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Related Concept Videos

Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
Oogenesis01:22

Oogenesis

Oogenesis,  the process of developing egg cells (female gametes), occurs within the ovaries and is fundamental to female fertility. This sequence begins during fetal development when diploid oogonia in the developing ovaries undergo mitotic divisions to produce primary oocytes. By birth, these primary oocytes enter prophase I of meiosis but become arrested in this stage, remaining suspended until puberty.
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...
Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
Stem Cell Culture01:17

Stem Cell Culture

Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
Maintenance of the ES Cell State01:14

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...

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Extraction, Labeling, and Purification of Lineage-Specific Cells from Human Antral Follicles
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Stem cells: a perspective on oocytes.

Ozgur Oktem1, Kutluk Oktay

  • 1Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York Medical College, Munger Pavilion Room 617, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|April 30, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Stem cells can generate germ cells, offering new research avenues. Studies show adult female mammals may possess renewable germ cells, challenging established reproductive biology concepts.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Stem Cell Science

Background:

  • Stem cells possess self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, indicating significant research and therapeutic potential.
  • Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursors to gametocytes, crucial for reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review PGC formation from specification to migration.
  • To discuss in vitro generation of germ cells from stem cells.
  • To examine evidence for germ cell renewal in adult mammalian ovaries.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of stem cell research and reproductive biology studies.
  • Analysis of recent findings on in vitro germ cell derivation.
  • Evaluation of studies investigating ovarian germ cell populations.

Main Results:

  • Stem cells can be differentiated into germ cells in vitro.
  • Evidence suggests germ cell renewal occurs in adult female mammalian ovaries.
  • This challenges the long-held belief of a fixed, nonrenewable germ cell pool.

Conclusions:

  • In vitro germ cell generation from stem cells holds promise for reproductive research.
  • The discovery of germ cell renewal in adult ovaries necessitates a re-evaluation of reproductive biology principles.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings.