Sexual Dimorphism in Mouse Meiosis

Meiosis is a highly conserved and essential process in gametogenesis in sexually reproducing organisms. However, there are substantial sex-specific differences within individual species with respect to meiosis-related chromatin reorganization, recombination, and tolerance for meiotic defects. A wide range of murine models have been developed over the past two decades to study the complex regulatory processes governing mammalian meiosis. The present review article thus provides a comprehensive overview of the knockout mice that have been employed to study meiosis, with a particular focus on gene- and gametogenesis-related sexual dimorphism observed in these model animals. In so doing, we aim to provide a firm foundation for the future study of sex-specific differences in meiosis at the molecular level.

Automated summary

Meiosis is a crucial process in gametogenesis of sexually reproducing organisms, but there are significant sex-specific differences within individual species in terms of chromatin reorganization, recombination, and tolerance for meiotic defects. Over the past two decades, numerous murine models have been developed to study the regulatory processes governing mammalian meiosis, particularly focusing on gene- and gametogenesis-related sexual dimorphism. This review aims to lay a solid foundation for future research on sex-specific differences in meiosis at the molecular level.