Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the foundation of spermatogenesis and are located in a highly dynamic microenvironment called “niche” that influences all aspects of stem cell function, including homing, self-renewal and differentiation. Several studies have recently identified specific proteins that regulate the fate of SSCs. These studies also aimed at identifying surface markers that would facilitate the isolation of these cells in different vertebrate species. The present study is the first to investigate SSC physiology and niche in stallions and to offer a comparative evaluation of undifferentiated type A spermatogonia (Aund) markers (GFRA1, PLZF and CSF1R) in three different domestic equid species (stallions, donkeys, and mules). Aund were first characterized according to their morphology and expression of the GFRA1 receptor. Our findings strongly suggest that in stallions these cells were preferentially located in the areas facing the interstitium, particularly those nearby blood vessels. This distribution is similar to what has been observed in other vertebrate species. In addition, all three Aund markers were expressed in the equid species evaluated in this study. These markers have been well characterized in other mammalian species, which suggests that the molecular mechanisms that maintain the niche and Aund/SSCs physiology are conserved among mammals. We hope that our findings will help future studies needing isolation and cryopreservation of equids SSCs. In addition, our data will be very useful for studies that aim at preserving the germplasm of valuable animals, and involve germ cell transplantation or xenografts of equids testis fragments/germ cells suspensions.
Highlights
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the undifferentiated male germ cells committed to the establishment and maintenance of spermatogenesis [1]
Stages of the Seminiferous Epithelium Cycle Based on the development of the acrosomal system in spermatids, twelve stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle (SEC) were characterized in stallions (Figure 1A; I–XII)
This study offers a comparative evaluation of A single (As) undifferentiated spermatogonia (Aund) markers in three different domestic equid species
Summary
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the undifferentiated male germ cells committed to the establishment and maintenance of spermatogenesis [1]. Investigating SSCs physiology is a crucial aspect of reproductive biology, leading to a better understanding of some causes of male infertility, to the development of novel reproductive biotechnologies [12] and to the generation of novel cellular models for tissue engineering [11,13]. In this context, many studies have been developed aiming at identifying specific markers for these cells in vertebrates [14,15]. This would facilitate the application of different biotechnologies aiming at preserving the germplasm [17], by using for instance the germ cell transplantation technique [10] or transdifferentiation approaches [11]
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