The spermatogonial stem cell niche

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs; As spermatogonia) and their direct descendants (Apr and Aal spermatogonia) are preferentially located in those areas of the seminiferous tubules that border on the interstitial tissue. Fewer of these cells are present in tubule areas directly bordering on another tub...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microscopy research and technique 2009-08, Vol.72 (8), p.580-585
Main Author: De Rooij, Dirk G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blood vessels
Borders
Differentiation
Growth factors
Humans
Interstitials
Leydig Cells - physiology
Links
Male
Microscopy
niche
Seminiferous Tubules - cytology
Seminiferous Tubules - physiology
Sertoli Cells - physiology
spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia - physiology
spermatogonial stem cells
Stem Cell Niche - physiology
Stem cells
testis
Testis - cytology
Testis - physiology
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Summary:Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs; As spermatogonia) and their direct descendants (Apr and Aal spermatogonia) are preferentially located in those areas of the seminiferous tubules that border on the interstitial tissue. Fewer of these cells are present in tubule areas directly bordering on another tubule. Therefore, the SSC niche is related to the presence of interstitial tissue. The somatic cells within the seminiferous tubules, the Sertoli cells, are able to produce growth factors that stimulate self‐renewal (GDNF, FGF2) and differentiation (activin A, BMP4, and SCF) of the SSCs. As Sertoli cells are everywhere on the basal membrane of the tubules, other factors coming from outside the tubules must determine, either directly or indirectly via Sertoli cells, whether in a particular area self‐renewal of SSCs will be preferred or differentiation in the form of Apr formation. Self‐renewal will be preferred in the stem cell niche and differentiation outside of the niche. Factors that could link the niche to the interstitial tissue are CSF1, produced by Leydig cells that stimulate stem cell proliferation and FSH, the concentration of which will be highest near blood vessels and that stimulates GDNF production by Sertoli cells. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN:1059-910X
1097-0029
DOI:10.1002/jemt.20699