title: RSPO1/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates oogonia differentiation and entry into meiosis in the mouse fetal ovary.
abstract: Differentiation of germ cells into male gonocytes or female oocytes is a central event in sexual reproduction. Proliferation and differentiation of fetal germ cells depend on the sex of the embryo. In male mouse embryos, germ cell proliferation is regulated by the RNA helicase Mouse Vasa homolog gene and factors synthesized by the somatic Sertoli cells promote gonocyte differentiation. In the female, ovarian differentiation requires activation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in the somatic cells by the secreted protein RSPO1. Using mouse models, we now show that Rspo1 also activates the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in germ cells. In XX Rspo1(-/-) gonads, germ cell proliferation, expression of the early meiotic marker Stra8, and entry into meiosis are all impaired. In these gonads, impaired entry into meiosis and germ cell sex reversal occur prior to detectable Sertoli cell differentiation, suggesting that β-catenin signaling acts within the germ cells to promote oogonial differentiation and entry into meiosis. Our results demonstrate that RSPO1/β-catenin signaling is involved in meiosis in fetal germ cells and contributes to the cellular decision of germ cells to differentiate into oocyte or sperm.
authors: INSERM, U636, Nice, France.
authors: Anne-Amandine
authors: AA
authors: Chassot
authors: Elodie P
authors: EP
authors: Gregoire
authors: Rowena
authors: R
authors: Lavery
authors: Makoto M
authors: MM
authors: Taketo
authors: Dirk G
authors: DG
authors: de Rooij
authors: Ian R
authors: IR
authors: Adams
authors: Marie-Christine
authors: MC
authors: Chaboissier
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009867:Oogonia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019699:Thrombospondins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C496460:Fgf9 protein, mouse; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D011506:Proteins; C518903:RSPO1 protein, mouse; C102019:Stra8 protein, mouse; D019699:Thrombospondins; D051176:beta Catenin