A-single spermatogonia heterogeneity and cell cycles synchronize with rat seminiferous epithelium stages VIII–IX

SN Abid, TE Richardson, HM Powell… - Biology of …, 2014 - academic.oup.com
SN Abid, TE Richardson, HM Powell, P Jaichander, J Chaudhary, KM Chapman, FK Hamra
Biology of reproduction, 2014academic.oup.com
In mammalian testes,“A-single” spermatogonia function as stem cells that sustain sperm
production for fertilizing eggs. Yet, it is not understood how cellular niches regulate the
developmental fate of A-single spermatogonia. Here, immunolabeling studies in rat testes
define a novel population of ERBB3+ germ cells as approximately 5% of total SNAP91+ A-
single spermatogonia along a spermatogenic wave. As a function of time, ERBB3+ A-single
spermatogonia are detected during a 1-to 2-day period each 12.9-day sperm cycle …
Abstract
In mammalian testes, “A-single” spermatogonia function as stem cells that sustain sperm production for fertilizing eggs. Yet, it is not understood how cellular niches regulate the developmental fate of A-single spermatogonia. Here, immunolabeling studies in rat testes define a novel population of ERBB3+ germ cells as approximately 5% of total SNAP91+ A-single spermatogonia along a spermatogenic wave. As a function of time, ERBB3+ A-single spermatogonia are detected during a 1- to 2-day period each 12.9-day sperm cycle, representing 35%–40% of SNAP91+ A-single spermatogonia in stages VIII–IX of the seminiferous epithelium. Local concentrations of ERBB3+ A-single spermatogonia are maintained under the mean density measured for neighboring SNAP91+ A-single spermatogonia, potentially indicative of niche saturation. ERBB3+ spermatogonia also synchronize their cell cycles with epithelium stages VIII–IX, where they form physical associations with preleptotene spermatocytes transiting the blood-testis barrier and Sertoli cells undergoing sperm release. Thus, A-single spermatogonia heterogeneity within this short-lived and reoccurring microenvironment invokes novel theories on how cellular niches integrate with testicular physiology to orchestrate sperm development in mammals.
Oxford University Press