• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1407-1415
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• 2016

Isolation and culture of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are attractive for production of genetic modified offspring. In the present study, buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells were isolated, cultured and expression pattern of different germ cell marker genes were determined. To recover spermatogonia, testes from age 3 to 7 months of buffalo were decapsulated, and seminiferous tubules were enzymatically dissociated. Two types of cells, immature sertoli cell and type A spermatogonia were observed in buffalo testes in this stage. Germ cell marker genes, OCT3/4 (Pou5f1), THY-1, c-kit, PGP9.5 (UCHL-1) and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, were determined to be expressed both in mRNA and protein level by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining in buffalo testes and buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells, respectively. In the following, when the isolated buffalo buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells were cultured in the medium supplemented 2.5% fetal bovine serum and 40 ng/mL glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor medium, SSCs proliferation efficiency and colony number were significantly improved than those of other groups (p<0.05). These findings may help in isolation and establishing long term in vitro culture system for buffalo spermatogonial stem-like cells, and accelerating the generation of genetic modified buffaloes.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the most primitive cells in spermatogenesis and are the only adult stem cells capable of passing on the genome of a given species to the next generation. SSCs are the only adult stem cells known to exhibit high Oct4 expression and can be induced to self-reprogram into pluripotent cells depending on culture conditions. Epigenetic modulation is well known to be involved in the induction of pluripotency of somatic cells. However, epigenetic modulation in self-reprogramming of SSCs into pluripotent cells has not been studied. Methods and Results: In this study, we examined the involvement of epigenetic modulation by assessing whether selfreprogramming of SSCs is enhanced by treatment with epigenetic modulators. We found that second-generation selective class I HDAC inhibitors increased SSC reprogramming efficiency, whereas non-selective HDAC inhibitors had no effect. Conclusions: We showed that pluripotent stem cells derived from adult SSCs by treatment with small molecules with epigenetic modulator functions exhibit pluripotency in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the mechanism of SSC reprogramming by epigenetic modulator can be used for important applications in epigenetic reprogramming research.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.631-638
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• 2018

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) derived from mouse testis are unipotent in regard of spermatogenesis. Our previous study demonstrated that SSCs can be fully reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells, so called germline-derived pluripotent stem cells (gPS cells), on feeder cells (mouse embryonic fibroblasts), which supports SSC proliferation and induction of pluripotency. Because of an uncontrollable microenvironment caused by interactions with feeder cells, feeder-based SSC reprogramming is not suitable for elucidation of the self-reprogramming mechanism by which SSCs are converted into pluripotent stem cells. Recently, we have established a Matrigel-based SSC expansion culture system that allows longterm SSC proliferation without mouse embryonic fibroblast support. In this study, we developed a new feeder-free SSC self-reprogramming protocol based on the Matrigel-based culture system. The gPS cells generated using a feeder-free reprogramming system showed pluripotency at the molecular and cellular levels. The differentiation potential of gPS cells was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Our study shows for the first time that the induction of SSC pluripotency can be achieved without feeder cells. The newly developed feeder-free self-reprogramming system could be a useful tool to reveal the mechanism by which unipotent cells are self-reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2009

The present study identified the favorable conditions for isolation, enrichment and in vitro culture of highly purified, undifferentiated pig spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) lines that proliferate for long periods of time in culture. The colonies displayed morphology similar to miceSSC and were positive for markers of SSC (PGP9.5), proliferating germ cell (PigVASA), pre-meiotic germ cell (DAZL) and pluripotency (OCT4, SSEA-1, NANOG, and SOX2) based on immuno-cytochemistry and RT-PCR. The purity of these colonies was confirmed by negative expression of markers for sertoli cell (GATA4 and SOX9), peritubular myoid cell (${\alpha}$-SMA), differentiating spermatogonial and germ cells (c-KIT). The colonies could be maintained with undifferentiated morphology for more than two months and passaged more than 8 times with doubling time between 6-7 days. Taken together, we conclude that pigSSC could be successfully isolated and cultured in vitro and they possess characteristics similar to miceSSC.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.137-142
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• 2014

