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Related Concept Videos

Oogenesis01:22

Oogenesis

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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...
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Oogenesis02:07

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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...
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Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus01:15

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Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
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Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation01:10

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The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
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Folliculogenesis01:20

Folliculogenesis

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Folliculogenesis is the development of ovarian follicles, the specialized structures within the ovarian cortex where oogenesis, or egg development, occurs. This process is essential for female reproductive health and begins during fetal development when primordial follicles are formed. Each primordial follicle comprises a primary oocyte in the center, surrounded by a single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. These follicles remain dormant in late prophase I of meiosis until triggered by...
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Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

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Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata...
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Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells
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Endometriosis origin from primordial germ cells.

Zograb Makiyan1

  • 1a Department of Operative Gynaecology , Federal State Scientific Centre of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology after V.I. Kulakov , Moscow , Russia.

Organogenesis
|May 10, 2017
PubMed
Summary

A novel theory suggests endometriosis originates from misplaced primordial germ cells. These cells, normally forming reproductive organs, may develop into ectopic endometrial tissue if they fail to reach the gonadal ridges.

Keywords:
adenomyosiscongenital anomalyectopic endometriumendometriosisendometriosis aetiologyeutopic endometriumgenital ridgegerm cellsstem cellsuterovaginal embryogenesis

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Gynecology

Background:

  • Endometriosis, characterized by endometrial ectopia, lacks a clear etiological understanding despite numerous hypotheses.
  • The origin of eutopic (normally located) endometrium is a key question in understanding endometriosis etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new theory on the etiology of endometriosis based on the origin of primordial germ cells.
  • To explain the development of both eutopic endometrium and ectopic endometrial tissue.

Main Methods:

  • This study presents a theoretical model based on established concepts of embryological development.
  • It traces the migration and differentiation pathways of primordial germ cells during human development.

Main Results:

  • Primordial germ cells, originating from the hypoblast, migrate to the gonadal ridges.
  • These cells differentiate into reproductive organs and uterine tissues, including the endometrium.
  • Failure of some primordial germ cells to reach the gonadal ridges may lead to their transformation into ectopic endometrial tissue in the peritoneal cavity.

Conclusions:

  • The origin of endometriosis may be linked to the aberrant migration and differentiation of primordial germ cells.
  • This theory provides a potential explanation for the pathogenesis and widespread nature of endometriosis.
  • Understanding the role of these polypotential germ cells offers new insights into endometriosis etiology.