title: Female germline stem cell niches of earwigs are structurally simple and different from those of Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Stem cells function in niches, which consist of somatic cells that control the stem cells' self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. Drosophila ovary germline niche consists of the terminal filament (TF) cells, cap cells, and escort stem cells; signaling from the TF cells and the cap cells is essential for maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs). Here, we show that in the earwig Opisthocosmia silvestris, the female GSC niche is morphologically simple and consist of the TF cells and several structurally uniform escort cells. The most posterior cell of the TF (the basal cell of the TF) differs from remaining TF cells and is separated from the anterior region of the germarium by the processes of the escort cells, and consequently, does not contact the GSCs directly. We also show that between somatic cells of earwig niche argosome-like vesicles and cytoneme-like extensions are present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Waclaw
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tworzydlo
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kloc
authors.forename: Szczepan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bilinski
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure