Kanatsu-Shinohara Mito, Miki Hiromi, Inoue Kimiko, Ogonuki Narumi, Toyokuni Shinya, Ogura Atsuo, Shinohara Takashi
Horizontal Medical Research Organization, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Biol Reprod. 2005 Apr;72(4):985-91. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.036400. Epub 2004 Dec 15.
Spermatogonial stem cells are the only stem cells in the body that transmit genetic information to the next generation. These cells can be cultured for extended periods in the presence of serum and feeder cells. However, little is known about factors that regulate self-renewal division of spermatogonial stem cells. In this investigation we examined the possibility of establishing culture systems for spermatogonial stem cells that lack serum or a feeder cell layer. Spermatogonial stem cells could expand in serum-free conditions on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), or were successfully cultivated without feeder cells on a laminin-coated plate. However, they could not expand when both serum and feeder cells were absent. Although the cells cultured on laminin differed phenotypically from those on feeder cells, they grew exponentially for at least 6 mo, and produced normal, fertile progeny following transplantation into infertile mouse testis. This culture system will provide a new opportunity for understanding the regulatory mechanism that governs spermatogonial stem cells.
精原干细胞是体内唯一能将遗传信息传递给下一代的干细胞。这些细胞在血清和饲养细胞存在的情况下可以长期培养。然而，对于调节精原干细胞自我更新分裂的因素知之甚少。在本研究中，我们探讨了建立无血清或无饲养细胞层的精原干细胞培养系统的可能性。精原干细胞可以在无血清条件下在小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞（MEF）上扩增，或者在层粘连蛋白包被的平板上成功地在无饲养细胞的情况下培养。然而，当血清和饲养细胞都不存在时，它们无法扩增。虽然在层粘连蛋白上培养的细胞在表型上与在饲养细胞上培养的细胞不同，但它们至少能指数生长6个月，并在移植到不育小鼠睾丸后产生正常、可育的后代。这种培养系统将为理解精原干细胞的调控机制提供新的机会。
