Juvenile spermatogonial depletion (jsd) mutant seminiferous tubules are capable of supporting transplanted spermatogenesis.
In mice, the juvenile spermatogonial depletion (jsd) mutation results in a single wave of spermatogenesis followed by failure of type A spermatogonial stem cells to repopulate the testis, rendering male animals sterile. It is not clear whether the defect in jsd resides in a failure of the somatic component to support spermatogenesis or in a failure that is intrinsic to the mutant's germ cells. To determine if the jsd intratesticular environment is capable of supporting spermatogenesis, germ cell transplantation experiments were performed in which C57BL/6 ROSA germ cells were transplanted into jsd recipients. To determine if jsd spermatogonia are able to develop in a permissive seminiferous environment, jsd germ cells were transplanted into W/W(v) and busulfan-treated C57BL/6 animals. The data demonstrate that up to 7 mo after transplantation of normal germ cells, jsd seminiferous tubules are capable of supporting spermatogenesis. In contrast, when jsd germ cells were transplanted into busulfan-treated C57BL/6 testis, or into testis of W/W(v) mice, no jsd-derived spermatogenesis was observed. The data support the hypothesis that the jsd phenotype is due to a defect in the germ cells themselves, and not in the intratubular environment.
Boettger-Tong
H L
HL
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. hboettger-tong@wesleyancollege.edu
Johnston
D S
DS
Russell
L D
LD
Griswold
M D
MD
Bishop
C E
CE
D000818:Animals; D002066:Busulfan / Q000494:pharmacology; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009929:Organ Size; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000473:pathology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000637:transplantation*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
D002066:Busulfan