Fig. 5

Fig. 5

nanos3 is required cell-autonomously in the <20 μm germ cell population. (A–L) Genetic germline chimeras were created by transplanting Tg(ziwi:EGFP) donor germ cells into EGFP-negative hosts, and the contribution of EGFP⁺ germ cells was analyzed at 60 dpf. (A, E and I) Low magnification images, where donor derived cells are green. All others panels are higher magnification confocal images. (A–D) In controls, wild-type Tg(ziwi:EGFP) germ cells were able to equally contribute to the <20 μm germ cell population as wild-type host germ cells (WT′WT, n=10). (E-H) Wild-type Tg(ziwi:EGFP) germ cells are the only <20 μm germ cells detected in a nanos3 mutant host ovary (WT′MUT, n=5). (I–L) Conversely, nanos3 mutant; Tg(ziwi:EGFP) donor germ cells are not able to contribute to the <20 μm germ cell population in wild-type host ovaries (MUT′WT, n=2). B, F and J show merged images of EGFP expressing donor cells (green), Vasa expressing germ cells (red), and DNA (blue). C, G, and K, show endogenous GFP expression. D, H and L show Vasa protein localization, and inset shows the DNA morphology of DAPI stained cells boxed in main image. All images are from whole mount preparations. Scale bars: 200 μm (A, E and I), 20 μm (B, F and J). Stage Ia oocytes (Ia), stage Ib oocytes (Ib) and oogonia (oo).