Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin on spermatogonial stem cell colony formation and differentiation after in vitro Coculture with Sertoli cells

Spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process that originates from spermatogonia stem cell. This process consists of sequential, highly organized steps of cell proliferation and differentiation resulting in the generation of functional spermatozoa. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on spermatogonial stem cell colony formation and differentiation after in vitro Coculture with Sertoli cells. In this experimental study, Sertoli and spermatogonial cells were isolated from 3- to 5-month-old calves. Co-cultured Sertoli and spermatogonial cells were treated with hCG in treatment groups before colony assay with 2, 5 and 10 IU/ml culture medium. Vimentin and oct-4 immunohistochemical staining were used for Sertoli and spermatogonial stem cell colony detection, respectively. The present study showed that hCG increase both colony diameter and colony number. hCG can induce both proliferative pathway and differentiation process in SSCs Coculture with Sertoli cells.