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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reproduction / Germ cell development in equine testis tissue xenografted in...
Reproduction (Cambridge, England)2006; 131(6); 1091-1098; doi: 10.1530/rep.1.01101

Germ cell development in equine testis tissue xenografted into mice.

Abstract: Grafting of testis tissue from immature animals to immunodeficient mice results in complete spermatogenesis, albeit with varying efficiency in different species. The objectives of this study were to investigate if grafting of horse testis tissue would result in spermatogenesis, and to assess the effect of exogenous gonadotropins on xenograft development. Small fragments of testis tissue from 7 colts (2 week to 4 years of age) were grafted under the back skin of castrated male immunodeficient mice. For 2 donor animals, half of the mice were treated with gonadotropins. Xenografts were analyzed at 4 and 8 months post-transplantation. Spermatogenic differentiation following grafting ranged from no differentiation to progression through meiosis with appearance of haploid cells. Administration of exogenous gonadotropins appeared to support post-meiotic differentiation. For more mature donor testis samples where spermatogenesis had progressed into or through meiosis, after grafting an initial loss of differentiated germ cells was observed followed by a resurgence of spermatogenesis. However, if haploid cells had been present prior to grafting, spermatogenesis did not progress beyond meiotic division. In all host mice with spermatogenic differentiation in grafts, increased weight of the seminal vesicles compared to castrated mice showed that xenografts were releasing testosterone. These results indicate that horse spermatogenesis occurs in a mouse host albeit with low efficiency. In most cases, spermatogenesis arrested at meiosis. The underlying mechanisms of this spermatogenic arrest require further investigation.
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Publication Date: 2006-06-01 PubMed ID: 16735548DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.01101Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research examines the development of horse testis tissue grafted into immunodeficient mice with or without exogenous gonadotropins. The results show that horse spermatogenesis does occur in a mouse host but generally stops at meiosis.

Research Methodology

  • Testis tissue from seven young horses aged 2 weeks to 4 years old were grafted onto castrated, immunodeficient mice. Half of these mice were treated with gonadotropins for two of the donor horses.
  • Xenografts were analyzed 4 and 8 months following the transplantation procedure.

Research Findings

  • The study found that spermatogenic differentiation, or the development from germ cells to mature sperm cells, varied after the grafting. In some instances, no differentiation was observed, while in others, haploid cells emerged as a result of the meiotic process.
  • Results showed that gonadotropins seem to promote post-meiotic differentiation where maturation of sperms occurred after the division of the cells.
  • The researchers observed an initial loss of differentiated germ cells after grafting in the more mature horse testis samples, but then a subsequent resurgence in spermatogenesis. If haploid cells were already present before grafting, the process did not progress beyond the meiotic cell division.

Impact of the Research

  • In all host mice demonstrating spermatogenic differentiation, a notable increase in the weight of the seminal vesicles (suggesting the release of testosterone) was observed, as compared to the castrated mice. This finding indicates functioning testosterone production by the grafted testis tissues.
  • However, the efficiency of horse spermatogenesis in a mouse host was found to be low. In most cases, the sperm cell development arrested at the meiosis stage. The researchers recommend further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of this developmental arrest.

Cite This Article

APA
Rathi R, Honaramooz A, Zeng W, Turner R, Dobrinski I. (2006). Germ cell development in equine testis tissue xenografted into mice. Reproduction, 131(6), 1091-1098. https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.1.01101

Publication

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
ISSN: 1470-1626
NlmUniqueID: 100966036
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 131
Issue: 6
Pages: 1091-1098

Researcher Affiliations

Rathi, R
  • Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, 19348, USA.
Honaramooz, A
    Zeng, W
      Turner, R
        Dobrinski, I

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Gonadotropins, Equine / pharmacology
          • Graft Survival
          • Male
          • Meiosis
          • Mice
          • Mice, SCID
          • Orchiectomy
          • Seminiferous Tubules / growth & development
          • Spermatogenesis
          • Spermatozoa / cytology
          • Testis / metabolism
          • Testis / transplantation
          • Testosterone / biosynthesis
          • Transplantation, Heterologous

          Citations

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