Production of knockout mice by random or targeted mutagenesis in spermatogonial stem cells

Stem cells represent a unique population of cells with self-renewal capacity. Although they are important therapeutic targets, the genetic manipulation of tissue-specific stem cells has been limited, which complicates the study and practical application of these cells. Here, we demonstrate successful gene trapping and homologous recombination in spermatogonial stem cells. Cultured spermatogonial stem cells were transfected with gene trap or gene targeting vectors. Mutagenized stem cells were expanded clonally by drug selection. These cells underwent spermatogenesis and produced heterozygous offspring after transplantation into the seminiferous tubules of infertile mouse testes. Heterozygous mutant mice were intercrossed to produce homozygous gene knockouts. Using this strategy, the efficiency of homologous recombination for the occludin gene locus was 1.7% using a nonisogenic DNA construct. These results demonstrate the feasibility of altering genes in tissue-specific stem cells in a manner similar to embryonic stem cells and have important implications for gene therapy and animal transgenesis.