Identification of genes involved in germline regeneration in adult undifferentiated spermatogonia following a low dose busulfan treatment

Mammalian spermatogenesis and male fertility are sustained by a small population of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the testis. In particular, germ cells are highly sensitive to chemotherapies and radiation, placing male cancer patients at a higher risks of treatment-induced infertility. While SSCs surive the treatment may restore the germline and ferility, it remains unknown how SSCs mediate the regenerative responses to re-establish the germline. In this study, we used a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced germline damage and recovery to identify differentially expressed genes in homeostatic (from untreated control mice) versus regenerative SSCs (busulfan-treated mice) and potential effectors driving the initiation of regeneration. Overall design: Undifferentiated spermatogonia were isolated by flow sorting from 4 adult untreated control and 4 busulfan treated mice at day 10.