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Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis

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...

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Isolation of Sertoli Cells and Peritubular Cells from Rat Testes

Isolation of Sertoli Cells and Peritubular Cells from Rat Testes

Published on: February 8, 2016

Dicer is required for Sertoli cell function and survival.

Gwang-Jin Kim¹, Ina Georg, Harry Scherthan

¹Institute of Human Genetics, University of Freiburg, Germany.

The International Journal of Developmental Biology

|October 31, 2009

Summary

Dicer enzyme is essential for male fertility. Inactivating Dicer in Sertoli cells disrupts testis development, leading to sterility by causing cell death and gene dysregulation.

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Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

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Published on: February 8, 2016

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Developmental Biology
Reproductive Biology

Background:

Dicer is a critical enzyme for microRNA maturation, essential for gene regulation.
Complete Dicer deficiency is lethal before embryonic gastrulation.
The role of Dicer in mammalian testis development remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the function of Dicer in Sertoli cell development and spermatogenesis.
To determine the consequences of Dicer inactivation in Sertoli cells on testis morphology and function.

Main Methods:

Conditional Dicer allele inactivation in mouse Sertoli cells using AMH-Cre.
Histological analysis of testis development from embryonic to postnatal stages.
Apoptosis assays, prophase I staging, and gene expression analysis.

Main Results:

Sertoli cell-specific Dicer inactivation caused progressive testis degeneration after birth.
Mutant testes exhibited increased apoptosis, reduced tubule organization, and decreased Sertoli and germ cell populations by postnatal day 6.
Downregulation of key developmental and spermatogenesis genes was observed pre-morphologically.

Conclusions:

Dicer is indispensable for Sertoli cell survival and function during testis development.
Dicer activity is crucial for maintaining testis structure and supporting spermatogenesis.
Early transcriptional dysregulation precedes morphological defects in Dicer-mutant testes.