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Médecine de la Reproduction

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Male germ cells and their niche: Lessons from stem cells Volume 13, issue 1, janvier-mars 2011

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Authors
Human Developmental Genetics Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75724 Paris, France, UPMC, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Service d’histologie-biologie de la reproduction, 4, rue de la Chine, 75970 Paris Cedex 20, France

<p>Stem cell maintenance and regulation of their proliferation and differentiation are supported by its microenvironment or “niche”. During the development of the mammalian gonad, the cells of the niche play a unique role since they not only support the development and function of the germ cells but also determine their fate. In the developing embryo, the primordial germ cells (PGCs) originate prior to the determination of the somatic cells of the gonad. Once the genital ridge is established, the PGCs migrate and colonize it, where the signals from the developing somatic cells (ovary or testis) determine their differentiation into precursors of either the spermatozoa or ovum. Despite recent advances, the molecular mechanisms associated with the specification and differentiation of both the somatic and germ cell lineages of the gonad remain ill-defined. Pluripotent stem cells, capable of recapitulating the early events of mammalian embryogenesis provide an easily accessible and viable in vitro system to study the molecular mechanisms associated with the development of these lineages.</p><p>This in turn will contribute not only to the existing knowledge of testicular morphogenesis and mechanism governing the choice of cell fate but also of various human disorders of testicular development and gametogenesis.In short term, this may provide a knowledge driven approach to reproductive engineering and offer an improved system of delivering male gametes from ES cells. In the longer term it could result in the transfer of diagnostic procedures from the laboratory to the clinic.</p>