Germ Cells

Overview

Germ cells are the specialized cells of the germline that give rise to the gametes, spermatozoa in males and oocytes in females, and serve as the conduit through which genetic and epigenetic information is transmitted to the next generation. Their development, termed gametogenesis, proceeds as spermatogenesis in the testis and oogenesis in the ovary. A defining event of this process is the diploid-to-haploid transition achieved through meiosis, in which homologous recombination generates genetic diversity and reductional division halves the chromosome complement. Germ cell development does not occur in isolation but depends on intimate support from somatic cells, such as Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium, and on hormonal control exerted through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, with gonadotropins and gonadal steroids coordinating proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. Germ cells, and spermatogenesis in particular, are highly vulnerable to perturbation. Oxidative stress damages sperm membranes, mitochondria, and DNA, while endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with steroidogenic gene expression and hormonal signaling. Systemic conditions including diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, inflammatory and apoptotic stimuli, and a range of toxicant exposures further compromise germ cell integrity and fertility. Understanding these mechanisms is central to reproductive biology, the assessment of male and female fertility, and the protection of germline function.

Research published in this journal

11 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 11 articles above have been cited 95 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

• Zn glycine attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory bone loss in geese through suppression of osteoclastogenesis via reducing TLR-4/NFκB signaling
  2026 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
• Nephroprotective Effect of L-Carvone on a Mouse Model of LPS-Induced Sepsis-Associated Renal Injury via Regulation of TLR4/NF-κB/AP-1/IRF-3 and Nrf2/iNOS Molecular Signaling Cascades
  2026 · Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences
• L-carvone alleviates lipopolysaccharide-Induced acute kidney injury via modulating MyD88-dependent and independent signaling pathways in Mice
  2026 · Molecular Biology Reports
• Recurrent cystitis glandularis of the bladder: case report and review
  2026 · Urology Case Reports
• Monosodium glutamate exacerbated the lipopolysaccharide-induced reproductive toxicity of male Wistar rats
  2025 · BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Atrazine alters nitric oxide secretion and cytokines production in LPS-stimulated BalB/c mice, RAW264.7 macrophage and THP-1 cell lines
  2025 · Chemosphere
• Monosodium glutamate exacerbated the lipopolysaccharide-induced reproductive toxicity of male Wistar rats
  2025 · BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cell conditioned media on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats
  2025 · Regenerative Therapy

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Germ Cells, linking to each citing work.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.

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