| First Author | La HM | Year | 2018 |
| Journal | Nat Commun | Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 2819 |
| PubMed ID | 30026551 | Mgi Jnum | J:266241 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6208973 | Doi | 10.1038/s41467-018-04827-z |
| Citation | La HM, et al. (2018) Identification of dynamic undifferentiated cell states within the male germline. Nat Commun 9(1):2819 |
| abstractText | The role of stem cells in tissue maintenance is appreciated and hierarchical models of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation often proposed. Stem cell activity in the male germline is restricted to undifferentiated A-type spermatogonia (Aundiff); however, only a fraction of this population act as stem cells in undisturbed testis and Aundiff hierarchy remains contentious. Through newly developed compound reporter mice, here we define molecular signatures of self-renewing and differentiation-primed adult Aundiff fractions and dissect Aundiff heterogeneity by single-cell analysis. We uncover an unappreciated population within the self-renewing Aundiff fraction marked by expression of embryonic patterning genes and homeodomain transcription factor PDX1. Importantly, we find that PDX1 marks a population with potent stem cell capacity unique to mature, homeostatic testis and demonstrate dynamic interconversion between PDX1+ and PDX1- Aundiff states upon transplant and culture. We conclude that Aundiff exist in a series of dynamic cell states with distinct function and provide evidence that stability of such states is dictated by niche-derived cues. |
