Retinoic Acid and Germ Cell Development in the Ovary and Testis

Overview

Journal Biomolecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2019 Nov 28

PMID 31771306

Citations 43

Authors

Tsutomu Endo

Maria M Mikedis

Peter K Nicholls

David C Page

Dirk G de Rooij

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of vitamin A, is critical for the production of oocytes and sperm in mammals. These gametes derive from primordial germ cells, which colonize the nascent gonad, and later undertake sexual differentiation to produce oocytes or sperm. During fetal development, germ cells in the ovary initiate meiosis in response to RA, whereas those in the testis do not yet initiate meiosis, as they are insulated from RA, and undergo cell cycle arrest. After birth, male germ cells resume proliferation and undergo a transition to spermatogonia, which are destined to develop into haploid spermatozoa via spermatogenesis. Recent findings indicate that RA levels change periodically in adult testes to direct not only meiotic initiation, but also other key developmental transitions to ensure that spermatogenesis is precisely organized for the prodigious output of sperm. This review focuses on how female and male germ cells develop in the ovary and testis, respectively, and the role of RA in this process.

Citing Articles

Single-nucleus multiomics reveals the gene regulatory networks underlying sex determination of murine primordial germ cells.

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