Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
10:22
Enrichment of Pachytene Spermatocytes and Spermatids from Mouse Testes Using Standard Laboratory Equipment
Published on: September 17, 2019
Stem cell heterogeneity: actual and potential stem cell compartments in mouse spermatogenesis
Shosei Yoshida1, Yo-Ichi Nabeshima, Toshinori Nakagawa
1Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. shosei@lmls.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|October 2, 2007
Summary
Mouse spermatogenesis involves two types of undifferentiated spermatogonia: actual stem cells and potential stem cells. Potential stem cells normally act as transit amplifying cells but can self-renew when needed, ensuring robust sperm production.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Spermatogenesis is a complex process involving stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.
- Understanding the dynamics of the spermatogonial stem cell system is crucial for male fertility.
- Mouse spermatogenesis provides a model for studying stem cell behavior in mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior and roles of undifferentiated spermatogonia in steady-state mouse spermatogenesis.
- To identify distinct functional compartments within the undifferentiated spermatogonial population.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying stem cell maintenance and regeneration in the testis.
Main Methods:
- Pulse-labeling experiments using transgenic mouse models.
- Tracking the fate and proliferation of specific spermatogonial populations.
- Analysis of stem cell behavior under normal and perturbed conditions (transplantation, regeneration, stem cell loss).
Main Results:
- Identified two functionally distinct compartments of undifferentiated spermatogonia: actual stem cells and potential stem cells.
- Potential stem cells exhibit rapid turnover and function as transit amplifying cells in normal spermatogenesis.
- Potential stem cells can switch to a self-renewing mode upon transplantation, regeneration, or loss of actual stem cells.
Conclusions:
- The mouse spermatogonial stem cell system is heterogeneous, comprising both self-renewing and potential self-renewing populations.
- This heterogeneity contributes to the robustness and adaptability of spermatogenesis.
- The plasticity of potential stem cells is key to maintaining sperm production throughout the reproductive lifespan.
Related Concept Videos
01:41Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...
01:22Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the development of sperm cells from undifferentiated stem cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The process is essential for the production of mature and functional sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...
01:27Source And Potency Of Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with extensive self-renewal properties that help them maintain their population during the fetal and adult stages of life. They can specialize in all cell types of the human body. However, their differential potential may vary and can be classified into five types. Stem cells can be (1) Totipotent, (2) Pluripotent, (3) Multipotent, (4) Oligopotent, and (5) Unipotent. Each stem cell has a specific origin; the fertilized egg or zygote is a totipotent cell and...
01:06Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
01:10Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation
The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
01:19Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
The hematopoietic stem cells or HSCs are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate and give rise to all blood and immune cells. HSCs are maintained in the quiescent stage until an external stimulus initiates their differentiation. The multipotent HSCs exist as two heterogeneous populations, long-term repopulating cells (LTRC) and short-term repopulating cells (STRC). The two HSC populations have different surface markers or receptors and are classified based on quiescence and long-term...