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Transplantation as a Quantitative Assay to Study Mammalian Male Germline Stem Cells

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Germline Stem Cells

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1463))

Abstract

In mammals, the activities of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) provide the foundation for continual spermatogenesis throughout a male’s reproductive lifetime. At present, the defining characteristics of SSCs and mechanisms controlling their fate decisions are not well understood. Transplantation is a definitive functional measure of stem cell capacity for male germ cells that can be used as an assay to provide an unequivocal quantification of the SSC content in an experimental cell population. Here, we discuss the procedure for mice and provide protocols for preparing donor germ cell suspensions from testes directly or primary cultures of spermatogonia for transplantation, enriching for SSCs, preparing recipient males, microinjection into recipient testes, and considerations for experimental design.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA

    Aileen R. Helsel & Jon M. Oatley

  2. Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 647521, Pullman, WA, 99164-7521, USA

    Jon M. Oatley

Authors
  1. Aileen R. Helsel
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  2. Jon M. Oatley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon M. Oatley .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Michael Buszczak

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Helsel, A.R., Oatley, J.M. (2017). Transplantation as a Quantitative Assay to Study Mammalian Male Germline Stem Cells. In: Buszczak, M. (eds) Germline Stem Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1463. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-4017-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-4017-2_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-4015-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-4017-2

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