Name: germ cell transplantation and testis tissue xenografting in mice
Uploaded: 2012-02-06T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Germ Cell Transplantation and Testis Tissue Xenografting in Mice at JoVE.com

Work from the authors laboratory has been supported by USDA/CSREES/NRICGP (2007-35203-18213); NIH/NCRR (2 R01 RR17359-06), NIH/NIEHS (1 R21 ES014856-01A2) and Alberta Innovates &#x2013; Health Solutions.

PART A. Germ cell transplantation in mice
1. Preparation of recipient mice
<ol>
 <li>Recipients should be immunologically tolerant (either genetically matched to donors or immune-deficient) to the donor testis cells.</li>
 <li>Recipients should be either naturally devoid of spermatogenesis (e.g. W/ Wv mice) or depleted of endogenous germ cells. Germ cell depletion can be achieved by irradiation or chemotherapeutic drugs such as Busulfan. In this protocol, we describe the me...

<ol>
	<li>Brinster, R. L., Avarbock, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germline+transmission+of+donor+haplotype+following+spermatogonial+transplantation.">Germline transmission of donor haplotype following spermatogonial transplantation.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 91 (24), 11303-11303 (1994).</li><li>Brinster, R. L., Zimmermann, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spermatogenesis+following+male+germ-cell+transplantation.">Spermatogenesis following male germ-cell transplantation.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 91 (24), 11298-11298 (1994).</li><li>Nagano, M., Avarbock, M. R., Brinster, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pattern+and+kinetics+of+mouse+donor+spermatogonial+stem+cell+colonization+in+recipient+testes.">Pattern and kinetics of mouse donor spermatogonial stem cell colonization in recipient testes.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 60 (6), 1429-1429 (1999).</li><li>Nagano, M., Brinster, C. J., Orwig, K. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transgenic+mice+produced+by+retroviral+transduction+of+male+germ-line+stem+cells.">Transgenic mice produced by retroviral transduction of male germ-line stem cells.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 98 (23), 13090-13090 (2001).</li><li>Ryu, B. Y., Orwig, K. E., Oatley, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+generation+of+transgenic+rats+through+the+male+germline+using+lentiviral+transduction+and+transplantation+of+spermatogonial+stem+cells.">Efficient generation of transgenic rats through the male germline using lentiviral transduction and transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells.</a> Journal of Andrology. 28 (2), 353-353 (2007).</li><li>Hess, R. A., Cooke, P. S., Hofmann, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanistic+insights+into+the+regulation+of+the+spermatogonial+stem+cell+niche.">Mechanistic insights into the regulation of the spermatogonial stem cell niche.</a> Cell Cycle. 5 (11), 1164-1164 (2006).</li><li>Oatley, M. J., Racicot, K. E., Oatley, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sertoli+cells+dictate+spermatogonial+stem+cell+niches+in+the+mouse+testis.">Sertoli cells dictate spermatogonial stem cell niches in the mouse testis.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 84 (4), 639-639 (2011).</li><li>Nagano, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Homing+efficiency+and+proliferation+kinetics+of+male+germ+line+stem+cells+following+transplantation+in+mice.">Homing efficiency and proliferation kinetics of male germ line stem cells following transplantation in mice.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 69 (2), 701-701 (2003).</li><li>Kubota, H., Avarbock, M. R., Brinster, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+factors+essential+for+self-renewal+and+expansion+of+mouse+spermatogonial+stem+cells.">Growth factors essential for self-renewal and expansion of mouse spermatogonial stem cells.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101 (47), 16489-16489 (2004).</li><li>Oatley, J. M., Avarbock, M. R., Telaranta, A. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identifying+genes+important+for+spermatogonial+stem+cell+self-renewal+and+survival.">Identifying genes important for spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal and survival.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103 (25), 9524-9524 (2006).</li><li>Dobrinski, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germ+cell+transplantation+and+testis+tissue+xenografting+in+domestic+animals.">Germ cell transplantation and testis tissue xenografting in domestic animals.</a> Animal Reproduction Science. 89 (1-4), 137-137 (2005).</li><li>Dobrinski, I., Avarbock, M. R., Brinster, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transplantation+of+germ+cells+from+rabbits+and+dogs+into+mouse+testes.">Transplantation of germ cells from rabbits and dogs into mouse testes.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 61 (5), 1331-1331 (1999).</li><li>Honaramooz, A., Snedaker, A., Boiani, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sperm+from+neonatal+mammalian+testes+grafted+in+mice.">Sperm from neonatal mammalian testes grafted in mice.</a> Nature. 418 (6899), 778-778 (2002).