Stem cell research for male infertility
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MINIREVIEW
Stem cell research for male infertility Hideyuki Kobayashi • Koichi Nagao Koichi Nakajima
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Received: 29 March 2011 / Accepted: 6 April 2011 / Published online: 26 April 2011 Ó Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine 2011
Abstract Stem cells have the ability both to differentiate into numerous tissues and to self-renew. Because of these unique properties, stem cells are promising candidates for use in regenerative medicine. Among stem cell types, embryonic stem (ES) cells have been the most studied; however, alternatives such as induced pluripotent stem cells or other adult stem cells are now being established. In this review, we focus on stem cell research that may have applications in treating male infertility. Stem cells with ES-like properties have been generated from adult human testis tissue. We expect that breakthroughs in stem cell research will increase our understanding of male infertility and lead to treatments in the near future. Keywords ES cells iPS cells Spermatogonial stem cells Stem cells Testis
Introduction Male infertility has become a major worldwide health and social concern. It is particularly difficult to treat patients with non-obstructive azoospermia, for which, in many cases, the cause is unknown. Self-renewing systems, such as the epidermis and the hematopoietic and spermatogenetic systems, undergo continuous cell turnover, which is supported by organ-specific adult stem cells. The supporting stem cells of spermatogenesis are the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which share self-renewing and multipotent properties with other adult stem cells. In addition, H. Kobayashi (&) K. Nagao K. Nakajima Department of Urology, Toho University School of Medicine, 6-11-1 Omori-Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan e-mail: [email protected]
SSCs are unique in that they transmit genetic information to future progeny, and are thus critical for sustaining our species. In this review, we provide an overview of our current understanding of testicular germline stem cells.
Spermatogonial stem cells SSCs are assayed by spermatogonial transplantation, in which testis cells are injected into the seminiferous tubules of an infertile recipient testis, resulting in the regeneration of spermatogenesis if the SSCs are present and healthy [1]. This functional assay for SSCs was first used in mice by Brinster et al. [2, 3] and is the only method for unequivocally identifying SSC activity. In this assay, SSCs form a distinct segment of regenerated spermatogenesis along the seminiferous tubules of the recipient testis [4]. Although this technique has been used primarily in biological studies of rodents, it has also been applied in a wide range of animal species, including pig, goat, and monkey [5–7]. This technique may also be applicable to cases of human infertility [8, 9] once the technical difficulties are resolved.
Surface markers for SSCs In animal models, several cell-surface markers for SSCs have been identified using immunological cell separation techniques, such as magnetic be
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