Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hannah Alberico, Zoe Fleischmann, Tyler Bobbitt, Yasushi Takai, Osamu Ishihara, Hiroyuki Seki, Richard A. Anderson, Evelyn E. Telfer, Dori C. Woods, Jonathan L. Tilly
Summary: This article reports a study on the existence of ovarian stem cells in adult human ovaries. By optimizing the parameters of analytical workflow and using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, rare germ cells matched to the gene expression profile of ovarian stem cells were identified, and evidence of meiosis-I in human ovaries was found. The study also highlighted the issue of mistaking perivascular cells for germ cells during stem cell sorting and proposed a solution.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Diksha Sharma, Deepa Bhartiya
Summary: The study reveals the presence of VSELs and OSCs, along with increased numbers of GCNs blocked in pre-meiotic or early meiotic stage in aged ovaries. Ovarian senescence/menopause does not result from accelerated loss of primordial follicles, but rather from dysfunction of stem cells.
JOURNAL OF OVARIAN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Julie A. MacDonald, Dori C. Woods, Jonathan L. Tilly
Summary: The study demonstrated that mechanical strain can directly promote the differentiation of adult female germline stem cells through a signaling pathway involving F-actin, ROCK, YAP, and Stra8.
STEM CELLS AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Danielle S. Finger, Anna E. Williams, Vivian V. Holt, Elizabeth T. Ables
Summary: This study reveals the importance of hnRNPs in maintaining GSCs in Drosophila. Different hnRNPs have distinct functional requirements in GSCs, and some hnRNPs play critical roles in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of GSCs.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Review
Reproductive Biology
Johan Castille, Dominique Thepot, Sophie Fouchecourt, Rozenn Dalbies-Tran, Bruno Passet, Nathalie Daniel-Carlier, Jean-Luc Vilotte, Philippe Monget
Summary: Gene knockout experiments have revealed that many genes are not essential for a specific biological function. This review focuses on assessing the dispensability of male and female germ cell-specific genes for reproduction in mice, finding that their inactivation does not affect fertility. Specifically, the deletion of a 1 Mb block containing nineteen paralogous genes of the oogenesin/Pramel family, which are specifically expressed in male and/or female germ cells, has no consequences in both sexes. The notion of dispensability and the necessary experiments to definitively determine gene dispensability for a function are discussed.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Julie A. A. MacDonald, Hannah C. C. Sheehan, Andrew Piasecki, Luciana R. R. Faustino, Charlotte Hauschildt, Victor Stolzenbach, Dori C. C. Woods, Jonathan L. L. Tilly
Summary: The study found that Oogonial Stem Cells (OSCs) exhibit cellular heterogeneity and the ability to differentiate weakens with age. OSCs isolated from mouse ovaries were shown to include subpopulations based on differential expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA1) and cluster of differentiation 61 (CD61). The decrease in expression of Dppa3/DPPA3 with age, which is conserved between mice and humans, may contribute to the loss of oogenesis maintenance in OSCs with age.
STEM CELLS AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Marcia Garcez, Joana Branco-Santos, Patricia C. Gracio, Catarina C. F. Homem
Summary: This study characterized the role of mitochondria morphology in female germ stem cells, showing that undifferentiated GSCs predominantly have fissed mitochondria, while more differentiated cells have more fused mitochondria. The findings emphasize the essential requirement of mitochondrial dynamics for maintaining a stable GSC pool.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kornelia Krajnik, Klaudia Mietkiewska, Agnieszka Skowronska, Pawel Kordowitzki, Mariusz T. Skowronski
Summary: It is known that maternal age impacts the fertilization process of oocytes, with longer waiting times leading to lower chances of success. Researchers are studying the regulatory pathways and genes that influence oocyte lifespan, as well as the impact of maternal age on oocyte developmental competence. Meiotic failures during oogenesis can also contribute to sub- or infertility. Understanding these processes is important for reproductive health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sylwia M. Czukiewska, Xueying Fan, Adriaan A. Mulder, Talia Van Der Helm, Sanne Hillenius, Lotte Van Der Meeren, Roberto Matorras, Cristina Eguizabal, Lei Lei, Roman Koning, Susana M. Chuva De Sousa Lopes
Summary: Gametogenesis in human females involves the interaction between germ cells and somatic cells during the formation of primordial follicles. Research has shown that fetal germ cells can form multinucleated syncytia, and as they progress in development, pre-granulosa cells contribute to separating individual germ cells from the syncytia. Understanding how primordial follicles are formed is important for understanding human infertility.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Giovanna Riparbelli, Veronica Persico, Giuliano Callaini
Summary: During early oogenesis in Drosophila, there are specific spatial interactions between somatic and germ cells, indicating inherent asymmetry between the anterior and posterior regions of the egg chambers. The oocyte is located at the posterior end, giving the egg chamber distinct asymmetry.
Review
Physiology
Evelyn E. Telfer, Johanne Grosbois, Yvonne L. Odey, Roseanne Rosario, Richard A. Anderson
Summary: This review discusses the mechanisms and regulatory pathways that govern the processes of oocyte and follicle formation, growth, and ovulation, with a focus on human oocytes/follicles. It emphasizes the effects of aging on oocyte number and quality, as well as the clinical implications. Additionally, it outlines the current developments in culture systems for follicle growth and the emerging prospects for generating new oocytes from stem cells.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Meng Wu, Zhiyong Lu, Qingqing Zhu, Lingwei Ma, Liru Xue, Yan Li, Su Zhou, Wei Yan, Wenlei Ye, Jinjin Zhang, Aiyue Luo, Shixuan Wang
Summary: This study describes a new method for isolating DDX4(+) stem cells from the ovaries of postmenopausal women and confirms their ability to differentiate into oocytes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Deivendran Rengaraj, Jae Yong Han
Summary: The development of germ cells, oocytes, and follicles in humans and chickens share similarities but also display species-specific differences. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the conservation and divergence between the two species, highlighting the functional insights gained from studying gene expression patterns.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jie Pei, Lin Xiong, Shaoke Guo, Xingdong Wang, Pengjia Bao, Xiaoyun Wu, Ping Yan, Xian Guo
Summary: Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to investigate the molecular characteristics of various cell types in the yak ovarian cortex, and a cellular atlas was successfully constructed. Differential gene expression analysis identified differentially expressed genes in endothelial cells, immune cells, stromal cells, smooth muscle cells, oocytes, macrophages, epithelial cells, and granulosa cells. The cellular atlas revealed the biological characteristics of the ovarian cortex at the cellular molecular level and provided insights into female reproductive biology via cellular communications in the yak.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xueying Fan, Ioannis Moustakas, Monika Bialecka, Julieta S. del Valle, Arend W. Overeem, Leoni A. Louwe, Gonneke S. K. Pilgram, Lucette A. J. van der Westerlaken, Hailiang Mei, Susana M. Chuva de Sousa Lopes
Summary: This study examines the transcriptional signatures of human oocytes and granulosa cells from small antral follicles, revealing the diversity of follicle types and contributing to the understanding of human folliculogenesis and oogenesis at the molecular level.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)