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Developmental kinetics and transcriptome dynamics of stem cell specification in the spermatogenic lineage
Nathan C Law1, Melissa J Oatley1, Jon M Oatley2
1Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
Nature Communications
|June 28, 2019
Summary
Stem cell fate is preprogrammed. A specific subset of fetal prospermatogonia is destined to become foundational spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) before the neonatal pool is established.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Stem cell pools are crucial for cell lineage continuity and regeneration.
- The establishment of the foundational spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) pool from prospermatogonial precursors during neonatal development is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the trajectory of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from prospermatogonia.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the establishment of the foundational SSC pool.
Main Methods:
- In vivo kinetic mapping using a multi-transgenic reporter mouse model.
- In silico analysis utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing.
- Functional assessment via transplantation assays.
Main Results:
- A heterogeneous prospermatogonial population exhibits dynamic changes during late fetal and neonatal development.
- Transcriptome profiling revealed divergent developmental paths for fetal prospermatogonia.
- Transplantation studies confirmed a specific subset of fetal prospermatogonia is fated to become SSCs.
Conclusions:
- SSC fate appears to be preprogrammed within a subset of fetal prospermatogonia.
- This preprogramming occurs before the foundational SSC pool is established during early neonatal development.
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