The human spermatogonial compartment is essential for daily production of millions of sperm. Despite this crucial role, the molecular signature, kinetic behavior and regulation of human spermatogonia are poorly understood. Using human testis biopsies with normal spermatogenesis and by studying marker protein expression, we have identified for the first time different subpopulations of spermatogonia. MAGE-A4marks all spermatogonia, KITmarks all Bspermatogonia and UCLH1 all Apale-dark (Ap-d) spermatogonia. We suggest that at the start of the spermatogenic lineage there are Ap-d spermatogonia that are GFRA1High, likely including the spermatogonial stem cells. Next, UTF1 becomes expressed, cells become quiescent and GFRA1 expression decreases. Finally, GFRA1 expression is lost and subsequently cells differentiate into B spermatogonia, losing UTF1 and acquiring KIT expression. Strikingly, most human Ap-d spermatogonia are out of the cell cycle and even differentiating type B spermatogonial proliferation is restricted. A novel scheme for human spermatogonial development is proposed that will facilitate further research in this field, the understanding of cases of infertility and the development of methods to increase sperm output.

Spermatogonial kinetics in humans / Di Persio, Sara; Saracino, Rossana; Fera, Stefania; Muciaccia, Barbara; Esposito, Valentina; Boitani, Carla; Berloco, Bartolomeo P.; Nudo, Francesco; Spadetta, Gustavo; Stefanini, Mario; de Rooij, Dirk G.; Vicini, Elena. - In: DEVELOPMENT. - ISSN 0950-1991. - ELETTRONICO. - 144:19(2017), pp. 3430-3439. [10.1242/dev.150284]

Spermatogonial kinetics in humans

Di Persio, Sara;Saracino, Rossana;Fera, Stefania;Muciaccia, Barbara;Esposito, Valentina;Boitani, Carla;Nudo, Francesco;Spadetta, Gustavo;Stefanini, Mario;Vicini, Elena
2017

Abstract

The human spermatogonial compartment is essential for daily production of millions of sperm. Despite this crucial role, the molecular signature, kinetic behavior and regulation of human spermatogonia are poorly understood. Using human testis biopsies with normal spermatogenesis and by studying marker protein expression, we have identified for the first time different subpopulations of spermatogonia. MAGE-A4marks all spermatogonia, KITmarks all Bspermatogonia and UCLH1 all Apale-dark (Ap-d) spermatogonia. We suggest that at the start of the spermatogenic lineage there are Ap-d spermatogonia that are GFRA1High, likely including the spermatogonial stem cells. Next, UTF1 becomes expressed, cells become quiescent and GFRA1 expression decreases. Finally, GFRA1 expression is lost and subsequently cells differentiate into B spermatogonia, losing UTF1 and acquiring KIT expression. Strikingly, most human Ap-d spermatogonia are out of the cell cycle and even differentiating type B spermatogonial proliferation is restricted. A novel scheme for human spermatogonial development is proposed that will facilitate further research in this field, the understanding of cases of infertility and the development of methods to increase sperm output.
2017
GFRA1; human; KIT; spermatogonia; spermatogonial differentiation; stem cell renewal; UCL-H1; UTF1; adult; aged; cell count; cell differentiation; cell proliferation; cell self renewal; epithelial cells; glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptors; humans; kinetics; male; middle aged; models, biological; nuclear proteins; spermatogonia; trans-activators; young adult; molecular biology; developmental biology
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Spermatogonial kinetics in humans / Di Persio, Sara; Saracino, Rossana; Fera, Stefania; Muciaccia, Barbara; Esposito, Valentina; Boitani, Carla; Berloco, Bartolomeo P.; Nudo, Francesco; Spadetta, Gustavo; Stefanini, Mario; de Rooij, Dirk G.; Vicini, Elena. - In: DEVELOPMENT. - ISSN 0950-1991. - ELETTRONICO. - 144:19(2017), pp. 3430-3439. [10.1242/dev.150284]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1111624
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