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In vitro spermatogenesis using bovine testis tissue culture techniques

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is a complex process initiated by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that have the ability to differentiate into mature spermatozoa or to self-renew to maintain the SSC population and long-term fertility. However, a technique for complete spermatogenesis in vitro using cell culture has not yet been developed. In the present study, we developed in vitro spermatogenesis techniques using bovine testis tissue culture. The effects of specific temperatures and different media on maintaining tubule and germ cell competency were investigated. We found that the optimal temperature and media were 37°C and mouse serum-free medium (mSFM), respectively. In addition, the efficacy of various hormones and growth factors on spermatogenesis in bovine testis tissues maintained in vitro was evaluated. We found that the addition of triiodothyronine (T3) and stem cell factor (SCF) induced spermatogenesis of bovine SSCs in vitro. Therefore, tissue fragments were cultured in the presence of T3 and SCF for three months to induce spermatogenesis in vitro. Overall, in vitro spermatogenesis was enhanced 2.4- to 2.7-fold. Our tissue culture technique may serve as a model system that leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the biology of SSCs as well as the factors that regulate male fertility. Furthermore, the results of this study will be integral for the continued refinement of techniques to manipulate bovine SSCs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Korea

    Ki-Jung Kim, Yong-Hee Kim, Bang-Jin Kim, Sang-Eun Jung, Yeon-Jin Cho & Buom-Yong Ryu

  2. BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Korea

    Byung-Gak Kim

  3. Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore

    Yong-An Lee

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea

    Sang-Hoon Lee

  5. Department of Cancer Biology, Perleman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Bang-Jin Kim

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  1. Ki-Jung Kim
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  2. Byung-Gak Kim
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Correspondence to Buom-Yong Ryu.

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Kim, KJ., Kim, BG., Kim, YH. et al. In vitro spermatogenesis using bovine testis tissue culture techniques. Tissue Eng Regen Med 12, 314–323 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-015-0045-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-015-0045-z

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