Abstract
Development of germ cells is a process starting in fetus and completed only in puberty. Spermatogonial stem cells maintain spermatogenesis throughout the reproductive life of mammals. They are undifferentiated cells defined by their ability to both self-renew and differentiate into mature spermatozoa. This self-renewal and differentiation in turn is tightly regulated by a combination of intrinsic gene expression as well as the extrinsic gene signals from the local tissue microenvironment. The human testis is prone to damage, either for therapeutic reasons or because of toxic agents from the environment. For preservation of fertility, patients who will undergo radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy have an attractive possibility to keep in store and afterwards make a transfer of spermatogonial stem cells. Germ cell transplantation is not yet ready for the human fertility clinic, but it may be reasonable for young cancer patients, with no other options to preserve their fertility. Whereas this technique has become an important research tool in rodents, a clinical application must still be regarded as experimental, and many aspects of the procedure need to be optimized prior to a clinical application in men. In future, a range of options for the preservation of male fertility will get a new significance.
Highlights
In the normal human testis there are few cells, which are important for such a multistaged process as spermatogenesis
The most important cells are germ cells in their various developmental stages, supporting Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules, and interstitial Leydig cells producing hormone testosterone, which is necessary for normal process of spermatogenesis
Fetal spermatogonia begin to transform into adult dark (Adark) spermatogonia
Summary
In the normal human testis there are few cells, which are important for such a multistaged process as spermatogenesis. The most important cells are germ cells in their various developmental stages, supporting Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules, and interstitial Leydig cells producing hormone testosterone, which is necessary for normal process of spermatogenesis. They replace themselves and produce more differentiated progenitor daughter cells, known as adult pale (Apale) spermatogonia Both (Adark and Apale) are commonly referred to as spermatogonial stem cells, their biological functions are very different and the Adark shows characteristics indicating that it acts as a testicular stem cells. A few strategies have been introduced for preserving fertility in prepubertal boys, adolescents, and adult men, where it is necessary to apply anticancer therapy, or where the infertility in man occurred for some other reasons All of these strategies include the application of SSCs in the treatment of infertility.
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