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Serial Enrichment of Spermatogonial Stem and Progenitor Cells (SSCs) in Culture for Derivation of Long-term Adult Mouse SSC Lines

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Published on: February 25, 2013

Age affects gene expression in mouse spermatogonial stem/progenitor cells.

Maria Kokkinaki¹, Tin-Lap Lee, Zuping He

¹Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3900 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20057, USA.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)

|April 8, 2010

Summary

Aging affects mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), altering gene expression in older mice. While key SSC markers remain stable, specific genes like Icam1 and Selp are upregulated, indicating age-related changes in these crucial cells.

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Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Stem Cell Biology
Aging Research

Background:

Spermatogenesis, the production of sperm from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), takes about 64 days in humans.
Elderly men produce less sperm with higher DNA damage, yet their sperm remain functional for fertilization.
The aging process of SSCs themselves is hypothesized to contribute to age-related changes in sperm quality.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and their progenitors undergo aging.
To analyze the gene expression profiles of mouse SSCs/progenitors across different age groups.

Main Methods:

Purification of SSCs/progenitors using immunomagnetic cell sorting with an antibody to GFRA1.
Gene expression profiling using Affymetrix mouse genome microarrays.
Confirmation of microarray data using quantitative RT-PCR analysis.

Main Results:

Comparison of gene expression in mice aged 6 days, 21 days, 60 days, and 8 months revealed age-specific gene expression patterns.
Genes such as Icam1 and Selp were specifically expressed in older mice, similar to their role in aging hematopoietic stem cells.
Expression levels of SSC markers Gfra1 and Plzf were not significantly altered by age, suggesting age impacts specific SSC/progenitor properties.

Conclusions:

Aging impacts the gene expression profile of mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and progenitors.
Specific genes are upregulated with age in SSCs, potentially reflecting broader aging mechanisms in stem cell populations.
While core SSC markers remain unchanged, age-related alterations in other gene expressions indicate a nuanced aging process within SSCs.