Role of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in germ-line stem cell fate.

ABSTRACT: The overall goal of this study is to unravel the role(s) played by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the fate of spermatogonial stem cells. There is great interest in the biology of spermatogonial stem cells, or A(single) spermatogonia, because of their importance in the treatment of infertility, the development of contraceptives, and the understanding of the etiology of testicular cancer, particularly seminoma. In the mouse, spermatogonial stem cells express GFRalpha-1, the receptor for GDNF, and respond to this growth factor in vivo and in vitro. GDNF is produced by the adjacent Sertoli cells, which are part of the germ-line stem cell niche in vertebrates. We specifically isolated GFRalpha-1-positive spermatogonia using an immunomagnetic bead technique. We then stimul

SUBMITTER: Braydich-Stolle L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2904487 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature