Summary
The primordial germ cells (PGCs) of Oryzias latipes in migration to the gonadal anlage have been investigated by light and electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of the PGCs, which occur in the subendodermal space on the syncytial periblast, differ conspicuously from that of the surrounding endodermal cells. After the PGCs move to the cavity between lateral plate and ectoderm, they are taken into the somatomesodermal layer and transferred to the dorsal mesentery where they form gonadal anlage with mesodermal cells. During their translocation to the dorsal mesentery through the somatic mesoderm, apparently without formation of pseudopods, the PGCs are completely surrounded by mesodermal cells. Since these conditions seem unfavorable to the active translocation of the PGCs to the dorsal mesentery, it is more likely that the PGCs are transferred passively by the morphogenic activity of the lateral-plate mesoderm.
Counts of the number of the PGCs revealed that they are mitotically dormant during the migratory period. After the completion of the migration, they regain their proliferative activity. The PGCs in the female proliferate more actively than those in the male, which provides the first morphological indication of sex differentiation in this species of fish.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dziadek M, Dixon KE (1975) Mitosis in the presumptive primordial germ cells in post-blastula embryos of Xenopus laevis. J Exp Zool 192:285–291
Dziadek M, Dixon KE (1977) An autoradiographic analysis of nucleic acid synthesis in the presumptive primordial germ cells of Xenopus laevis. J Embryol Exp Morphol 37:13–31
Fujimoto T, Ninomiya T, Ukeshima A (1976) Observations of the primordial germ cells in blood samples from the chick embryo. Dev Biol 49:278–282
Fujimoto T, Ukeshima A, Kiyofuji R (1976) The origin, migration and morphology of the primordial germ cells in the chick embryo. Anat Rec 185:137–154
Fujimoto T, Miyayama Y, Fuyuta M (1977) The origin, migration and fine morphology of human primordial germ cells. Anat Rec 188:315–330
Gamo H (1961) On the origin of germ cells and formation of gonad primordia in the medaka, Oryzias latipes. Japan J Zool 13:101–115
Hamaguchi S (1979) The effect of methyltestosterone and cyproterone acetate on the proliferation of germ cells in the male fry of the medaka, Oryzias latipes. J Fac Sci Univ Tokyo Ser IV 14:265–272
Hann HW (1927) The history of the germ cells of Cottus bairdii Girard. J Morphol Physiol 43:427–497
Hardisty MW (1967) The number of vertebrate primordial germ cells. Biol Rev 42:265–287
Heasman J, Mohun T, Wylie CC (1977) Studies on the locomotion of the primordial germ cells from Xenopus laevis in vitro. J Embryol Exp Morphol 42:149–161
Hogan JC (1978) An ultrastructural analysis of “cytoplasmic markers” in germ cells of Oryzias latipes. J Ultrastruct Res 62:237–250
Ito S, Karnovsky MJ (1968) Formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixatives containing trinitro compounds. J Cell Biol 39:168
Johnston PM (1951) The embryonic history of the germ cells of the largemouth black bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). J Morphol 88:471–542
Lee H, Karasanyi N, Nagele RG (1978) The role of the cell surface in the migration of primordial germ cells in early chick embryos: effects of concanavalin A. J Embryol Exp Morphol 46:5–20
Matsui K (1949) Illustration of the normal course of development in the fish, Oryzias latipes. Japan J Exp Morphol 5:33–42
Nieuwkoop PD, Sutasurya LA (1979) Primordial germ cells in the chordates. Cambridge Univ Press, London
Quirk JG, Hamilton JB (1973) Number of germ cells in known male and known female genotypes of vertebrate embryos (Oryzias latipes). Science 180:963–964
Richards A, Thompson JT (1921) The migration of the primary sex-cells of Fundulus heteroclitus. Biol Bull 40:325–349
Satoh N (1974) An ultrastructural study of sex differentiation in the teleost, Oryzias latipes. J Embryol Exp Morphol 32:195–215
Satoh N, Egami N (1972) Sex differentiation of germ cells in the teleost, Oryzias latipes, during normal embryonic development. J Embryol Exp Morphol 28:385–395
Smithberg M (1966) An enzymatic procedure for dechorionating the fish embryo, Oryzias latipes. Anat Rec 154:823–829
Spiegelman M, Bennet D (1973) A light- and electron-microscopic study of primordial germ cells in the early mouse embryo. J Embryol Exp Morphol 30:97–118
Tsuzuki E, Egami N, Hyodo Y (1966) Multiplication and sex-differentiation of germ cells during development of the medaka, Oryzias latipes. Japan J Ichtyol 13:176–182
Wylie CC, Heasman J (1976) The formation of gonadal ridge in Xenopus laevis. I.A light and transmission electron microscope study. J Embryol Exp Morphol 35:125–138
Wylie CC, Roos TB (1976) The formation of the gonadal ridge in Xenopus laevis. III. The behaviour of isolated primordial germ cells in vitro. J Embryol Exp Morphol 35:149–157
Wylie CC, Bancroft M, Heasman J (1976) The formation of gonadal ridge in Xenopus laevis. II. A scanning electron microscopic study. J Embryol Exp Morphol 35:139–148
Zamboni L, Merchant H (1973) The fine morphology of mouse primordial germ cells in extragonadal locations. Am J Anat 137:299–336
Zunst B, Dixon KE (1977) Events in the germ cell lineage after entry of the primordial germ cells into the genital ridge in normal and UV-irradiated Xenopus laevis. J Embryol Exp Morphol 41:33–46
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hamaguchi, S. A light- and electron-microscopic study on the migration of primordial germ cells in the teleost, Oryzias latipes . Cell Tissue Res. 227, 139–151 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206337
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206337