Pluripotency of spermatogonial stem cells from adult mouse testis

Abstract

Embryonic germ cells as well as germline stem cells from neonatal mouse testis are pluripotent and have differentiation potential similar to embryonic stem cells, suggesting that the germline lineage may retain the ability to generate pluripotent cells. However, until now there has been no evidence for the pluripotency and plasticity of adult spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which are responsible for maintaining spermatogenesis throughout life in the male. Here we show the isolation of SSCs from adult mouse testis using genetic selection, with a success rate of 27%. These isolated SSCs respond to culture conditions and acquire embryonic stem cell properties. We name these cells multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs). They are able to spontaneously differentiate into derivatives of the three embryonic germ layers in vitro and generate teratomas in immunodeficient mice. When injected into an early blastocyst, SSCs contribute to the development of various organs and show germline transmission. Thus, the capacity to form multipotent cells persists in adult mouse testis. Establishment of human maGSCs from testicular biopsies may allow individual cell-based therapy without the ethical and immunological problems associated with human embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, these cells may provide new opportunities to study genetic diseases in various cell lineages.

Bone marrow‐derived very small embryonic‐like stem cells: Their developmental origin and biological significance

“…A population of stem cells that express markers of ESC/epiblast/PGC cells was recently described in several nonhematopoietic organs, for example, in epidermis (Dyce et al, 2004(Dyce et al, , 2006Yu et al, 2006), bronchial epithelium (Ling et al, 2006), myocardium, pancreas, (Kruse et al, 2006;Danner et al, 2007), testis (Kanatsu-Shinohara et al, 2004;Guan et al, 2006), retina (Koso et al, 2006), and amniotic fluid (De Coppi et al, 2007). This finding supports a concept of developmental deposition of Oct-4 ϩ EPSC in developing organs.…”

Lineage Enforcement by Inductive Mesenchyme on Adult Epithelial Stem Cells across Developmental Germ Layers

“…Although it is known that nonsomatic testicular germ cells are pluripotent and can undergo directed differentiation [31][32][33], our data show that, in the absence of pluripotency, Figure 5. Prostate stroma induces transition of ectoderm-derived skin epithelia.…”

Downregulation of Col1a1 induces differentiation in mouse spermatogonia

“…22 Indeed, Stra8 promoter has been used to isolate spermatogonia including SSCs from the mouse testes. 23 To demonstrate the functional importance of the Col1a1 on spermatogonia self-renewal and differentiation, several gene markers were chosen for further analysis. When Col1a1 levels were reduced, levels of markers for mouse spermatogonia and progenitors including Pcna, Gfra-1, Oct4 and Stra8, were changed in different way.…”