title: Petasites japonicus Stimulates the Proliferation of Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells.
abstract: Oriental natural plants have been used as medical herbs for the treatment of various diseases for over 2,000 years. In this study, we evaluated the effect of several natural plants on the preservation of male fertility by assessing the ability of plant extracts to stimulate spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) proliferation by using a serum-free culture method. In vitro assays showed that Petasites japonicus extracts, especially the butanol fraction, have a significant effect on germ cells proliferation including SSCs. The activity of SSCs cultured in the presence of the Petasites japonicus butanol fraction was confirmed by normal colony formation and spermatogenesis following germ cell transplantation of the treated SSCs. Our findings could lead to the discovery of novel factors that activate SSCs and could be useful for the development of technologies for the prevention of male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Ryun
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-An
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Gu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bang-Jin
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Van Andel Institute, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Byung-Gak
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong-Geun
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Sungnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sanghyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Buom-Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D036901:Petasites / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D010936:Plant Extracts