The Behavior of Sertoli-Like Cells When Transplanted into Sertoli Cell-Depleted Testes

The intact population of Sertoli cells is crucial for the maintenance of male germ cell development. At sexual maturity, Sertoli cells of most mammals lose their ability to proliferate and to restore their population after damage. Thus, a search for alternative sources of Sertoli cells suitable for transplantation is an important goal. Sertoli-like cells (SLCs) from the adult rete testis might become such a source because they express many Sertoli cell marker genes but are capable of proliferation in vitro. We have already shown earlier that SLCs participated in the formation of tubule-like structures when co-cultured with neonatal Sertoli cells. In the current study, we tested SLC properties in vivo. We carried out transplantations of cultured SLCs into mouse testes treated with a detergent benzalkonium chloride (BC), which was used for depleting Sertoli cells from testes earlier. Indeed, BC injections via the rete testis reduced the number of Sertoli cells. It was also demonstrated that donor SLCs settled in at basement membranes of damaged host seminiferous tubules and form epithelial structures. They retain their viability, proliferative capacity, and expression of marker genes for at least 4 weeks.