Development of germ cell transplants in mice

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 1360 - 1370
• Main Authors: Parreira, G.G. (Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL.), Ogawa, T, Avarbock, M.R, Franca, L.R, Brinster, R.L, Russell, L.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01-12-1998
• Subjects: ANIMAL TRANSGENIQUE; ANIMALES TRANSGENICOS; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Clone Cells; EPIDIDYMIS; Epididymis - cytology; ESPERMATOGENESIS; ESPERMATOZOO; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAMETE; GAMETES; GAMETOS; Male; Mammalian male genital system; MICE; Morphology. Physiology; Organ Size; PESO; Phagocytosis; POIDS; RATON; Seminiferous Epithelium - cytology; SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES; Sertoli Cells - physiology; SOURIS; SPERMATIDS; SPERMATOCYTES; Spermatocytes - cytology; SPERMATOGENESE; SPERMATOGENESIS; SPERMATOGONIA; Spermatogonia - physiology; Spermatogonia - transplantation; SPERMATOZOA; SPERMATOZOIDE; TESTES; TESTICULE; TESTICULOS; Testis - cytology; TRANSGENIC ANIMALS; TRANSPLANTATION; TRASPLANTES; Vertebrates: reproduction; WEIGHT; Spermatogenesis; Rodentia; Male genital duct; Transplantation; Germinal cell; Testicle; Male genital system; Vertebrata; Epididymis; Mammalia; Mouse; Spermatogonia; Development
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod59.6.1360

Development of spermatogonial transplants was studied by using 5- to 6-wk-old histocompatible mice as cell donors and sterile
(W-locus) mice as recipients. Groups of animals transplanted with germ cell suspensions were killed at 10 min, 9 h, 24 h,
1 wk, 1 mo, 2 mo, and 3 mo along with age-matched “start” and “end” W-locus controls. Weight of testes increased significantly
at 24 h through 3 mo after germ cell transplantation, suggesting that the infused cells quickly stimulated organ function.
Small clones of young spermatocytes were evident at 1 mo and sperm at 2 mo. The percentage of tubular profiles containing
active spermatogenesis originating from spermatogonia increased with time (0.8% at 1 mo, 8.9% at 2 mo, and 28.2% at 3 mo).
Most transplanted germ cells were eliminated from the seminiferous epithelium through phagocytosis by Sertoli cells that occurred
primarily before 1 wk, although some pachytene cells were able to proceed through meiosis by 1 wk. A variety of abnormal features
are described that characterize developing spermatogenesis in the transplanted testis. Spermatogenesis improved quantitatively
and qualitatively with time although released sperm were frequently engulfed by intratubular macrophages and Sertoli cells.
A quantitative analysis of spermatogenesis from transplanted germ cells will serve as a basis for improving spermatogonial
transplant efficiency.