- Title
- WNT signalling in germ cells and reproductive tract development
- Creator
- Kumar, Manish
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2017
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Development and functioning of the reproductive system is essential for the survival of a species. This system is regulated by multiple signalling pathways including the Wnt pathway. Wnt signalling is crucial for embryonic development of the reproductive system as well as for its proper functioning in post-natal life. However, the precise role of the Wnt pathway in reproductive biology is not fully understood. This thesis aims to shed further light on the role of Wnt signalling in male reproductive tract development and the functioning of male and female germ cells. To understand the role of Wnt signalling in germ cell biology we developed a mouse model with germ cell-specific overactivation of Wnt signalling. We showed that overactive Wnt signalling in oocytes does not affect oogenesis, however, it does cause embryonic mortality and subfertility through defective germ layer differentiation. In spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), sustained activity of the Wnt pathway adversely impacts spermatogenesis, as evidenced by progressive germ cell loss and flawed meiotic entry of spermatogonial cells, in an age-dependent manner. We have also shown that Wnt signalling is essential for the development of the male reproductive tract ductal system as alterations in this pathway results in loss of Wolffian duct (WD) coiling. To prove this, we developed two triple transgenic mouse models and an in vitro organ culture system. Overall, our findings demonstrate that Wnt signalling is fundamental for pre-natal development of the male reproductive tract ductal system. In conclusion, we have provided new understanding on the requirement of Wnt signalling in germ cell biology and development of the male reproductive tract. This study not only fills some of the gaps in the field of Wnt signalling in reproductive biology, but also highlights new areas to be explored.
- Subject
- oocyte; epididymis; SSCs; testis; WNT signalling; thesis by publication
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1345614
- Identifier
- uon:29683
- Rights
- Copyright 2017 Manish Kumar
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 17 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 400 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |