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Serial Enrichment of Spermatogonial Stem and Progenitor Cells (SSCs) in Culture for Derivation of Long-term Adult Mouse SSC Lines
Published on: February 25, 2013
Phenotypic plasticity of mouse spermatogonial stem cells
Hiroko Morimoto1, Mito Kanatsu-Shinohara, Seiji Takashima
1Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Plos One
|November 26, 2009
Summary
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) exhibit phenotypic plasticity, dynamically changing their c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor (Kit) expression based on their environment. This plasticity is crucial for SSC self-renewal and function.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cellular Plasticity
Background:
- Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are crucial for continuous sperm production through self-renewal.
- SSCs were traditionally considered to have a fixed phenotype, with deterministic fate commitment.
- In vitro culture revealed cellular heterogeneity, challenging the fixed phenotype model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenotypic plasticity of SSCs.
- To determine the role of c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor (Kit) expression in SSCs.
- To understand how SSC phenotype changes in response to microenvironmental cues.
Main Methods:
- In vitro culture of SSCs on laminin.
- Germ cell transplantation assays.
- Analysis of c-kit (Kit) expression in SSCs in vivo and in vitro.
Main Results:
- SSCs express c-kit (Kit) in vitro but not in vivo.
- Both Kit-negative and Kit-positive SSCs demonstrated comparable stem cell activity post-transplantation.
- Kit expression on SSCs did not influence self-renewal but changed dynamically after transplantation.
Conclusions:
- SSCs exhibit phenotypic plasticity, adapting to their microenvironment.
- Stochastic Kit expression in SSCs suggests a dynamic regulation of their phenotype.
- Activated and non-activated SSCs display distinct phenotypes, highlighting functional heterogeneity.
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