Submitted August 2, 2002
Returned for revision August 26, 2002
Accepted October 16, 2002
Testis
Restoration of Spermatogenesis in Infertile Mice by
Sertoli Cell Transplantation
Takashi Shinohara 1,
Kyle E. Orwig 1,
Mary R. Avarbock 1,
Ralph L. Brinster 1*
1 University of Pennsylvania
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: korwig{at}vet.upenn.edu.
Abstract
The niche is considered to play an important role in stem
cell biology. Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in
the seminiferous tubule that closely interact with germ
cells to create a favorable environment for
spermatogenesis. However, little is known about how
Sertoli cells develop to form male germ line niche. We
report here that Sertoli cells recovered and dissociated
from testes of donor male mice can be microinjected into
recipient testes, form mature seminiferous tubule
structures and support spermatogenesis. Sertoli cells
from perinatal donors had a dramatically greater capacity
for generating seminiferous tubules than those from adult
donors. Furthermore, transplantation of wild-type Sertoli
cells into infertile Steel/Steeldickie
(Sl/Sld) testes created a permissive
testicular microenvironment for generating spermatogenesis
and spermatozoa. Thus, our results demonstrate that the
male germ line stem cell niche can be transferred between
animals, and the technique provides a novel tool to
analyze spermatogenesis and might provide a mechanism for
correcting fertility in males suffering from supporting
cell defects.
Key words:
Gamete Biology •
Male Reproductive Tract •
Developmental biology •
Sertoli cells •
Spermatogenesis
