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Molecular Markers of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in the Domestic Cat
Author(s) -
Vansandt LM,
Pukazhenthi BS,
Keefer CL
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.12079
Subject(s) - biology , stem cell , marker gene , stem cell marker , andrology , gene , endangered species , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , ecology , medicine , habitat
Contents Spermatogonial stem cells ( SSC s) represent an exciting new avenue for assisted reproduction in endangered and genetically valuable species. Before this technology can be applied to wildlife, species‐specific markers are required to evaluate SSC enrichment strategies and monitor subsequent in vitro culture. This study was designed to evaluate six conserved SSC markers ( THY 1, GPR 125, GFR alpha1, PLZF , UCHL 1 and OCT 4) in the cat. Testes from three juveniles and three adults were obtained following routine castrations and processed for mRNA extraction. RT‐PCR of whole testis and cell suspensions enriched for SSC s by differential plating confirmed that all six SSC markers are expressed in both the whole testis and SSC ‐enriched cell fractions. The expression of all six putative SSC marker genes in the cat testis suggests conservation of SSC markers, and perhaps self‐renewal mechanisms, in felids.