The spermatogonial stem cell population in adult rats. I. Their morphology, proliferation and maturation

Whole mounted segments of seminiferous tubules from rat testes have been used to investigate the morphology and proliferative activity of the undifferentiated type A spermatogonial population. This has led to the formulation of a new model for spermatogonial stem cell renewal. Three groups of undifferentiated A spermatogonia were classified according to their topographical arrangements as isolated, paired, and aligned spermatogonia. It was proposed that the isolated (as well as a few paired) spermatogonia, which were always present throughout the seminiferous epithelium, are the functional stem cells and should therefore be designated as As. Through sporadic divisions, the As spermatogonia both maintain their own numbers and give rise to pairs of cells which are destined to eventually differentiate. The latter undergo several synchronous divisions in succession, thereby forming increasingly longer chains of aligned spermatogonia. The proliferation of these chains, primarily in stages I–V, leads to a gradual expansion in the size of the undifferentiated type A population. When the population attains its maximal size in stage V, mitotic activity among the aligned cells ceases, and all of these cells morphologically transform without further division into typical A1 spermatogonia. Subsequently, the cohort of A1 cells synchronously divides in stage IX to begin the long process of spermatogonial maturation. The isolated (and a few paired) cells, which do not undergo this transformation and remain quiescent during the stage IX peak of mitosis, form a residual stock of stem cells, that, during the course of another cycle, rebuild the population of aligned A spermatogonia. In this way, a continual supply of type A1 spermatogonia which will cyclically differentiate is insured.