Epigenetic profiling of young and aged spermatogonial stem cells (RRBS). Epigenetic profiling of young and aged spermatogonial stem cells (RRBS)

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC), the foundation of spermatogenesis and male fertility, possess lifelong self-renewal activity. Aging leads to the decline in stem cell function and increased risk of paternal age-related genetic diseases. Aged SSCs exhibited gene body hypomethylation, which is accompanied by an elevated 5hmC level. Overall design: We separated stem cells (Oct4-GFP+/KIT-) and their immediate proliferating daughter cells (Oct4-GFP+/KIT+) using FACS from adult (6-8 months) and aged mice (15-18 months), which were subjected to RRBS and oxRRBS analysis.