Testis

Grafting Period and Donor Age Affect the Potential for Spermatogenesis in Bovine Ectopic Testis Xenografts

Abstract
Bovine testis tissue xenografts contain elongating spermatids 6 months after grafting. The percentage of seminiferous tubule cross-sections with elongating spermatids at the time of graft removal varies depending on donor age and rarely exceeds 10%. These data indicate significant changes are occurring to bovine testicular cells during the first weeks of life. The objective of this research was to xenograft testis tissue from multiple ages of bull calves for 24 or 36 weeks in order to gain a better understanding of early bovine testis development. Testis tissue from 1, 2, 4, and 8 week old calves was grafted onto the backs of castrated immunodeficient mice. Testis tissue from all donor ages grew, differentiated, and produced testosterone and elongating spermatids. Testis tissue grafts from 1 and 8 week old calves had elongating spermatids in greater than 5.5% of seminiferous tubule cross-sections at the time of graft removal regardless of grafting period. Four week old donor tissue never had more than 5.2% of seminiferous tubule cross-sections with elongating spermatids. Extending the grafting period from 24 to 36 weeks resulted in an increase in the percentage of seminiferous tubule cross-sections with elongating spermatids from 2% to 10% in two week donor tissue. These data demonstrate that both donor age and grafting period may be important factors regulating the maturation of bovine testis xenografts, indicating that intrinsic differences exist within testis tissue at these donor ages. These data provide the framework for further study of bovine spermatogenesis using ectopic testis xenografting.

Key words: Testis • Developmental biology • Gametogenesis • Sperm • Spermatogenesis

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