title: Nonrandom Germline Transmission of Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells.
abstract: Genes are thought to be transmitted to offspring by random fertilization of a small number of oocytes with numerous spermatozoa. Here we analyzed the dynamics of male germline transmission by genetic marking and transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). We found that offspring deriving from a small number of specific SSCs appear within a limited time. Interestingly, the same SSC clones reappear later with an average functional lifespan of ∼124.4 days. Cyclic offspring production from SSCs was not caused by changes in SSC self-renewal activity because lineage-tracing analyses suggested that all SSCs actively proliferated. Selection appears to occur during the differentiating spermatogonia stage, when extensive apoptosis was observed. The pattern of germline transmission could be predicted using a mathematical model in which SSCs repeat cycles of transient spermatogenic burst and refractory periods. Thus, spermatogenesis is a regulated process whereby specific SSC clones are repeatedly recruited for fertilization with long-term cycles.
authors: Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. Electronic address: mshinoha@virus.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors: Mito
authors: M
authors: Kanatsu-Shinohara
authors: Imaging Platform for Spatio-temporal Information, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors: Honda
authors: H
authors: Naoki
authors: Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Shinohara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*