Summary
Mammalian spermatogenesis is a highly organized process of cell division and differentiation that requires intimate contact between germ cells and testicular somatic cells. Lack of a suitable in vitro system has caused many aspects of spermatogenesis, especially in nonrodent species, to remain elusive. We describe ectopic grafting of testis tissue from sexually immature males to immunodeficient mouse hosts as an in vivo culture system that allows recapitulation of complete spermatogenesis from diverse mammalian species with the production of fertilization-competent sperm in a mouse host. In this system, the donor species testicular environment is preserved allowing experimentation in a small rodent. The accessibility of the tissue in the mouse host makes it possible to manipulate spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in a controlled manner that is often not feasible in the donor species. It also allows detailed analysis of the effects of toxins and compounds to enhance or suppress male fertility in an in vivo system without extensive experimentation in the target species. Finally, as it provides a source of male gametes even from immature gonads, grafting of fresh or preserved testis tissue offers an invaluable tool for the conservation of fertility in males if sperm cannot be obtained for cryopreservation.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Brinster, R.L. (2002) Germline stem cell transplantation and transgenesis. Science. 296, 2174–2176.
2. Dobrinski, I., Avarbock, M. R., and Brinster, R. L. (1999) Transplantation of germ cells from rabbits and dogs into mouse testes. Biol. Reprod. 61, 1331–1339.
3. Dobrinski, I., Avarbock, M. R., and Brinster, R. L. (2000) Germ cell transplantation from large domestic animals into mouse testes. Mol. Rep. Dev. 57, 270–279.
4. Nagano, M., McCarrey, J. R., and Brinster, R. L. (2001) Primate spermatogonial stem cells colonize mouse testes. Biol. Reprod. 64, 1409–1416.
5. Nagano, M., Patrizio, P., and Brinster, R. L. (2002) Long-term survival of human spermato- gonial stem cells in mouse testes. Fertil. Steril. 78, 1225–1233.
6. Honaramooz, A., Snedaker, A., Boiani, M., Scholer, H. R., Dobrinski, I., and Schlatt, S. (2002) Sperm from neonatal mammalian testes grafted in mice. Nature. 418, 778–781.
7. Schlatt, S., Honaramooz, A., Ehmcke, J., et al. (2006) Limited survival of adult human testicular tissue as ectopic xenograft. Hum. Reprod. 21, 384–389.
8. Geens, M., De Block, G., Goossens, E., Frederickx, V., Van Steirteghem, A., and Tournaye, H. (2006) Spermatogonial survival after grafting human testicular tissue to immunodeficient mice. Hum. Reprod. 21, 390–396.
9. Schlatt, S., Honaramooz, A., Boiani, M., Scholer, H. R., and Dobrinski, I. (2003) Progeny from sperm obtained after ectopic grafting of neonatal mouse testes. Biol. Reprod. 68, 2331–2335.
10. Honaramooz, A., Li, M.-W., Penedo, M. C. T., Meyers, S. A., and Dobrinski, I. (2004) Accelerated maturation of primate testis by xenografting into mice. Biol. Reprod. 70, 1500–1503.
11. Zeng, W., Avelar, G. F., Rathi, R., Franca, L. R., and Dobrinski, I. (2006) The length of the spermatogenic cycle is conserved in porcine and ovine testis xenografts. J. Androl. 27, 527–533.
12. Snedaker, A. K., Honaramooz, A., and Dobrinski, I. (2004) A game of cat and mouse: xenografting of testis tissue from domestic kittens results in complete cat spermatogenesis in a mouse host. J. Androl. 25, 926–930.
13. Oatley, J.M., de Avila, D. M., Reeves, J. J., and McLean, D. J. (2004) Spermatogenesis and germ cell transgene expression in xenografted bovine testicular tissue. Biol. Reprod. 71, 494–501.
14. Oatley, J. M., Reeves, J. J., and McLean, D. J. (2005) Establishment of spermatogenesis in neonatal bovine testicular tissue following ectopic xenografting varies with donor age. Biol. Reprod. 72, 358–364.
15. Rathi, R., Honaramooz, A., Zeng, W., Schlatt, S., and Dobrinski, I. (2005) Germ cell fate and seminiferous tubule development in bovine testis xenografts. Reproduction. 130, 923–929.
16. Rathi, R., Honaramooz, A., Zeng, W., Turner, R., and Dobrinski, I. (2006). Germ cell development in equine testis tissue xenografted into mice. Reproduction. 131, 1091–1098.
17. Zeng, W., Rathi, R., PAN, D., and Dobrinski, I. (2007) Comparison of global gene expression between porcine testis tissue xenografts and porcine testis in situ. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74, 674–679.
18. Schlatt, S., Kim, S. S., and Gosden, R. (2002) Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in mouse, hamster and monkey testicular tissue after cryopreservation and heterotopic grafting to castrated hosts. Reproduction. 124, 339–346.
19. Shinohara, T., Inoue, K., Ogonuki, N., et al. (2002) Birth of offspring following transplantation of cryopreserved immature testicular pieces and in-vitro microinsemination. Hum. Reprod. 17, 3039–3045.
20. Honaramooz, A., Zeng, W., Rathi, R., Koster, J., Ryder, O., and Dobrinski, I. (2005). Testis tissue xenografting to preserve germ cells from a cloned banteng calf. Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 17, 247.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science + Business Media, LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Dobrinski, I., Rathi, R. (2008). Ectopic Grafting of Mammalian Testis Tissue into Mouse Hosts. In: Hou, S.X., Singh, S.R. (eds) Germline Stem Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 450. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-214-8_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-214-8_10
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-213-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-214-8
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols