<i>DAZL</i> Knockout Pigs as Recipients for Spermatogonial Stem Cell Transplantation

oleh: Nathalia L. M. Lara, Taylor Goldsmith, Paula Rodriguez-Villamil, Felipe Ongaratto, Staci Solin, Dennis Webster, Uyanga Ganbaatar, Shane Hodgson, Stanislas M. A. S. Corbière, Alla Bondareva, Daniel F. Carlson, Ina Dobrinski

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-11-01

Deskripsi

Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) transplantation into the testis of a germ cell (GC)-depleted surrogate allows transmission of donor genotype via donor-derived sperm produced by the recipient. Transplantation of gene-edited SSCs provides an approach to propagate gene-edited large animal models. DAZL is a conserved RNA-binding protein important for GC development, and <i>DAZL</i> knockout (KO) causes defects in GC commitment and differentiation. We characterized <i>DAZL</i>-KO pigs as SSC transplantation recipients. While there were GCs in 1-week-old (wko) KO, complete GC depletion was observed by 10 wko. Donor GCs were transplanted into 18 <i>DAZL</i>-KO recipients at 10–13 wko. At sexual maturity, semen and testes were evaluated for transplantation efficiency and spermatogenesis. Approximately 22% of recipient seminiferous tubules contained GCs, including elongated spermatids and proliferating spermatogonia. The ejaculate of 89% of recipients contained sperm, exclusively from donor origin. However, sperm concentration was lower than the wild-type range. Testicular protein expression and serum hormonal levels were comparable between <i>DAZL</i>-KO and wild-type. Intratesticular testosterone and Leydig cell volume were increased, and Leydig cell number decreased in transplanted <i>DAZL</i>-KO testis compared to wild-type. In summary, <i>DAZL</i>-KO pigs support donor-derived spermatogenesis following SSC transplantation, but low spermatogenic efficiency currently limits their use for the production of offspring.