The pluripotency factor LIN28 marks undifferentiated spermatogonia in mouse.

ABSTRACT:

Background

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 As (single), Apr (paired), and Aal (aligned) spermatogonia, subdivision of this primitive cell population using cytological markers would greatly facilitate characterization of their functions.

Results

In the present study, we show that LIN28, a pluripotency factor, is specifically expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia (As, Apr, and Aal) in mouse. Ngn3 also specifically labels undiffer

SUBMITTER: Zheng K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2719617 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature