MALE GERM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION IN RATS - APPARENT SYNCHRONIZATION OF SPERMATOGENESIS BETWEEN HOST AND DONOR SEMINIFEROUS EPITHELIA

Primordial germ cells (PGC) and gonocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rat fetuses and neonates were transplanted via the rete testis into the l umen of the seminiferous tubules of recipient adult Long Evans rats. T he donor germ cells apparently differentiated into mini-tubules or irr egular segments of seminiferous epithelium within the lumen of the hos t seminiferous tubules, and exhibited qualitatively normal spermatogen esis in 10 out of 16 recipients. The stage of spermatogenesis of the i ntraluminal epithelium was synchronized closely with that of the adjac ent seminiferous tubule epithelium, suggesting that the spermatogenic cycle is regulated locally by the intraluminal microenvironment. Male germ cell transplantation provides an interesting new tool for investi gating the control of spermatogenesis.