Primordial Germ Cells in Anuran Embryos: Their Movement and Its Guidance.

The article reports on issues concerning movement of cells during embryogenesis. It informs about studies related to the mechanisms of embryonic cell movement and its guidance, using as an example the migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) to the site of gonad formation in the anuran amphibian Xenopus laevis. It is reported that the PGCs are established very early in development in the vegetal pole of the blastula in anurans. During gastrulation, the PGCs become incorporated into the embryonic endoderm and thence into the developing gut. The article also discusses the movement of PGCs in vitro.