Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Published Online September 6, 2007
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1144885

Research Articles

Submitted on May 9, 2007
Accepted on August 16, 2007

A Vasculature-Associated Niche for Undifferentiated Spermatogonia in the Mouse Testis

Shosei Yoshida 1*, Mamiko Sukeno 1, Yo-ichi Nabeshima 1

1 Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Shosei Yoshida , E-mail: shosei{at}lmls.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp

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 displays developmentally specified niche structures within polarized gonads.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Capacity for stochastic self-renewal and differentiation in mammalian spermatogonial stem cells.
Z. Wu, K. Luby-Phelps, A. Bugde, L. A. Molyneux, B. Denard, W.-H. Li, G. M. Suel, and D. L. Garbers (2009)
J. Cell Biol. 187, 513-524
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evaluating testis function non-invasively: how epidemiologist-andrologist teams might better approach this task.
R.P. Amann (2009)
Hum. Reprod.
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Vascular endothelial growth factor regulates germ cell survival during establishment of spermatogenesis in the bovine testis.
K. C Caires, J. de Avila, and D. J McLean (2009)
Reproduction 138, 667-677
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Targeting neural precursors in the adult brain rescues injured dopamine neurons.
A. Androutsellis-Theotokis, M. A. Rueger, D. M. Park, H. Mkhikian, E. Korb, S. W. Poser, S. Walbridge, J. Munasinghe, A. P. Koretsky, R. R. Lonser, et al. (2009)
PNAS 106, 13570-13575
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Molecular dissection of the male germ cell lineage identifies putative spermatogonial stem cells in rhesus macaques.
B. P. Hermann, M. Sukhwani, D. R. Simorangkir, T. Chu, T. M. Plant, and K. E. Orwig (2009)
Hum. Reprod. 24, 1704-1716
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Wnt signaling promotes proliferation and stemness regulation of spermatogonial stem/progenitor cells.
N. Golestaneh, E. Beauchamp, S. Fallen, M. Kokkinaki, A. Uren, and M. Dym (2009)
Reproduction 138, 151-162
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Stem Cell Niche for Intermediate Progenitor Cells of the Embryonic Cortex.
A. Javaherian and A. Kriegstein (2009)
Cereb Cortex 19, i70-i77
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Histological assessment of testicular residues in lambs and calves after Burdizzo castration.
M. H. Stoffel, A. von Rotz, M. Kocher, M. Merkli, D. Boesch, and A. Steiner (2009)
Vet Rec. 164, 523-527
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Colony stimulating factor 1 is an extrinsic stimulator of mouse spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal.
J. M. Oatley, M. J. Oatley, M. R. Avarbock, J. W. Tobias, and R. L. Brinster (2009)
Development 136, 1191-1199
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Molecular Signature of Spermatogonial Stem/Progenitor Cells in the 6-Day-Old Mouse Testis.
M. Kokkinaki, T.-L. Lee, Z. He, J. Jiang, N. Golestaneh, M.-C. Hofmann, W.-Y. Chan, and M. Dym (2009)
Biol Reprod 80, 707-717
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Donor Sertoli cells transplanted into irradiated rat testes stimulate partial recovery of endogenous spermatogenesis.
Z. Zhang, S. Shao, G. Shetty, and M. L Meistrich (2009)
Reproduction 137, 497-508
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Spermatogenic Stem Cell System in the Mouse Testis.
S. Yoshida (2009)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol
   Abstract »    PDF »
Stem Cells, Their Niches and the Systemic Environment: An Aging Network.
D. Drummond-Barbosa (2008)
Genetics 180, 1787-1797
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium in Humans: A Need to Revisit?.
R. P. Amann (2008)
J Androl 29, 469-487
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Bovine Sertoli Cells Colonize and Form Tubules in Murine Hosts Following Transplantation and Grafting Procedures.
Z. Zhang, J. Hill, M. Holland, Y. Kurihara, and K. L. Loveland (2008)
J Androl 29, 418-430
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The vessel wall and its interactions.
D. D. Wagner and P. S. Frenette (2008)
Blood 111, 5271-5281
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mitotic, but not meiotic, oriented cell divisions in rat spermatogenesis.
R. Lagos-Cabre and R. D Moreno (2008)
Reproduction 135, 471-478
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)