Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation

The development of the spermatogonial transplantation technique has given n ew impetus to research on spermatogonial stem cells. Possibilities opened b y this technique include: (a) New ways to study fundamental aspects of sper matogenesis; (b) Generation of transgenic large domestic animals; (c) Prote ction of (young) male cancer patients from infertility due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation for the above pur poses encompasses a number of steps. First, the stem cells have to be isola ted and possibly purified. Second, it should be possible to cryopreserve th e stem cells, for example till the children have reached puberty. Third, it should be possible to culture spermatogonial stem cells for a prolonged pe riod of time which would also allow transfection and subsequent selection o f stably transfected cells. Fourth, in case of animal studies, the host tes tis should be emptied from endogenous stem cells. This is probably best don e by local irradiation. Finally, the stem cells will have to be transplante d. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.