Colony stimulating factor 1 is an extrinsic stimulator of mouse spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal.

ABSTRACT: Self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) provide the foundation for testis homeostasis, yet mechanisms that control their functions in mammals are poorly defined. We used microarray transcript profiling to identify specific genes whose expressions are augmented in the SSC-enriched Thy1(+) germ cell fraction of mouse pup testes. Comparisons of gene expression in the Thy1(+) germ cell fraction with the Thy1-depleted testis cell population identified 202 genes that are expressed 10-fold or higher in Thy1(+) cells. This database provided a mining tool to investigate specific characteristics of SSCs and identify novel mechanisms that potentially influence their functions. These analyses revealed that colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (Csf1r) gene expression is enr

SUBMITTER: Oatley JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2685936 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature