Differentiation of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells on three-dimensional agar/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber scaffold

摘要

Electrospun nanofiber matrices sufficiently mimic the structural morphology of natural extracellular matrix. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of agar/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber (PVA) scaffold on the proliferation efficiency and differentiation potential of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SCCs). Testicular cells were isolated from testes of 40 mouse pups and were seeded in: 1) 2D cell culture plates in the absence (2D/-GF) or presence (2D/+GF) of growth factors and 2) onto agar/PVA scaffold in the absence (3D/-GF) or presence (3D/+GF) of growth factors. The cells were subsequently cultured for 4 weeks. First 2 weeks were dedicated to proliferative phase, whereas the next 2 weeks emphasized the differentiation phase. The identity of the SCCs was investigated at different time-points by flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses against the germ cell markers, including PLZF, Id-4, Gfr alpha-1, Tekt-1, and Sycp-3. After 2 weeks of culture, the 3D/+GF group showed the highest percentage of PLZF-positive cells among culture systems (P < 0.05). The expression levels of pre-meiotic markers (Id-4 and Gfr alpha-1) decreased significantly in all groups, particularly in 3D/+GF group after 28 days of culture. Additionally, the cells in the 3D/+GF group displayed the highest expression of meiotic (Sycp-3) and post-meiotic markers (Tekt-1) 14 days after differentiation induction. Seemingly, the combination of the agar/PVA scaffold and growth factor-supplemented medium synergistically increased the differentiation rate of mouse SSCs into meiotic and post-meiotic cells. Thus, agar/PVA nanofiber scaffolds may have the potential for applications in the restoration of infertility, especially in azoospermic males.