Clonal Origin of Germ Cell Colonies after Spermatogonial Transplantation in Mice

Spermatogenesis originates from a small number of spermatogonial stem cells that can reinitiate spermatogenesis and produce germ cell colonies following transplantation into infertile recipient testes. Although several previous studies have suggested a single-cell origin of germ cell colonies, only...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology of reproduction 2006-07, Vol.75 (1), p.68-74
Main Authors: KANATSU-SHINOHARA, Mito, INOUE, Kimiko, MIKI, Hiromi, OGONUKI, Narumi, TAKEHASHI, Masanori, MORIMOTO, Takeshi, OGURA, Atsuo, SHINOHARA, Takashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Clone Cells - cytology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics
Insemination
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Morphology. Physiology
Retroviridae - genetics
Retroviridae - physiology
Retrovirus
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia - cytology
Stem Cell Transplantation
Stem Cells - cytology
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:Spermatogenesis originates from a small number of spermatogonial stem cells that can reinitiate spermatogenesis and produce germ cell colonies following transplantation into infertile recipient testes. Although several previous studies have suggested a single-cell origin of germ cell colonies, only indirect evidence has been presented. In this investigation, we tested the clonal origin hypothesis using a retrovirus, which could specifically mark an individual spermatogonial stem cell. Spermatogonial stem cells were infected in vitro with an enhanced green fluorescence protein-expressing retrovirus and subsequently transplanted into infertile recipient mice. Live haploid germ cells were recovered from individual colonies and were microinjected into eggs to create offspring. In total, 45 offspring were produced from five colonies, and 23 (51%) of the offspring were transgenic. Southern blot analysis indicated that the transgenic offspring from the single colony carried a common integration site, and the integration site was different among the transgenic offspring from different colonies. These results provide evidence that germ cell colonies develop from single spermatogonial stem cells. Abstract Retrovirus-mediated gene delivery and in vitro microinsemination techniques demonstrate the clonal origin of germ cell colonies after spermatogonial transplantation.
ISSN:0006-3363
1529-7268
DOI:10.1095/biolreprod.106.051193