Mouse spermatogonial stem cells obtain morphologic and functional characteristics of hematopoietic cells in vivo

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) Vol. 25; no. 12; pp. 3101 - 3109
• Main Authors: Ning, Liang, Goossens, Ellen, Geens, Mieke, Van Saen, Dorien, Van Riet, Ivan, He, Dalin, Tournaye, Herman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.12.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Transdifferentiation; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; hematopoietic cells; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; pluripotent stem cells; Spermatogonia - cytology; spermatogonial stem cells; stem cell plasticity; Stem Cells - physiology; transdifferentiation; stem cell plasticity; transdifferentiation; hematopoietic cells; pluripotent stem cells; spermatogonial stem cells; Stem cell; Rodentia; Characteristic; Hematopoietic cell; Totipotent cell; Germinal cell; In vivo; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Spermatogonia; Transdifferentiation; Plasticity
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deq269

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to explore the plasticity and transdifferentiation potential of murine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) into hematopoietic cells. METHODS GFP+CD49f+H-2Kb− SSCs of male donor mice were isolated and injected into the bone marrow (BM) of Busulfan-treated GFP− female mice. Twelve weeks post-transplantation, the recipients were sacrificed and their BM, peripheral blood (PB) and spleen (SL) cells were collected and evaluated by phenotypical methods, i.e. fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, and functional assays, i.e. colony-forming units assay and intra-BM transplantation. RESULTS Green fluorescent protein (GFP)- and Y chromosome-positive cells were observed in the BM, PB and SL of transplanted female mice. These cells presented phenotypical and functional characteristics of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that SSCs have the potential to transdifferentiate into hematopoietic cells in vivo.