Open AccessSPERMATOGENETIC CLONES DEVELOPING FROM REPOPULATING STEM CELLS SURVIVING A HIGH DOSE OF AN ALKYLATING AGENT
Author(s) -
Keulen C. J. G. van,
Rooij D. G. de
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2184.1975.tb01240.x
Subject(s) - stem cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , mitosis , cell division , seminiferous tubule , cellular differentiation , cell type , epithelium , cell , immunology , genetics , spermatogenesis , sertoli cell , endocrinology , gene
We investigated stem cell renewal and differentiation in 10‐ and 15‐days‐old spermatogonial clones developing in mouse seminiferous epithelium after an extremely large cell loss, inflicted by high doses of the alkylating agent Myleran. The spermatogonial clones arise from cells that resemble the A is spermatogonia but have a larger nuclear diameter. In spite of their mitotic activity these ‘re‐populating stem cells’ lie mainly isolated or in pairs. This is explained by migration and differentiation. Migration appeared to occur at random in all directions along the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule. After one or more divisions of the stem cells, a second type of cell appears, which is called the ‘differentiating spermatogonium’. The time elapsing before this type of cell appears, depends on the dose of Myleran: the larger the dose the later differentiation starts. A relation could be demonstrated between the stage of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and the start of differentiation. Differentiating cells were found isolated or in groups of two, four, eight or sixteen cells. Hence we concluded that at least up to their fourth division differentiating cells divide synchronously without degenerations. Three types of division of repopulating stem cells were distinguished, producing (1) two repopulating stem cells, (2) one repopulating stem cell and one cell starting spermatogonial differentiation, or (3) two differentiating cells. Type 1 divisions were found most frequently.