Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis using differentiation-deficient spermatogonial stem cells

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The KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is required for normal spermatogenesis. Although spermatogenesis is abolished in the testis of W^v/W^v mice due to the Kit gene mutation, undifferentiated spermatogonia with spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) phenotype were identified. The W^v/W^v spermatogonia were self-renewed in a modified SSC culture system, indicating they were SSCs. Comparison of the gene expression profiles of the W^v/W^v and wild-type SSCs identified several genes that were expressed differentially in the two SSC populations. These genes might play a role in spermatogonial differentiation.