Dimethyloxaloylglycine promotes spermatogenesis activity of spermatogonial stem cells in Bama minipigs.

Abstract

BackgroundThe testis has been reported to be a naturally O2-deprived organ, dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG) can inhibit hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) subject to degradation under normal oxygen condition in cells.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to detect the effects of DMOG on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in Bama minipigs.MethodsGradient concentrations of DMOG were added into the culture medium, HIF-1α protein in SSCs was detected by western blot analysis, the relative transcription levels of the SSC-specific genes were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Six days post-induction, the genes related to spermatogenesis were detected by qRT-PCR, and the DNA content was determined by flow cytometry.ResultsResults revealed that the levels of HIF-1α protein increased in SSCs with the DMOG treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The relative transcription levels of SSC-specific genes were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) by activating HIF-1α expression. The induction results showed that DMOG significantly increased (p < 0.05) the spermatogenesis capability of SSCs, and the populations of haploid cells significantly increased (p < 0.05) in DMOG-treated SSCs when compared to those in DMOG-untreated SSCs.ConclusionWe demonstrate that DMOG can promote the spermatogenesis activity of SSCs.