11 March 2004
Fertility: Dogma denied
A basic assumption in reproductive biology is that gametogenesis ceases at around the time of birth in virtually all mammalian females, including mice and humans. A female starts life with a finite non-renewing reserve of germ cells that has to support her reproductive needs for life. This dogma is challenged by a new study that reveals the presence of germ-line stem cells in juvenile and adult mice. What's more, new oocytes are recruited from this pool of germ cells. There would be significant clinical implications if a similar situation prevails in humans, as therapeutic expansion of the follicle reserve might provide away of postponing normal or premature ovarian failure.
Germline stem cells and follicular renewal in
the postnatal mammalian ovary
JOSHUA JOHNSON et al.
Nature 428, 145–150 (2004); doi:10.1038/nature02316
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Stem cells: More like a man
ALLAN C. SPRADLING
Most female mammals experience a reproductive decline with increased age,
previously attributed to the instability of ageing oocytes. But could
it be due to a previously unrecognized stem-cell well drying up?
Nature 428, 133–134 (2004); doi:10.1038/428133b
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