Reconstitution of Female Germ Cell Fate Determination and Meiotic Initiation in Mammals

Abstract

Meiosis is a fundamental process that underpins sexual reproduction. In mammals, the execution of meiosis is tightly integrated within the complex processes of oogenesis and spermatogenesis, and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms regulating meiotic initiation remains challenging. We have recently developed in vitro culture strategies to induce mouse pluripotent stem cells into germ cells, which successfully contribute to both oogenesis and spermatogenesis and to fertile offspring. The culture strategies faithfully recapitulate transcriptional and epigenetic dynamics as well as signaling principles for germ cell specification, proliferation, and female sex determination/meiotic induction, providing a valuable platform for studies to illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying such critical processes. Here, we review mammalian gametogenesis with a focus on the implementation of meiosis and, based on our recent studies, discuss new insights into the mechanisms for meiotic initiation and germ cell sex determination in mice.