A tremendous increase in the human population has put poultry industry under an increased pressure to meet steep increase in the demand. Poultry is contributing 25% of the total world's meat production and lesser cost of investment per bird makes it more suitable for the further breeding programmes. Major poultry diseases frequently lead to cardiac damage and cause huge economic losses to poultry industry due to mortality. The in vitro embryonic stem cell (ESC) technology has a futuristic approach for homogeneous populace of differentiated cells, for their further transplantations. During in vitro conditions the differentiated cell populace can be used in grafting and transplantation processes to regenerate damaged tissues. Therefore, the current study targeted the use of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the poultry production system through cardiac regeneration. The current study will also open new boulevard for the similar kind of research in other livestock species for the management of heart diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.473-479
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• 2014

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs, also called germline stem cells) are self-renewing unipotent stem cells that produce differentiating germ cells in the testis. SSCs can be isolated from the testis and cultured in vitro for long-term periods in the presence of feeder cells (often mouse embryonic fibroblasts). However, the maintenance of SSC feeder culture systems is tedious because preparation of feeder cells is needed at each subculture. In this study, we developed a Matrigel-based feeder-free culture system for long-term propagation of SSCs. Although several in vitro SSC culture systems without feeder cells have been previously described, our Matrigel-based feeder-free culture system is time- and cost-effective, and preserves self-renewability of SSCs. In addition, the growth rate of SSCs cultured using our newly developed system is equivalent to that in feeder cultures. We confirmed that the feeder-free cultured SSCs expressed germ cell markers both at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the functionality of feeder-free cultured SSCs was confirmed by their transplantation into germ cell-depleted mice. These results suggest that our newly developed feeder-free culture system provides a simple approach to maintaining SSCs in vitro and studying the basic biology of SSCs, including determination of their fate.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.38-38
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• 2001

Spermatogonial stem cells은 sperrnatogenesis에서 중요한 역할을 하며, 곡세정관의 기저막에 위치하고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나, 그 동안 이 세포에 특이하게 발현되는 marker가 거의 알려져 있지 않아 spermatogonial stem cell의 연구에 많은 어려움을 가져왔다. 최근 일반적인 stem cell이 갖는 특성 중, 기저막과 상호작용을 하는 surface protein으로 integrin이 존재한다는 사실을 이용하여, anti-$\alpha$$_{6}$/ 또는 anti-$\beta$$_1$ integrin항체로 germ cell을 선발하여 정소에 이식한 결과, 높은 효율로 이식세포유래의 정자발생이 가능하다는 결과가 보고되었다 (Shinohara et al., 1999). 한편, 항암제의 일종인 busulfan을 마우스에 투여(40mg/kg)한 후 4-5주가 경과하면 세정관의 기저막에 위치하는 spermatogonia를 제외하고 대부분의 생식세포는 소멸한다 본 실험의 목적은 이러한 사실들을 이용하여 spermatogonial stem cell의 특성을 밝히고, 이 생식세포를 보다 간편하고 손쉽게 선발할 수 있는 시스템을 확립하는데 있다. Busulfan처리 후 5주가 경과된 마우스와 정상적인 13주령의 마우스 testis로부터 세포를 분리한 후 FITC-conjugated anti-IgG를 이용한 면역형광법으로 측정.분석한 결과, 형광표식된 세포비율이 대조군과 비교하여 busulfan을 처리한 경우에서 유의적인 증가를 보였다.(17$\pm$3.8%. 0.7$\pm$0.3% busulfan vs control). 또한, IgG와 결합한 단백질이 존재하는 이들 세포들은 곡세정관의 기저막을 따라 위치하며, 단백질과 복합체를 형성한 IgG는 anti-Ig $G_{2a}$와 반응하지 않는다는 사실을 관찰했다. 이러한 IgG 복합체를 형성한 세포들의 특성을 이용하여, IgG와 반응을 하지 않는 것으로 확인된 이차 항체인 an1i-Ig $G_{2}$와 일차 항체인 anti-$\alpha$$_{6}$ 또는 anti-$\beta$$_1$ integrin항체를 이용하여 측정.분석하였다. Busulfan을 처리한 마우스 정소에서 분리한 세포를 다시 laminin으로 코팅된 dish에서 선발.회수해서, anti-lgG, anti-$\alpha$$_{6}$ 또는 anti-$\beta$$_1$ integrin항체로 각각 표식된 세포비율을 비교하였다. Laminin으로부터 선발.회수한 세포에서는 IgG복합체가 $\alpha$$_{6}$ 또 는 $\beta$$_1$integrin과 거의 같은 수준에서 높은 비율로 표식되었다. 결론적으로, busulfan에 의해 유도된 IgG와 결합가능한 단백질은 $\alpha$$_{6}$나 $\beta$$_1$ integrin과 마찬가지로 immunoglobulin G를 이용하여 spermatogonial stem cell의 선발을 가능하게 했다. 따라서, busulfan처리시 IgG는 미분화된 정조세포의 선발을 위한 하나의 marker로서 사용가능함을 시사한다.다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1015-1022
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• 2007

