Vasculature-Associated Niche for Undifferentiated Spermatogonia in the Mouse Testis

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 317; no. 5845; pp. 1722 - 1726
• Main Authors: Yoshida, Shosei, Sukeno, Mamiko, Nabeshima, Yo-ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 21.09.2007; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Alterations; Animal reproduction; Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Blood vessels; Blood Vessels - cytology; Cardiovascular system; Compartments; Epithelium; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonads; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Interstitial cells; Leydig cells; Male; Males; Mammalian male genital system; Mammals; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Morphology. Physiology; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Research Article; Rodents; Seminiferous tubules; Seminiferous Tubules - blood supply; Seminiferous Tubules - cytology; Sertoli cells; Spermatogenesis; Spermatogonia; Spermatogonia - cytology; Stem cells; Testes; Testis - blood supply; Testis - cytology; Three dimensional; Tissue grafting; Vertebrates: reproduction; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Spermatogenesis; Stem cell; Spermatogonia; Blood vessel; Rodentia; Circulatory system; Germinal cell; Testicle; Male genital system
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1144885

Mammalian spermatogenesis produces numerous sperm for a long period based on a highly potent stem cell system, which relies on a special microenvironment, or niche, that has not yet been identified. In this study, using time-lapse imaging of green fluorescent protein-labeled undifferentiated spermatogonia (Aundiff) and three-dimensional reconstitution, we revealed a biased localization of Aundiff to the vascular network and accompanying Leydig and other interstitial cells, in intact testes. Differentiating spermatogonia left these niche regions and dispersed throughout the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium. Moreover, rearrangement of Aundiff accompanied the vasculature alteration. We propose that the mammalian germline niche is established as a consequence of vasculature pattern formation. This is different from what is observed in Drosophila or Caenorhabditis elegans, which display developmentally specified niche structures within polarized gonads.