Germline stem cells and neo-oogenesis in the adult human ovary.
It remains unclear whether neo-oogenesis occurs in postnatal ovaries of mammals, based on studies in mice. We thought to test whether adult human ovaries contain germline stem cells (GSCs) and undergo neo-oogenesis. Rather than using genetic manipulation which is unethical in humans, we took the approach of analyzing the expression of meiotic marker genes and genes for germ cell proliferation, which are required for neo-oogenesis, in adult human ovaries covering an age range from 28 to 53 years old, compared to testis and fetal ovaries served as positive controls. We show that active meiosis, neo-oogenesis and GSCs are unlikely to exist in normal, adult, human ovaries. No early meiotic-specific or oogenesis-associated mRNAs for SPO11, PRDM9, SCP1, TERT and NOBOX were detectable in adult human ovaries using RT-PCR, compared to fetal ovary and adult testis controls. These findings are further corroborated by the absence of early meiocytes and proliferating germ cells in adult human ovarian cortex probed with markers for meiosis (SCP3), oogonium (OCT3/4, c-KIT), and cell cycle progression (Ki-67, PCNA), in contrast to fetal ovary controls. If postnatal oogenesis is confirmed in mice, then this species would represent an exception to the rule that neo-oogenesis does not occur in adults.
Liu
Yifei
Y
College of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Wu
Chao
C
Lyu
Qifeng
Q
Yang
Dongzi
D
Albertini
David F
DF
Keefe
David L
DL
Liu
Lin
L
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C490060:SYCP3 protein, human; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit