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Behavior of mouse spermatogonial stem-like cells on an electrospun nanofibrillar matrix

  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Spermatogonial stem cells are affected by the interactions of extrinsic signals produced by components of the microenvironment niche, in addition to the chemical and physical properties of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, this study was initiated to assess the interaction of these cells on a synthetic nanofibrillar extracellular matrix that mimicked the geometry and nanotopography of the basement membrane for cellular growth.

Methods

This study has used a variety of experimental approaches to investigate the interaction of mouse neonatal-derived spermatogonial stem-like cells on a synthetic random oriented three-dimensional nanofibrillar matrix composed of electrospun polyamide nanofibers (Ultra-Web™).

Results

Spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies were characterized by their ability to express α6-integrin, Thy-1, PLZF, and β1-integrin. After culture of cells on the nanofibrillar surfaces for 7 days, the number of colonies, the number of cells in each colony, and the average area of colonies were increased (P < 0.05). However, the expression difference of related markers in both groups was not significant. A significantly higher proliferation and survival was observed in the nanofibrillar group (P < 0.05). After transplantation into the testes of busulfan-treated adult mice, spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies that were cultured on the nanofibrillar surface demonstrated functionality, as verified by their ability to migrate to the seminiferous basal membrane, where they produced additional colonies.

Conclusions

These results have suggested that electrospun nanofibrillar surfaces could provide a more favorable microenvironment for in vitro short term culture of spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant provided from Royan Institute.

Disclosure

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose and all authors support submission to this journal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Campus, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

    Malak Shakeri, Hamid Kohram, Ahmad Zare Shahneh & Hossein Moradi Shahrebabak

  2. Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, P.O. Box 19395–4644, Tehran, Iran

    Abdolhossein Shahverdi, Faranak Tavakolifar, Mehdi Pirouz & Hossein Baharvand

  3. Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Abdolhossein Shahverdi

  4. Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Koruji

  5. Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Hossein Baharvand

Authors
  1. Malak Shakeri
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  2. Hamid Kohram
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  3. Abdolhossein Shahverdi
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  4. Ahmad Zare Shahneh
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  6. Mehdi Pirouz
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  7. Hossein Moradi Shahrebabak
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  9. Hossein Baharvand
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hossein Baharvand.

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Capsule

Electrospun nanofibrillar surfaces could provide a more favorable microenvironment for in vitro short term maintain of mouse neonatal-derived spermatogonial stem-like cell colonies.

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Shakeri, M., Kohram, H., Shahverdi, A. et al. Behavior of mouse spermatogonial stem-like cells on an electrospun nanofibrillar matrix. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 325–332 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9916-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9916-6

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