Gonocyte
Gonocyte is a type of germ cell that is present in the gonads (the organs that produce sex cells) of a fetus. These cells are precursors to spermatogonia in males and oogonia in females. Gonocytes are formed from primordial germ cells (PGCs) and are present in the gonads from the 6th to the 9th week of gestation. After this period, they differentiate into spermatogonia or oogonia, depending on the sex of the fetus.
Formation and Development[edit | edit source]
Gonocytes originate from primordial germ cells, which are formed in the yolk sac of the embryo. These cells migrate to the developing gonads, where they differentiate into gonocytes. This process is regulated by various growth factors and genes, including the SRY gene in males.
In males, gonocytes differentiate into spermatogonia, which are the precursors to sperm cells. This process begins around the 9th week of gestation and continues throughout the life of the individual. In females, gonocytes differentiate into oogonia, which are the precursors to egg cells. This process is completed by the time of birth.
Role in Reproduction[edit | edit source]
Gonocytes play a crucial role in reproduction as they are the precursors to the sex cells. In males, they give rise to sperm cells, which are necessary for fertilization. In females, they give rise to egg cells, which are fertilized by sperm to form a zygote, the first cell of a new individual.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in the formation or development of gonocytes can lead to various reproductive disorders. For example, mutations in the SRY gene can result in sex reversal, where an individual has the physical characteristics of the opposite sex. Additionally, gonocytes can give rise to germ cell tumors, which are a type of cancer that originates in the sex cells.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Gonocyte Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
