Reconstruction of mouse testis by in vitro 3-D culture

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25650108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: ABE Shin-ichi 熊本大学, 事務局, 理事・副学長 (90109637)
• Research Collaborator: ZHANG JiDong ; ABE Kazuko
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞・組織 / 発生・分化 / 精巣 / セルトリ細胞 / 再構築 / ３次元培養

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the reconstruction of seminiferous tubule-like structure, using 3-D culture system that we have successfully established. Addition of an inhibitor of Alk5 which is a receptor of TGFbeta super family, to the culture medium supplemented with Knockout Serum Replacement (KSR) inhibited the reconstruction of seminiferous tubule-like structure. Also Cyclopamine, an inhibitor of Desert hedgehog (Dhh) signaling, suppressed elongation and normal distribution of peritubular myoid cells around seminiferous cord-like structure. These results indicate that Alk5 and Dhh signalings play important roles in the reconstruction of seminiferous tubule-like structure. Observation of the behavior of live Sertoli cells (SCs) expressing GFP in the 3-D culture showed dynamic behavior of SCs.

Free Research Field

生物学