title: Behavior of mouse spermatogonial stem-like cells on an electrospun nanofibrillar matrix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spermatogonial stem cells are affected by the interactions of extrinsic signals produced by components of the microenvironment niche, in addition to the chemical and physical properties of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, this study was initiated to assess the interaction of these cells on a synthetic nanofibrillar extracellular matrix that mimicked the geometry and nanotopography of the basement membrane for cellular growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study has used a variety of experimental approaches to investigate the interaction of mouse neonatal-derived spermatogonial stem-like cells on a synthetic random oriented three-dimensional nanofibrillar matrix composed of electrospun polyamide nanofibers (Ultra-Web™).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies were characterized by their ability to express α6-integrin, Thy-1, PLZF, and β1-integrin. After culture of cells on the nanofibrillar surfaces for 7 days, the number of colonies, the number of cells in each colony, and the average area of colonies were increased (P < 0.05). However, the expression difference of related markers in both groups was not significant. A significantly higher proliferation and survival was observed in the nanofibrillar group (P < 0.05). After transplantation into the testes of busulfan-treated adult mice, spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies that were cultured on the nanofibrillar surface demonstrated functionality, as verified by their ability to migrate to the seminiferous basal membrane, where they produced additional colonies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results have suggested that electrospun nanofibrillar surfaces could provide a more favorable microenvironment for in vitro short term culture of spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Campus, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Malak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohram
authors.forename: Abdolhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahverdi
authors.forename: Ahmad Zare
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Shahneh
authors.forename: Faranak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tavakolifar
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirouz
authors.forename: Hossein Moradi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shahrebabak
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koruji
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baharvand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties