Culture of mouse spermatogonial stem cells

摘要

It has previously been thought that germ cells survive for only a brief period in culture. An accurate assessment of the presence of spermatogonial stem cells in any cell population has recently become possible with development of the spermatogonialtransplantation technique. Using this technique, it was shown that mouse spermatogonial stem cells can be maintained in culture for approximately 4 months and can produce spermatozoa following transplantation to the seminiferous tubules of an appropriate recipient. Extensive areas of cultured donor cell-derived spermatogenesis were generated in the host, and mature spermatozoa were produced. Cultivation of the testis cells on STO feeder cells improved stem cell survival.