<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Objective.</bold> Stem cell therapy, specifically, pre-induction of mesenchymal stem cells toward male germ-like cells may be useful in patients with azoospermia. The aim of this study was to evaluate <italic>in vitro</italic> differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into male germ-like cells by indirect co-culture with testicular cells in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4).<bold>Methods.</bold> Experimental groups included: control (mouse BMSCs), treatment group-1 (BMSCs treated with BMP4), treatment group-2 (indirect co-culture of BMSCs with mouse testicular cells in the presence of BMP4) and treatment group-3 (indirect co-culture of BMSCs with testicular cells). BMSCs-derived male germ-like cells were evaluated by the expression of <italic>Dazl</italic>, and <italic>Stra8</italic> using RT-qPCR.<bold>Results.</bold> Stra8 gene expression was significantly increased in the treatment group-2 and Dazl gene was significantly increased in the treatment group-1 compared to other groups. In conclusion, indirect co-culturing of BMSCs with testicular cells and BMP4 leads to the differentiation of BMSCs into male germ-like cells which express specific male germ-like genes. Testicular cells released factors that contributed to the differentiation of BMSCs into male germ progenitor cells.<bold>Conclusion.</bold> This study suggests that mesenchymal stem cells may be differentiated into male germ-like cells and therefore, may be a novel treatment option for men with azoospermia.</abstract>

Objective. Stem cell therapy, specifically, pre-induction of mesenchymal stem cells toward male germ-like cells may be useful in patients with azoospermia. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into male germ-like cells by indirect co-culture with testicular cells in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4).Methods. Experimental groups included: control (mouse BMSCs), treatment group-1 (BMSCs treated with BMP4), treatment group-2 (indirect co-culture of BMSCs with mouse testicular cells in the presence of BMP4) and treatment group-3 (indirect co-culture of BMSCs with testicular cells). BMSCs-derived male germ-like cells were evaluated by the expression of Dazl, and Stra8 using RT-qPCR.Results. Stra8 gene expression was significantly increased in the treatment group-2 and Dazl gene was significantly increased in the treatment group-1 compared to other groups. In conclusion, indirect co-culturing of BMSCs with testicular cells and BMP4 leads to the differentiation of BMSCs into male germ-like cells which express specific male germ-like genes. Testicular cells released factors that contributed to the differentiation of BMSCs into male germ progenitor cells.Conclusion. This study suggests that mesenchymal stem cells may be differentiated into male germ-like cells and therefore, may be a novel treatment option for men with azoospermia.

Differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells into male germ-like cells in co-culture with testicular cells

Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine

Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS)

Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS)

University of Melbourne, The Women’s Hospital

Endocrine Regulations

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Objective. Stem cell therapy, specifically, pre-induction of mesenchymal stem cells toward male germ-like cells may be useful in patients with azoospermia. The...

Differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells into male germ-like cells in co-culture with testicular cells

Publié en ligne: 13 mai 2019

Pages: 93 - 99

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/enr-2019-0011

Mots clés
BMSCs, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4, indirect co-culture,

© 2019 Nasim Malekmohamadi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells into male germ-like cells in co-culture with testicular cells

Publié en ligne: 13 mai 2019

Pages: 93 - 99

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/enr-2019-0011

Mots clésBMSCs, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4, indirect co-culture,

© 2019 Nasim Malekmohamadi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
BMSCs, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4, indirect co-culture,