Feasibility of abnormal development of spermatogonial stem cells in impaired spermatogenesis; detection of disease genes and functional analyses

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Two major complications of cryptorchidism, in which the testes did not congenitally descended into scrotum, are impaired spermatogenesis and testicular cancer. Although it is reported that some acquired factors such as high temperature surrounding testis are involved in the impaired spermatogenesis, we consider that congenital factor, dysfunction of spermatogonial stem cells, is more important.In the present research, our aim is elucidation of genes associated with stem cell development and etiology of impaired spermatogenesis. As a result, we could detect some candidate genes by analyses using human testicular tissues or cryptorchid model animals. Among them, epigenetic regulators of gene expressions are also included. In conclusion, we could uncover several mechanisms involved in development of spermatogonial stem cells.