Figure 8
A non-cell autonomous model for the role of cholesterol in PGC development. Cholesterol (orange) taken up or synthesized by cells of the coelomic epithelium (CE) is transferred to PGCs (green). This helps offset the absence of metabolic enzymes in PGCs and it facilitates the formation of lipid rafts thus amplifying the ability of PGCs to respond to locally produced growth factors or chemokines. MM indicates mesonephric mesenchyme and MD the mesonephric duct. Large arrow indicates the direction of migration.