BACKGROUND Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by marked
heterogeneity, but with a significant genetic contribution. Identifying exact causative genes …

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is the most pleiotropic member of the interleukin-6 family of
cytokines. It utilises a receptor that consists of the LIF receptor β and gp130 and this receptor …

Germline commitment following primordial germ cell (PGC) specification during early human
development establishes an epigenetic programme and competence for gametogenesis …

This review addresses current understanding of the germline stem cell niche unit in
mammalian testes. Spermatogenesis is a classic model of tissue-specific stem cell function …

Germ cell development creates totipotency through genetic as well as epigenetic regulation
of the genome function. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the first germ cell population …

A CRITICAL point during mammalian pregnancy is the implantation of the blastocyst when
the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. The autonomously developing preimplantation …

GROWTH factors synthesized by ovarian somatic cells directly affect oocyte growth and
function1–6, but it is unclear whether oocyte-secreted factors6–9 play a reciprocal role in …

Human pluripotent stem cells would be invaluable for in vitro studies of aspects of human
embryogenesis. With the goal of establishing pluripotent stem cell lines, gonadal ridges and …

▪ Abstract Mouse embryonic stem cells are continuous cell lines derived directly from the
fetal founder tissue of the preimplantation embryo. They can be expanded in culture while …

Steel factor (SF) and LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor) synergistically promote the proliferation
and survival of mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs), but only for a limited time period in …