Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Comparison of Different Sperm Isolation Strategies for Fresh and Cryopreserved Human Spermatozoa Using a Simple Method for Simultaneously Assessing Sperm Vitality and DNA Fragmentation.

Andrology·2026

Same author

Impact of cancer immunotherapies on oocyte health and ovarian function.

Current topics in developmental biology·2026

Same author

Declining global fertility and our future dependence on ART.

Reproductive biomedicine online·2026

Same author

Analysis of antioxidant activity in commercial IVF media.

Reproductive biomedicine online·2026

Same author

Protecting laboratory air quality and comparing clinical assisted reproductive technology cycle outcomes before, during and after wildfire events: a retrospective cohort study.

Frontiers in reproductive health·2026

Same author

Mining public mass spectrometry data to map the bull sperm membrane-associated proteome.

Reproduction & fertility·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Published on: April 19, 2018

Apoptosis in the germ line.

R John Aitken¹, Jock K Findlay, Karla J Hutt

¹School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia. john.aitken@newcastle.edu.au

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)

|December 15, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is crucial for fertility by regulating germ cell numbers and quality during development. Further research is needed to understand the stimuli and biochemical pathways driving germ cell apoptosis.

More Related Videos

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

Published on: February 6, 2018

C. elegans Gonad Dissection and Freeze Crack for Immunofluorescence and DAPI Staining

C. elegans Gonad Dissection and Freeze Crack for Immunofluorescence and DAPI Staining

Published on: September 16, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Published on: April 19, 2018

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

Published on: February 6, 2018

C. elegans Gonad Dissection and Freeze Crack for Immunofluorescence and DAPI Staining

C. elegans Gonad Dissection and Freeze Crack for Immunofluorescence and DAPI Staining

Published on: September 16, 2022

Area of Science:

Reproductive biology
Developmental biology
Cell biology

Background:

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays a vital role in regulating the size and quality of male and female germ lines.
Understanding germ cell apoptosis is essential for establishing the stem cell pools (spermatogonial stem cells and primordial follicles) that determine long-term fertility.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the critical role of apoptosis in germ line development and reproductive success.
To highlight the current gaps in knowledge regarding the biochemical mechanisms and regulatory stimuli of germ cell apoptosis.

Main Methods:

This is a review article, synthesizing existing research on apoptosis in germ cells.
It examines the process during embryonic development and in mature gonads.

Main Results:

Apoptosis is fundamental for establishing and maintaining the correct number and quality of germ cells.
It is critical for the formation of the foundational stem cell populations in both sexes.
The precise biochemical pathways and death-inducing signals for germ cell apoptosis remain largely unresolved.

Conclusions:

A deeper understanding of germ cell apoptosis is necessary to comprehend and potentially control mammalian reproductive potential.
Further investigation into the molecular mechanisms and regulatory signals of apoptosis in germ cells is warranted.