</li><li>Rodriguez-Sosa, J. R., Dobrinski, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recent+developments+in+testis+tissue+xenografting.">Recent developments in testis tissue xenografting.</a> Reproduction. 138 (2), 187-187 (2009).</li><li>Dobrinski, I., Rathi, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ectopic+grafting+of+mammalian+testis+tissue+into+mouse+hosts.">Ectopic grafting of mammalian testis tissue into mouse hosts.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 139, 450-450 (2008).</li><li>Rodriguez-Sosa, J. R., Schlatt, S., Dobrinski, I., Seli, E., Agarwal, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Testicular+tissue+transplantation+for+fertility+preservation.">Testicular tissue transplantation for fertility preservation.</a> Fertility Preservation: Emerging Technologies and Clinical Applications. , 331-331 (2011).</li><li>Rathi, R., Honaramooz, A., Zeng, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germ+cell+fate+and+seminiferous+tubule+development+in+bovine+testis+xenografts.">Germ cell fate and seminiferous tubule development in bovine testis xenografts.</a> Reproduction. 130 (6), 923-923 (2005).</li><li>Rathi, R., Honaramooz, A., Zeng, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germ+cell+development+in+equine+testis+tissue+xenografted+into+mice.">Germ cell development in equine testis tissue xenografted into mice.</a> Reproduction. 131 (6), 1091-1091 (2006).</li><li>Kim, Y., Selvaraj, V., Pukazhenthi, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+donor+age+on+success+of+spermatogenesis+in+feline+testis+xenografts.">Effect of donor age on success of spermatogenesis in feline testis xenografts.</a> Reproduction, Fertility, and Development. 19 (7), 869-869 (2007).</li><li>Arregui, L., Rathi, R., Zeng, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Xenografting+of+adult+mammalian+testis+tissue.">Xenografting of adult mammalian testis tissue.</a> Animal Reproduction Science. 106 (1-2), 65-65 (2008).</li><li>Schlatt, S., Honaramooz, A., Ehmcke, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Limited+survival+of+adult+human+testicular+tissue+as+ectopic+xenograft.">Limited survival of adult human testicular tissue as ectopic xenograft.</a> Human Reproduction. 21 (2), 384-384 (2006).</li><li>Shinohara, T., Avarbock, M. R., Brinster, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=beta1-+and+alpha6-integrin+are+surface+markers+on+mouse+spermatogonial+stem+cells.">beta1- and alpha6-integrin are surface markers on mouse spermatogonial stem cells.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 96 (10), 5504-5504 (1999).</li><li>Kanatsu-Shinohara, M., Toyokuni, S., Shinohara, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CD9+is+a+surface+marker+on+mouse+and+rat+male+germline+stem+cells.">CD9 is a surface marker on mouse and rat male germline stem cells.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 70 (1), 70-70 (2004).</li><li>Ryu, B. Y., Orwig, K. E., Oatley, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+aging+and+niche+microenvironment+on+spermatogonial+stem+cell+self-renewal.">Effects of aging and niche microenvironment on spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal.</a> Stem Cells. 24 (6), 1505-1505 (2006).</li><li>Costoya, J. A., Hobbs, R. M., Barna, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Essential+role+of+Plzf+in+maintenance+of+spermatogonial+stem+cells.">Essential role of Plzf in maintenance of spermatogonial stem cells.</a> Nature Genetics. 36 (6), 653-653 (2004).</li><li>Morrow, C. M., Hostetler, C. E., Griswold, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ETV5+is+required+for+continuous+spermatogenesis+in+adult+mice+and+may+mediate+blood+testes+barrier+function+and+testicular+immune+privilege.">ETV5 is required for continuous spermatogenesis in adult mice and may mediate blood testes barrier function and testicular immune privilege.</a> Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1120, 144-144 (2007).</li><li>Zeng, W., Snedaker, A. K., Megee, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preservation+and+transplantation+of+porcine+testis+tissue.">Preservation and transplantation of porcine testis tissue.</a> Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 21 (3), 489-489 (2009).</li><li>Jahnukainen, K., Ehmcke, J., Hergenrother, S. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+cold+storage+and+cryopreservation+of+immature+non-human+primate+testicular+tissue+on+spermatogonial+stem+cell+potential+in+xenografts.">Effect of cold storage and cryopreservation of immature non-human primate testicular tissue on spermatogonial stem cell potential in xenografts.</a> Human Reproduction. 22 (4), 1060-1060 (2007).</li><li>Rathi, R., Zeng, W., Megee, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maturation+of+testicular+tissue+from+infant+monkeys+after+xenografting+into+mice.">Maturation of testicular tissue from infant monkeys after xenografting into mice.</a> Endocrinology. 149 (10), 5288-5288 (2008).</li><li>Honaramooz, A., Li, M. W., Penedo, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accelerated+maturation+of+primate+testis+by+xenografting+into+mice.">Accelerated maturation of primate testis by xenografting into mice.</a> Biology of Reproduction. 70 (5), 1500-1500 (2004).</li></ol>

