosa stimulated by
estrogen (thecal cells) -->
pituitary stops FSH
secretion
Spermatogenes
is
vs.
Oogenesis
 Similarities
(indications of
homology)
●
involve meiosis;
products are haploid
●
involve extensive
morphological
differentiation
●
products are unable to
survive for very long in
absence of fertilization
 Major
differences
●
initiation of meiosis
– O: once in a finite
population of cells
– S: continuous in
mitotically dividing
PGCs
●
O: asymmetrical; S:
●
completion of meiosis
– O: in months or years

: arrested at P I
(embryo to sexual maturity)
and before fertilization
– S: in days or weeks
: uninterrupted,
without cell cycle
●
differentiation of
gametes
– O: while diploid (at P
I)
: all chromosomes
exhibit equivalent
transcription and
–S: while haploid (end
of meiosis)
: sex chromosomes
excluded from
recombination and
transcription during
meiotic prophase
Germ cell sex
determination