Use of in vitro systems to study male germ cell development in neonatal rats

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1998

Abstract

The aim of this review is to summarize ways in which in vitro approaches have allowed us to investigate several aspects of gametogenesis in the male. In our laboratory, we have established both organ culture and cell co- culture methodologies and applied them to questions focused on cellular and molecular events important for development of primitive spermatogonia, or gonocytes, in testes of neonatal rats. We have described their postnatal reinitiation of mitosis and their migration to the basal lamina in anticipation of basal compartment formation and, through use of these in vitro systems, we have identified several mechanisms regulating these processes. These include matrix influence on mitosis and migration, adhesive mechanisms active between gonocytes and Sertoli cells, and involvement of the Kit receptor on germ cells and its ligand from Sertoli cells in supporting gonocyte migration, as described below.

Publication Title

Theriogenology

Volume

49

Issue

2

First Page

431

Last Page

439

Comments

This article was published in Theriogenology, Volume 49, Issue 2, Pages 431-439.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(97)00415-9.

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