Journal article

Distinctive molecular features of regenerative stem cells in the damaged male germline

HM La, J Liao, JMD Legrand, FJ Rossello, AL Chan, V Vaghjiani, JE Cain, A Papa, TL Lee, RM Hobbs

Nature Communications | Published : 2022

Open access

Abstract

Maintenance of male fertility requires spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that self-renew and generate differentiating germ cells for production of spermatozoa. Germline cells are sensitive to genotoxic drugs and patients receiving chemotherapy can become infertile. SSCs surviving treatment mediate germline recovery but pathways driving SSC regenerative responses remain poorly understood. Using models of chemotherapy-induced germline damage and recovery, here we identify unique molecular features of regenerative SSCs and characterise changes in composition of the undifferentiated spermatogonial pool during germline recovery by single-cell analysis. Increased mitotic activity of SSCs mediating ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Victorian Cancer Agency


Funding Acknowledgements

We thank the Monash Animal Research Platform, Micromon, Monash FlowCore, Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Monash Micro Imaging and Monash Health Translation Precinct Medical (MHTP) Genomics, Microscopy, Histology and Flow Cytometry Platforms for technical support. This study was supported by NHMRC Project Grant APP1164019 to R.M.H. H.M.L. was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship and A.P. by a Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) Mid-Career Research Fellowship (MCRF20027). The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute is supported by grants from the State Government of Victoria and Australian Government.