Purpose: To investigate the effect of serum supplementing on short-term culture, fate determination and gene expression of goat spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs).
Methods: Crude testicular cells were plated over Datura-Stramonium Agglutinin (DSA) for 1 h, and non-adhering cells were cultured in the presence of different serum concentrations (1, 5, 10, and 15%) for 7 days in a highly enriched medium initially developed in mice. Colonies developed in each group were used for the assessment of morphology, immunocytochemistry, and gene expression.
Results: Brief incubation of testicular cells with DSA resulted in a significant increase in the number of cells that expressed the germ cell marker (VASA). The expression of THY1, a specific marker of undifferentiated spermatogonia, was significantly higher in colonies developed in the presence of 1% rather than 5, 10 and 15% serum.
Conclusion: Goat SSCs could proliferate and maintain in SSC culture media for 1 week at serum concentrations as low as 1%, while higher concentrations had detrimental effects on SSC culture/expansion.