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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Mol Reprod Dev. 2013 Sep 16;80(12):960–976. doi: 10.1002/mrd.22232

Figure 2. Path for PGC migration into developing gonads.

Figure 2

PGCs travel from the epiblast, through the hindgut epithelium, to invade the developing gonadal ridge. (A) Steps 1–2 (E7.5-8.5): PGCs from the allantoic core domain are incorporated into the hindgut. (B) Step 3 (E9.0): upon entering the hindgut, PGCs begin moving in response to KIT/KITL signals, but in no particular direction. (C) Step 4 (E9.0-9.5): Signals, including ROR2/WNT5 and CXCR4/SDF1, work with KIT/KITL to promote directional migration through the hindgut. (D) Steps 4–5 (E10.0-10.5): CXCR4/SDF1 signals attract PGCs to the gonadal ridge. (E) Steps 5–6 (E10.5-11.5): PGCs also use extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions to invade gonadal ridges via the dorsal body wall. dbw, dorsal body wall; hg, hindgut; mes, mesentery.