1. Germ cell transplantation
Germ cell transplantation provides the only functional assay for unequivocal confirmation of the presence of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in a cell population. Only SSCs can home to and colonize the SSC niche at the basement membrane and initiate donor-derived spermatogenesis. Germ cell transplantation made it possible to study and manipulate SSCs in an unprecedented manner. The technique has been used to produce transgenic animals through genetic manipulation of...

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of the reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue number</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Collagenase (type IV)</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>C5138</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trypsin-EDTA</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>25200-056</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DNaseI</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>DN25</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DMEM</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>31053-028</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Trypan blue stain</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>15250-061 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Nylon mesh cell strainer</td>
 <td>BD biosciences</td>
 <td>352340 (40&mu;m) 
 352350 (70&mu;m)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Busulfan</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>B2635</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Thin-Wall Glass Capillaries</td>
 <td>World Precision Instrument</td>
 <td>TW 100-3</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>BD intramedic plyethylene tubing (PE100) </td>
 <td>BD </td>
 <td>CA-63018-725</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Ethicon 6-0 Silk Suture</td>
 <td>Ethicon</td>
 <td>706G</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Wound clips</td>
 <td>BD</td>
 <td>427631</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sigmacote</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>SL2</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>X-gal</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>B4252</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Potassium Ferrocyanide</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>P9387</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Potassium Ferricyanide</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>P3667</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>magnesium chloride</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>208337</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>sodium deoxycholate</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>D6750</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>N,N-Dimethylformamide</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>D4551</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Igepal CA-630</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>18896</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

germ cell transplantation and testis tissue xenografting in mice

Germ cell transplantation was developed by Dr. Ralph Brinster and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania in 19941,2. These ground-breaking studies showed that microinjection of germ cells from fertile donor mice into the seminiferous tubules of infertile recipient mice results in donor-derived spermatogenesis and sperm production by the recipient animal2. The use of donor males carrying the bacterial &beta;-galactosidase gene allowed identification of donor-derived spermatogenesis and transmission of the donor haplotype to the offspring by recipient animals1. Surprisingly, after transplantation into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, transplanted germ cells were able to move from the luminal compartment to the basement membrane where spermatogonia are located3. It is generally accepted that only SSCs are able to colonize the niche and re-establish spermatogenesis in the recipient testis. Therefore, germ cell transplantation provides a functional approach to study the stem cell niche in the testis and to characterize putative spermatogonial stem cells. To date, germ cell transplantation is used to elucidate basic stem cell biology, to produce transgenic animals through genetic manipulation of germ cells prior to transplantation4,5, to study Sertoli cell-germ cell interaction6,7, SSC homing and colonization3,8, as well as SSC self-renewal and differentiation9,10.
Germ cell transplantation is also feasible in large species11. In these, the main applications are preservation of fertility, dissemination of elite genetics in animal populations, and generation of transgenic animals as the study of spermatogenesis and SSC biology with this technique is logistically more difficult and expensive than in rodents. Transplantation of germ cells from large species into the seminiferous tubules of mice results in colonization of donor cells and spermatogonial expansion, but not in their full differentiation presumably due to incompatibility of the recipient somatic cell compartment with the germ cells from phylogenetically distant species12. An alternative approach is transplantation of germ cells from large species together with their surrounding somatic compartment. We first reported in 2002, that small fragments of testis tissue from immature males transplanted under the dorsal skin of immunodeficient mice are able to survive and undergo full development with the production of fertilization competent sperm13. Since then testis tissue xenografting has been shown to be successful in many species and emerged as a valuable alternative to study testis development and spermatogenesis of large animals in mice14.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Germ Cell Transplantation and Testis Tissue Xenografting in Mice at JoVE.com

Germ Cell Transplantation and Testis Tissue Xenografting in Mice

Protocols for germ cell transplantation and testis tissue xenografting are described. Germ cell transplantation results in donor-derived spermatogenesis in recipient testes and represents a functional reconstitution assay for identification of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Testis tissue xenografting reproduces testis development and spermatogenesis of various donor species in recipient mice.

Germ cell transplantation was developed by Dr. Ralph Brinster and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania in 19941,2. These ground-breaking studies ...

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