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Recent developments in testis tissue xenografting

School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to I Dobrinski who is now at Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Canada AB T2N 4N1; Email: idobrins{at}ucalgary.ca

Development of the mammalian testis and spermatogenesis involve complex processes of cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and cell–cell interactions. Although our knowledge of these processes has increased in the last few decades, many aspects still remain unclear. The lack of suitable systems that allow to recapitulate and manipulate both testis development and spermatogenesis ex situ has limited our ability to study these processes. In the last few years, two observations suggested novel strategies that will improve our ability to study and manipulate mammalian spermatogenesis: i) testis tissue from immature animals transplanted ectopically into immunodeficient mice is able to respond to mouse gonadotropins and to initiate and complete differentiation to the level where fertilization-competent sperm are obtained, and ii) isolated testis cells are able to organize and rearrange into seminiferous cords that subsequently undergo complete development, including production of viable sperm. The current paper reviews recent advances that have been obtained with both techniques that represent novel opportunities to explore testis development and spermatogenesis in diverse mammalian species.

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				J. R Rodriguez-Sosa, R. A Foster, and A. Hahnel Development of strips of ovine testes after xenografting under the skin of mice and co-transplantation of exogenous spermatogonia with grafts Reproduction, January 1, 2010; 139(1): 227 - 235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]