The spermatogonial stem cell (SSCs) is unique in that it is the only cell in the adult male that can contribute genes to a subsequent generation. Permanent modification of the germ cell line may be realized if stem cells could be cultured, transfected with unique genes, and then transplanted into recipient testes. We developed a culture system that supported long-term viability of SSCs. We used a retrovirus vector (pMSCV including ${\beta}$-galactosidase) to stably transfect spermatogonia following long-term culture using the system developed. Expression of the reporter gene ${\beta}$-galactosidase controlled by the retroviral vector was stable in long-term cultured SSCs. We confirmed the retroviral-mediated ${\beta}$-galactsidase gene could be expressed in germ cells in recipient mice following SSCs transplantation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2011

In the present study, embryoid bodies (EBs) obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were induced to differentiate into germ lineage cells by treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and retinoic acid (RA). The results were compared to the results for embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and multipotent spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs) and quantified using immunocytochemical analysis of germ cell-specific markers (integrin-${\alpha}6$, GFR-${\alpha}1$, CD90/Thy1), fluorescence activating cell sorting (FACS), and real time-RT-PCR. We show that the highest levels of germ cell marker-expressing cells were obtained from groups treated with 10 ng/$m{\ell}$ BMP4 or 0.01 ${\mu}M$ RA. In the BMP4-treated group, GFR-${\alpha}1$ and CD90/Thy-1 were highly expressed in the EBs of iPSCs and ESCs compared to EBs of mSSCs. The expression of Nanog was much lower in iPSCs compared to ESCs and mSSCs. In the RA treated group, the level of GFR-${\alpha}1$ and CD90/Thy-1 expression in the EBs of mSSCs Induced pluripotent stem cells, Mouse embryonic stem cells, Multipotent spermatogonial stem cells, Germ cell lineage, Differentiation potential. was much higher than the levels found in the EBs of iPSCs and similar to the levels found in the EBs of ESCs. FACS analysis using integrin-${\alpha}6$, GFR-${\alpha}1$, CD90/Thy1 and immunocytochemistry using GFR-${\alpha}1$ antibody showed similar gene expression results. Therefore our results show that iPSC has the potential to differentiate into germ cells and suggest that a protocol optimizing germ cell induction from iPSC should be developed because of their potential usefulness in clinical applications requiring patient-specific cells.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.508-517
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• 2023

In cancer patients, chemo/radio therapy may cause infertility by damaging the spermatogenesis affecting the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In vitro differentiation of stem cells especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into germ cells has recently been proposed as a new strategy for infertility treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of SSCs using their co-culture with Sertoli cells and conditioned medium (CM) from adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs). Testicular tissues were separated from 2-7 days old neonate Wistar Rats and after mechanical and enzymatic digestion, the SSCs and Sertoli cells were isolated and cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, 1X antibiotic, basic fibroblast growth factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. The cells were treated with the CM from AD-MSCs for 12 days and then the expression level of differentiation-related genes were measured. Also, the expression level of two major spermatogenic markers of DAZL and DDX4 was calculated. Scp3, Dazl, and Prm1 were significantly increased after treatment compared to the control group, whereas no significant difference was observed in Stra8 expression. The immunocytochemistry images showed that DAZL and DDX4 were positive in experimental group comparing with control. Also, western blotting revealed that both DAZL and DDX4 had higher expression in the treated group than the control group, however, no significant difference was observed. In this study, we concluded that the CM obtained from AD-MSCs can be considered as a suitable biological material to induce the differentiation in SSCs.