Figure 1. A Sertoli cell–germ cell... | Rockefeller University Press

Figure 1.

$Figure 1. A Sertoli cell–germ cell co-culture from immature seminiferous cords. (A and B) Freeze-fracture scanning electron microscopy images of testicular tissue samples from adult (A) and prepubescent (B) mice. Areas delimited by dotted white rectangles are shown at higher magnification (Ai and Bi). In the adult tubules, the complex anatomy of the seminiferous epithelium and fully developed lumen become apparent, whereas the immature seminiferous cords exhibit a more homogenous cellular composition devoid of a lumen. (C and D) Confocal fluorescence images of immunostainings against DAZL, a marker of premeiotic germ cells. Cryosections from adult (C) and prepubescent (D) mice reveal DAZL-positive cells in the periphery of the adult seminiferous epithelium (C), whereas spermatogonia are scattered throughout the immature seminiferous cords (D) and appear to make up the only spherical seminiferous cell type at P7, as visualized in merged fluorescence and DIC micrographs (Ci and Di). (E and F) Scanning electron microscopy (E) and confocal dual-channel fluorescence (F) images of Sertoli cell–germ cell co-cultures from seminiferous cords of prepubescent mice (P7). Relatively small spherical cells reside on a confluent flat layer of large Sertoli cells (E). Immunostaining against DAZL (Fi) and nuclear counterstaining (DAPI; Fii) reveals spermatogonial marker expression in essentially all spherical cells. Note that cultured putative spermatogonia are found as single and paired cells (E) or as aligned groups of up to 16 cells (F).$

A Sertoli cell–germ cell co-culture from immature seminiferous cords. (A and B) Freeze-fracture scanning electron microscopy images of testicular tissue samples from adult (A) and prepubescent (B) mice. Areas delimited by dotted white rectangles are shown at higher magnification (Ai and Bi). In the adult tubules, the complex anatomy of the seminiferous epithelium and fully developed lumen become apparent, whereas the immature seminiferous cords exhibit a more homogenous cellular composition devoid of a lumen. (C and D) Confocal fluorescence images of immunostainings against DAZL, a marker of premeiotic germ cells. Cryosections from adult (C) and prepubescent (D) mice reveal DAZL-positive cells in the periphery of the adult seminiferous epithelium (C), whereas spermatogonia are scattered throughout the immature seminiferous cords (D) and appear to make up the only spherical seminiferous cell type at P7, as visualized in merged fluorescence and DIC micrographs (Ci and Di). (E and F) Scanning electron microscopy (E) and confocal dual-channel fluorescence (F) images of Sertoli cell–germ cell co-cultures from seminiferous cords of prepubescent mice (P7). Relatively small spherical cells reside on a confluent flat layer of large Sertoli cells (E). Immunostaining against DAZL (Fi) and nuclear counterstaining (DAPI; Fii) reveals spermatogonial marker expression in essentially all spherical cells. Note that cultured putative spermatogonia are found as single and paired cells (E) or as aligned groups of up to 16 cells (F).