Stem cell factor activates telomerase in mouse mitotic spermatogonia and in primordial germ cells.

O-3: Identification and Characterization of Repopulating Spermatogonial Stem Cells from The Adult Human Testis

Background: This study was conducted to identify and characterize repopulating spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the adult human testes. Materials and Methods: Testes biopsies from obstructive azoospermic patients and normal segments of human testicular tissue were used. Flow cytometry, real time PCR and immunohistochemical analysis were performed. Purified human spermatogonia were transplant...

The effect of BMP4 on mouse embryonic stem cell proliferation and differentiation into primordial germ cells

Background and Aim: Artificial gamete production from stem cells is a novel strategy for treatment of infertility. Among various stem cell sources, embryonic stem cells (ESC) can be considered as an appropriate source for in vitro formation of germ cells. In this study we evaluated the effect of BMP4 on proliferation and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into primordial germ cells (...

High telomerase is a hallmark of undifferentiated spermatogonia and is required for maintenance of male germline stem cells.

Telomerase inactivation causes loss of the male germline in worms, fish, and mice, indicating a conserved dependence on telomere maintenance in this cell lineage. Here, using telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) reporter mice, we found that very high telomerase expression is a hallmark of undifferentiated spermatogonia, the mitotic population where germline stem cells reside. We exploited th...

Functional Concentrations of BMP4 on Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Primordial Germ Cells

Comparison of Germ Cell Gene Expressions in Spontaneous Monolayer versus Embryoid Body Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells toward Germ Cells

Objective Genetic and morphologic similarities between mouse embryonic stem cell (ESCs) and Primordial Germ Cell (PGCs) make it difficult to distinguish the two cell types in in vitro differentiation. Using the expression of specific markers of germ cells that are not expressed or expressed at low levels in ESCs, can help recognizing in vitro differentiated cells MaterialsAndMethods In this stu...