The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Life-long production of spermatozoa depends on spermatogonial stem cells. Spermatogonial stem cells exist among the most primitive population of germ cells – undifferentiated spermatogonia. Transplantation experiments have demonstrat...
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doaj-531bcd85fd074169828c4d2fd21933bc2020-11-24T21:44:55ZengBMCBMC Developmental Biology1471-213X2009-06-01913810.1186/1471-213X-9-38The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouseKaestner Klaus HWu XinZheng KeWang Peijing<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Life-long production of spermatozoa depends on spermatogonial stem cells. Spermatogonial stem cells exist among the most primitive population of germ cells – undifferentiated spermatogonia. Transplantation experiments have demonstrated the functional heterogeneity of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Although the undifferentiated spermatogonia can be topographically divided into A<sub>s </sub>(single), A<sub>pr </sub>(paired), and A<sub>al </sub>(aligned) spermatogonia, subdivision of this primitive cell population using cytological markers would greatly facilitate characterization of their functions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we show that LIN28, a pluripotency factor, is specifically expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia (A<sub>s</sub>, A<sub>pr</sub>, and A<sub>al</sub>) in mouse. <it>Ngn3 </it>also specifically labels undifferentiated spermatogonia. We used <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP knockin mice, in which GFP expression is under the control of all <it>Ngn3 </it>transcription regulatory elements. Remarkably, <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP is only expressed in ~40% of LIN28-positive A<sub>s </sub>(single) cells. The percentage of <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-positive clusters increases dramatically with the chain length of interconnected spermatogonia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study demonstrates that LIN28 specifically marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mice. These data, together with previous studies, suggest that the LIN28-expressing undifferentiated spermatogonia exist as two subpopulations: <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-negative (high stem cell potential) and <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-positive (high differentiation commitment). Furthermore, <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-negative cells are found in chains of <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-positive spermatogonia, suggesting that cells in the A<sub>al </sub>spermatogonia could revert to a more primitive state.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-213X/9/38 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kaestner Klaus H Wu Xin Zheng Ke Wang Peijing |
spellingShingle |
Kaestner Klaus H Wu Xin Zheng Ke Wang Peijing The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse BMC Developmental Biology |
author_facet |
Kaestner Klaus H Wu Xin Zheng Ke Wang Peijing |
author_sort |
Kaestner Klaus H |
title |
The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse |
title_short |
The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse |
title_full |
The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse |
title_fullStr |
The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse |
title_full_unstemmed |
The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse |
title_sort |
pluripotency factor lin28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Developmental Biology |
issn |
1471-213X |
publishDate |
2009-06-01 |
description |
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Life-long production of spermatozoa depends on spermatogonial stem cells. Spermatogonial stem cells exist among the most primitive population of germ cells – undifferentiated spermatogonia. Transplantation experiments have demonstrated the functional heterogeneity of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Although the undifferentiated spermatogonia can be topographically divided into A<sub>s </sub>(single), A<sub>pr </sub>(paired), and A<sub>al </sub>(aligned) spermatogonia, subdivision of this primitive cell population using cytological markers would greatly facilitate characterization of their functions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we show that LIN28, a pluripotency factor, is specifically expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia (A<sub>s</sub>, A<sub>pr</sub>, and A<sub>al</sub>) in mouse. <it>Ngn3 </it>also specifically labels undifferentiated spermatogonia. We used <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP knockin mice, in which GFP expression is under the control of all <it>Ngn3 </it>transcription regulatory elements. Remarkably, <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP is only expressed in ~40% of LIN28-positive A<sub>s </sub>(single) cells. The percentage of <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-positive clusters increases dramatically with the chain length of interconnected spermatogonia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study demonstrates that LIN28 specifically marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mice. These data, together with previous studies, suggest that the LIN28-expressing undifferentiated spermatogonia exist as two subpopulations: <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-negative (high stem cell potential) and <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-positive (high differentiation commitment). Furthermore, <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-negative cells are found in chains of <it>Ngn3</it>-GFP-positive spermatogonia, suggesting that cells in the A<sub>al </sub>spermatogonia could revert to a more primitive state.</p> |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-213X/9/38 |
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