Figure 5.

Oct4⁺Dazl⁻ cells contain a population of ovarian germ stem cells. (a) Rare Oct4⁺Dazl⁻ cells were labeled with BrdU, indicative of active genome DNA replication. (b) Rare Oct4⁺Dazl⁺ cells were also labeled with BrdU. (c) Germ cell undergoing meiotic DNA replication. (d) Genetic cell fate tracing documented the persistence of EYFP⁺Oct4⁺Dazl⁻ germ cells. EYFP⁺Oct4⁺Dazl⁺ (white arrowhead, Y⁺O⁺D⁺) and EYFP⁺Oct4⁻Dazl⁺ (red arrowhead, Y⁺O⁻D⁺) germ cells were also detected, respectively. (e) Percentages of EYFP⁺Oct4⁺Dazl⁻ (Y⁺O⁺D⁻) small germ cells at each time point following tamoxifen injection. Insets show the higher magnification of germ cells indicated by squares. At each time point, ovaries from two to three animals were used for investigation. Scale bar, 10 μm.