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Xenografting of sheep testis tissue and isolated cells as a model for preservation of genetic material from endangered ungulates

L Arregui, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, United States
R Rathi, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, United States
S Megee, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, United States
A Honaramooz, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
M Gomendio, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid, Spain
E Roldan, Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
I Dobrinski, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, United States

Correspondence: Ina Dobrinski, Email: dobrinsk{at}vet.upenn.edu

Abstract

Recovery of germ cells could be an option for preservation of the genetic pool of endangered animals. In immature males, xenografting of testis tissue provides the opportunity to recover sperm from these animals. In adult animals, xenografting has been less successful, but de novo morphogenesis of functional testis tissue from dissociated testis cells could be an alternative. To assess the potential use of these techniques in endangered bovid species, the domestic sheep, was used as a model. Testes from 2 week old lambs were grafted as tissue fragments or cell suspensions into nude mice. Grafts were recovered at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks postgrafting. For isolated cells two additional time points at 35 and 40 weeks after grafting were added. In addition, to analyze the possible effect of social stress among mice within a group on the development of the grafts, testis tissue grafts were recovered 13 weeks postgrafting from mice housed individually and in groups. Complete spermatogenesis occurred in sheep testis xenografts at 12 weeks, similar to the situation in situ. Isolated sheep testis cells were able to reorganize and form functional testicular tissue de novo.

Housing mice individually or in groups did not have any effect on the development of xenografts. Xenografting of testis tissue might be useful to obtain sperm from immature endangered ungulates that die prematurely. Testis tissue de novo morphogenesis from isolated cells could open interesting options to recovered germ cells from mature males with impaired spermatogenesis.