Male Germline Stem Cells: Developmental and Regenerative Potential
Scientists investigating germ cells have, over the past 15 years, originated discoveries and innovations that give us valuable insights into the mechanisms that regulate not just stem cell function, but human development in its widest sense. With contribu
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Kyle E. Orwig Brian P. Hermann ●
Editors
Male Germline Stem Cells: Developmental and Regenerative Potential
Editors Kyle E. Orwig University of Pittsburgh Magee-Womens Research Institute 204 Craft Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 USA [email protected]
Brian P. Hermann University of Pittsburgh Magee-Womens Research Institute 204 Craft Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 USA [email protected]
ISBN 978-1-61737-972-7 e-ISBN 978-1-61737-973-4 DOI 10.1007/978-1-61737-973-4 Springer New York Dordrecht Heidelberg London © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Humana Press, c/o Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed on acid-free paper Humana Press is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Foreword
The germ cell genome threads continuously from generation to generation via the sperm and egg. These gametes combine at fertilization to produce the totipotent zygote (one-cell embryo) that gives rise to each generation. Thus, the germ cell lineage is immortal and has extraordinary developmental and, perhaps, therapeutic potential. The germ cell field has generated several exciting discoveries and innovations during the past 15 years, which provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that regulate developmental potency and stem cell function. This monograph discusses the implications of these discoveries for understanding the fundamental biology of germline stem cells as well as their potential for human stem cell-based therapies. The germ lineage exhibits an extraordinary breadth of developmental potentials during fetal, perinatal, and adult stages of life. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) first arise in the epiblast stage embryo and eventually migrate via the hindgut to colonize the gonads. Under normal, in vivo circumstances, these PGCs will give rise to oogenic or spermatogenic lineages. However, in some in vivo and in vitro situations, PGCs can adopt a pluripotent phenotype. Peter Donovan (Chap. 1) discusses the acquisition of pluripotency by PGCs and the implications for understanding the regulation of developmental potency, germ cell development, and testicular cancer. In males, PGCs that colonize the gonad become enclosed within pre-Sertoli cells of the seminiferous cords and give rise to pro-spermatogonia (aka: gonocytes). Prospermatogonia mig
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