Figure 8. Dedifferentiating germ cells outcompete wild-type GSCs and wild-type CySCs.
A 4-cell spermatogonial cyst fragments, releasing differentiating germ cells (light purple) from their syncytial neighbors. One spermatogonial cell migrates back toward the hub. To gain niche access, the dedifferentiating germ cell must outcompete resident stem cells, either a wild-type GSC (purple), a wild-type CySC (blue), or both. Upon successful niche entry, the cell is reclassified as a GSC derived from dedifferentiation (red).