Abstract
Detailed characterization of the gene expression patterns in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes is critical to understand the processes which occur prior to meiosis during normal spermatogenesis. The genome-wide expression profiles of mouse type B spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were investigated using the Solexa/Illumina digital gene expression (DGE) system, a tag based high-throughput transcriptome sequencing method, and the developmental processes which occur during early spermatogenesis were systematically analyzed. Gene expression patterns vary significantly between mouse type B spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. The functional analysis revealed that genes related to junction assembly, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and pluripotency were most significantly differently expressed. Pathway analysis indicated that the Wnt non-canonical signaling pathway played a central role and interacted with the actin filament organization pathway during the development of spermatogonia. This study provides a foundation for further analysis of the gene expression patterns and signaling pathways which regulate the molecular mechanisms of early spermatogenesis.
Highlights
Spermatogenesis, the process by which germ stem cells (Type A spermatogonia) develop into mature spermatozoa, includes three phases: spermatocytogenesis, meiosis and spermiogenesis
Much of the research conducted on the transcriptional regulation of spermatogenesis in the last two decades has focused on individual transcription factors, and most of these studies have relied solely on the altered phenotypes of knockout mice to assess the function of transcription factors [2]
GC-1spg cells were created by transformation of 10 day-old mouse type B spermatogonia with pSV3-neo, and have the characteristics of the stage between type B spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes
Summary
Spermatogenesis, the process by which germ stem cells (Type A spermatogonia) develop into mature spermatozoa, includes three phases: spermatocytogenesis (mitosis), meiosis and spermiogenesis. Germ stem cells divide mitotically to replace themselves and produce the cells which subsequently differentiate (Type B spermatogonia). After a further mitotic division, type B spermatogonia divide mitotically into primary spermatocytes, followed by a meiotic division to generate secondary spermatocytes which eventually generate early and late spermatids [1]. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms which regulate mitotic and meiotic cell division in mammalian germ cells may help to understand the genetic basis of spermatogenesis. The mechanisms by which these genes and their proteins regulate different facets of spermatogenesis, such as the germ cell cycle, spermatogonial proliferation and renewal, germ cell apoptosis, meiosis, cell adhesion, junction restructuring, germ cell migration and other biochemical and morphological events pertinent to spermiogenesis remain unexplored [4]
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