title: The Drosophila ovarian and testis stem cell niches: similar somatic stem cells and signals.
abstract: The stem cell niches at the apex of Drosophila ovaries and testes have been viewed as distinct in two major respects. While both contain germline stem cells, the testis niche also contains "cyst progenitor" stem cells, which divide to produce somatic cells that encase developing germ cells. Moreover, while both niches utilize BMP signaling, the testis niche requires a key JAK/STAT signal. We now show, by lineage marking, that the ovarian niche also contains a second type of stem cell. These "escort stem cells" morphologically resemble testis cyst progenitor cells and their daughters encase developing cysts before undergoing apoptosis at the time of follicle formation. In addition, we show that JAK/STAT signaling also plays a critical role in ovarian niche function, and acts within escort cells. These observations reveal striking similarities in the stem cell niches of male and female gonads, and suggest that they are largely governed by common mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Laboratories, Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decotto
authors.forename: Allan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Spradling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement; D048430:Cell Shape; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D053613:Janus Kinase 1; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; C105675:Stat92E protein, Drosophila; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D053613:Janus Kinase 1