Page 91 - Eshre 2018

Plasticity of germ cells
Diploid premeiotic cells
Potentially totipotent
Often act as stem cells (self renewing population dynamics)
Located in somatic (stem cell) niches Highly selected for DNA integrity
Limits for expansion?
In vitro: Unrestricted developmental potential
In vivo: Often restricted developmental potential (Spermatogonia generate only sperm as unique endpoint)
ES EG PGC Gonocyte Spermatogonium Toti/Pluripotency
Germline sexual differentiation
Soma acts as carrier of germ cells and guides its differentiation
Embryonic stem cell
Soma
Zygote
Primordial Germ Cell
Germline Component
Oogonia Default meiotic pathway
Male somatic component
Male Germ Line Stem Cells Sperm Sertoli cells
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