Apoptosis-dependent massive germ cell death is considered a constitutive trait of the developing @entity1 ovary that eliminates 65-85% of the germinal tissue depending on the species. After birth and during adult lifetime, apoptotic activity moves from the germ cell proper to the somatic compartment, decimating germ cells through follicular @entity1146 until the oocyte reserve is exhausted. In contrast, the South American rodent Lagostomus maximus shows suppressed apoptosis-dependent follicular @entity1146 in the adult ovary, with continuous folliculogenesis and massive polyovulation, which finally exhausts the oocyte pool. The absence of follicular @entity1146 in adult L. maximus might arise from a failure to move apoptosis from the germinal stratum to the somatic compartment after birth or being a constitutive trait of the ovarian tissue with no massive germ cell degeneration in the developing ovary. We tested these possibilities by analysing oogenesis, expression of germ cell-specific VASA protein, apoptotic proteins @entity588 and @entity589 , and DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay in the developing ovary of L. maximus. Immunolabelling for VASA revealed a massive and widespread colonisation of the ovary and proliferation of germ cells organised in nests that disappeared at late development when folliculogenesis began. No sign of germ cell attrition was found at any time point. @entity588 remained positive throughout oogenesis, whereas @entity589 was slightly detected in early development. TUNEL assay was conspicuously negative throughout the development. These results advocate for an unrestricted proliferation of germ cells, without apoptosis-driven elimination, as a constitutive trait of L. maximus ovary as opposed to what is normally found in the developing @entity1 ovary.

The developing ovary of the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus ( XXXX , Rodentia): massive proliferation with no sign of apoptosis-mediated germ cell attrition.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['mammalian'] @entity1146 :: ('MESH:D018633', 'Disease') :: ['atresia'] @entity589 :: ('581', 'Gene') :: ['BAX'] @entity588 :: ('596', 'Gene') :: ['BCL2']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Mammalia']
