Bmp7 regulates germ cell proliferation in mouse fetal gonads

Relatively little is known regarding the signals that regulate the proliferation and sex-specific development of germ cells during mammalian fetal gonad differentiation. Members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family have been identified as key regulators of germ cells in the Drosophila gonad. Here we show that in mice Bmp7 is expressed in gonads of both sexes and is required for germ cell proliferation during a narrow window of development between 10.5-11.5 days post coitum (dpc). The proliferation defect is more severe in male than in female embryos suggesting that there are sexually dimorphic compensatory pathways. BMP signaling appears to be an evolutionarily conserved pathway regulating embryonic germ cell proliferation in vertebrate and invertebrate species.