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Sperm from neonatal mammalian testes grafted in mice

Nature volume 418, pages 778–781 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is a productive and highly organized process that generates virtually unlimited numbers of sperm during adulthood. Continuous proliferation and differentiation of germ cells occur in a delicate balance with other testicular compartments, especially the supporting Sertoli cells1. Many complex aspects of testis function in humans and large animals have remained elusive because of a lack of suitable in vitro or in vivo models. Germ cell transplantation has produced complete donor-derived spermatogenesis in rodents2,3,4,5,6 but not in other mammalian species7,8,9. Production of sperm in grafted tissue from immature mammalian testes and across species has not yet been accomplished. Here we report the establishment of complete spermatogenesis by grafting testis tissue from newborn mice, pigs or goats into mouse hosts. This approach maintains structural integrity and provides the accessibility that is essential for studying and manipulating the function of testes and for preserving the male germ line. Our results indicate that this approach is applicable to diverse mammalian species.

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Figure 1: Grafting of testis tissue from newborn piglets under the skin of nude mice.
Figure 2: Histological evaluation of the developmental potential of newborn mouse testis tissue grafted under the back skin of nude mice.
Figure 3: Histological appearance of pig or goat testis tissue before and after grafting into mice.
Figure 4: Sperm morphology and oocyte-activating competence of sperm from grafts of neonatal testes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Gosden who stimulated the development of the approach; R. Sandhowe-Klawerkamp and I. Upmann for technical assistance; and J. Hayden for preparing the illustrations. This study was supported by the NIH, United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service/National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (I.D.), by the Marion Dilley and David George Jones Funds and the Commonwealth and General Assembly of Pennsylvania (M.B., S.S. and H.S.), an award from the Merck Foundation (A.S.) and by a Heisenberg fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (S.S).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Ali Honaramooz, Amy Snedaker & Ina Dobrinski

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

    Michele Boiani, Hans Schöler & Stefan Schlatt

  3. Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University Münster, Domagkstrasse 11, D-48149, Münster, Germany

    Stefan Schlatt

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  1. Ali Honaramooz
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Correspondence to Ina Dobrinski.

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Honaramooz, A., Snedaker, A., Boiani, M. et al. Sperm from neonatal mammalian testes grafted in mice. Nature 418, 778–781 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature00918

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