Chicken Testicular Stem Cells

Abstract

Transplantation of male germ cells into sterilized recipients in chicken opened a new approach for chicken transgenesis as well as for preservation of endangered bird species. We describe the post transplantation re-population of the recipient seminiferous epithelium up to the production of heterologous sperm in about 50% of transplanted males. However, it is important to precisely identify basic germinal cell populations that trigger renewal cascade of the whole process of the spermatogenesis in the testes of cockerels. Detection of the nuclear DNA content by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and expression of specific genes in single cell suspensions of testicular tissues seems to be suitable way for selection of proper cells. An improvement in the approach to germ cell transplantation between fowl males seems to be remarkably influenced by using an enriched subpopulation of c-Kit positive spermatogonia as well as SSEA-1 positive testicular cells as donor cells. Other chicken spermatogonia specific gene markers such as gfra, stra 8 or dazl can also be used for basic spermatogonial cells identification. Chicken recombinant GFRA1 receptor protein has been prepared and was used for obtaining mouse specific polyclonal antibodies. The presence of GFRA1 protein on the cell surface was confirmed by mmunocytochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. Particular identification of cellular and molecular markers unique to the germ cells together with efficient transplantation model will make testicular stem cells an indispensable tool not only for biotechnological application but can also contribute to endangered species preservation programs.

Keywords

• chicken
• spermatogonial cells
• testicular cells
• transplantation