title: Histomorphometric evaluation of treatment of rat azoosper-mic seminiferous tubules by allotransplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) potentials make them appropriate for cell therapy including ability of differentiation and release of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors secreta. For treatment of azoospermia to induce proliferation and differentiation of germ cells, MSCs transplantation has been introduced. The aim of the present experimental case-control study was to histomorphometric evaluation of the germinal cells in seminiferous tubules of azoospermic rats before and after BM-MSCs allotransplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, BM-MSCs were isolated from six male rats and confirmed. Their testes also served as intact negative controls. The recipient rats (n=6) were received two doses of 10 mg/kg of busulfan with 21 days interval to induce azoospermia. After cessation of spermatogenesis, the rats were allotransplanted with the BM-MSCs into efferent duct of right testes. Thirty-five days later, the right cell-treated testes were compared to left azoospermic ones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histomorphometric analyses showed that the seminiferous tubules treated with BM-MSCs had normal morphology in comparison with azoospermic testes, which were without germinal layer. In most BM-MSCs-treated seminiferous tubules, spermatogenesis was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The allotransplanted BM-MSCs could induce spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules of azoospermic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rahmanifar
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamadon
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehrabani
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrokh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zare
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sorush
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abasi
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dianatpour
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khodabandeh
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Iman Raze Ghian
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Jahromi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koohi-Hoseinabadi
keywords: Azoospermia; Bone marrow mesenchymal-stem cell; Busulfan; Cell therapy; Rat