Defining prepubertal primate spermatogonial stem cells to address fertility preservation in prepubertal boys
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ABSTRACT: Antineoplastic treatments for cancer and other non-malignant disorders can result in male long-term or permanent infertility by ablating spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Preserving the future fertility of prepubertal patients faced with this prospect cannot rely on sperm banking. SSC transplantation using testicular tissue harvested before sterilizing treatment is a promising approach for restoring fertility, but lack of exclusive biomarkers which can unequivocally identify prepubertal SSCs in any primate species limits the therapeutic potential. To address this, we performed single-cell RNA-seq on unselected testis cells from immature baboons and macaques and compared these cells with published data from pre-pubertal human germ cells functionally-defined mouse SSCs. We found discrete groups of human spermatogonia while baboon and rhesus spermatogonia appeared less heterogenous. Cross-species analysis revealed cell types analogous to human SSCs in baboon and rhesus germ cells, but comparison with mouse SSCs revealed significant differences with primate SSCs. Indeed, a core component of a human SSC gene expression signature was conserved in baboon and rhesus spermatogonia and absent from mouse SSCs. These results further resolve the identity of pre-pubertal human SSCs and define novel pathways that could be leveraged for advancing their selection and propagation in vitro.
ORGANISM(S): Macaca mulatta Papio anubis
PROVIDER: GSE222105 | GEO | 2023/05/15
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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