An overview on the diversity of cellular organelles during the germ cell cycle

Abstract

In mammals, germ cells undergo a longjourney from specification until sexual maturation.During this journey, which takes place during the entirelife cycle of mammals, the germ cells dynamicallychange their morphology, their expression profile andalso the number and character of their cellular bodies.The focus of this review will be the diversity of cellularorganelles present in the nucleus and cytoplasm at thedifferent phases of germ cell development. We discusshow these organelles associate and behave to form amultitude of bodies that have long been observed byscientists, and how their presence or absence is used tocharacterize different stages of germ cell development.These organelles include the female Barr body, polarbodies and Balbiani body; and the male sex body and chromatoid body. It is concluded thatcompartmentalization of organelles and molecules in thecytoplasm (in particular of mitochondria and RNAs) andof the sex chromosomes in the nucleus seems to beimportant for regulating germ cell developmentthroughout the life cycle