Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians

The gonads of amphibians, like other vertebrates, consist of somatic tissues, which create a specific environment essential for the differentiation of germline cells. The earliest stages of gametogenesis still remain underexplored in anuran amphibians. We propose to introduce the term “pregametogene...

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Main Authors: Maria Ogielska, Magdalena Chmielewska, Beata Rozenblut-Kościsty
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1017
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author Maria Ogielska
Magdalena Chmielewska
Beata Rozenblut-Kościsty
author_facet Maria Ogielska
Magdalena Chmielewska
Beata Rozenblut-Kościsty
author_sort Maria Ogielska
collection DOAJ
description The gonads of amphibians, like other vertebrates, consist of somatic tissues, which create a specific environment essential for the differentiation of germline cells. The earliest stages of gametogenesis still remain underexplored in anuran amphibians. We propose to introduce the term “pregametogenesis” for a specific period of gonocyte proliferation and differentiation that occurs exclusively during the early stages of gonadal development. This review shows the key steps of early gonad differentiation in anuran amphibians and further compares chromatin reorganization in gonocytes of mammals and hybridogenetic water frogs. In mammals, this phase involves resetting genomic imprinting, which is crucial for determining gene expression in offspring. In hybridogenetic <i>Pelophylax</i> water frogs, we highlight the unique phenomenon of genome elimination, where one parental subgenome is eliminated while the other is replicated. This process, occurring at the same developmental phase as imprinting in mammals, underscores the evolutionary importance of pregametogenesis. The study of amphibian gonocytes provides valuable insights into chromatin reorganization and genome plasticity, offering new perspectives on reproductive biology.
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spelling doaj-art-23e4dc5e85b74e3b8ad617f1aadbb2852025-08-20T02:43:28ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372024-12-011312101710.3390/biology13121017Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran AmphibiansMaria Ogielska0Magdalena Chmielewska1Beata Rozenblut-Kościsty2Amphibian Biology Group, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, PolandAmphibian Biology Group, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, PolandAmphibian Biology Group, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, PolandThe gonads of amphibians, like other vertebrates, consist of somatic tissues, which create a specific environment essential for the differentiation of germline cells. The earliest stages of gametogenesis still remain underexplored in anuran amphibians. We propose to introduce the term “pregametogenesis” for a specific period of gonocyte proliferation and differentiation that occurs exclusively during the early stages of gonadal development. This review shows the key steps of early gonad differentiation in anuran amphibians and further compares chromatin reorganization in gonocytes of mammals and hybridogenetic water frogs. In mammals, this phase involves resetting genomic imprinting, which is crucial for determining gene expression in offspring. In hybridogenetic <i>Pelophylax</i> water frogs, we highlight the unique phenomenon of genome elimination, where one parental subgenome is eliminated while the other is replicated. This process, occurring at the same developmental phase as imprinting in mammals, underscores the evolutionary importance of pregametogenesis. The study of amphibian gonocytes provides valuable insights into chromatin reorganization and genome plasticity, offering new perspectives on reproductive biology.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1017pregametogenesisgonocytesgonad developmentanuran amphibiansspermatogenesisoogenesis
spellingShingle Maria Ogielska
Magdalena Chmielewska
Beata Rozenblut-Kościsty
Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians
Biology
pregametogenesis
gonocytes
gonad development
anuran amphibians
spermatogenesis
oogenesis
title Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians
title_full Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians
title_fullStr Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians
title_full_unstemmed Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians
title_short Pregametogenesis: The Earliest Stages of Gonad and Germline Differentiation in Anuran Amphibians
title_sort pregametogenesis the earliest stages of gonad and germline differentiation in anuran amphibians
topic pregametogenesis
gonocytes
gonad development
anuran amphibians
spermatogenesis
oogenesis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1017
work_keys_str_mv AT mariaogielska pregametogenesistheearlieststagesofgonadandgermlinedifferentiationinanuranamphibians
AT magdalenachmielewska pregametogenesistheearlieststagesofgonadandgermlinedifferentiationinanuranamphibians
AT beatarozenblutkoscisty pregametogenesistheearlieststagesofgonadandgermlinedifferentiationinanuranamphibians