Chen and Liu (1) agree with our main conclusion that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) produced by peritubular myoid (PM) cells signals to undifferentiated spermatogonia and regulates their maintenance (2), but argue that a PM cell-specific gene knockout is impossible because the myosin heavy polypeptide 11 smooth muscle-Cre (Myh11-Cre) is not expressed specifically in PM cells...

Gonocytes are a transient population of male germ-line stem cells that are derived from primordial germ cells in the embryo and give rise to spermatogonial stem cells, which establish and maintain spermatogenesis in the postnatal testis. In contrast to spermatogonial stem cells, gonocytes can be identified easily in neonatal rat testis cell suspensions based on their large size and distinct mor...

Herein we report a case of primary leiomyosarcoma of testis, which was believed to originate from normal testicular structures.  It contained smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and contractile cells of the seminiferous tubules.  No evidence of tumor spread was found.Treatment consisted of orchiectomy with high ligation of the spermatic cord.  The patient received no adjuvant therapy and there w...

Spermatogenesis is a self-renewing process leading to production of spermatozoa in adult testis. The existence of male germinal stem cells was demonstrated by regeneration of spermatogenesis after transplantation of total testicular germ cells in testis [1], and we have previously shown that mouse testicular cells contain a side population (SP) of stem cells (Hoechst 33342 fluorescent dye efflu...

The production, differentiation, and presence of male gametes represent inimitable challenges to the immune system, as they are unique to the body and appear long after the maturation of the immune system and formation of systemic self-tolerance. Known to protect germ cells and foreign tissue grafts from autoimmune attack, the 'immune privilege' of the testis was originally, and somewhat simpli...

Galectin-3, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding protein family, has been implicated in mammalian sperm maturation. We examined galectin-3 expression in the testis and epididymis of sexually mature and immature bulls. Western blot analysis showed varying levels of galectin-3 in the bull testis and epididymis, and galectin-3 immunoreactivity was higher in the mature testis and epididymis tha...

The secretions of the Sertoli cell were examined with two polyvalent antisera--one prepared against proteins in rat serum and the other against testis-specific proteins in rete testis fluid. These antisera detected 12 serum and 9 testis-specific proteins in rete testis fluid. To determine the origin of these proteins, primary cultures enriched in Sertoli cells were incubated with [35S]methionin...

The met protooncogene encodes the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR, c-met). C-met, a tyrosine kinase receptor protein, is widely expressed in different cell types including the male reproductive tract. As we recently demonstrated, both c-met messenger RNA and protein are expressed in prebuberal rat testis. The aim of this work was to detect the expression of c-met during postnatal testis...

Although germline cells can form multipotential embryonic stem (ES)/embryonic germ (EG) cells, these cells can be derived only from embryonic tissues, and such multipotent cells have not been available from neonatal gonads. Here we report the successful establishment of ES-like cells from neonatal mouse testis. These ES-like cells were phenotypically similar to ES/EG cells except in their genom...

The spermatogonial stem cell initiates and maintains spermatogenesis in the testis. To perform this role, the stem cell must self replicate as well as produce daughter cells that can expand and differentiate to form spermatozoa. Despite the central importance of the spermatogonial stem cell to male reproduction, little is known about its morphological or biochemical characteristics. This result...