Supplementation of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor 2, and Epidermal Growth Factor Promotes Self-Renewal of Putative Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Spermatogonial Stem Cells by Upregulating the Expression of miR-20b, miR-21, and miR-106a

In this study, we investigated the effect of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the expression of some self-renewal-related microRNAs (miRs) in putative buffalo spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The SSCs were cultured on a buffalo Sertoli cell feeder layer, colony formation was observed between 7 and 10 days. The SSC colonies expressed markers specific for undifferentiated type A spermatogonia and pluripotency markers. After 15 days of initial culture, the colonies were subcultured as treatment (supplemented with 20 ng mL GDNF +10 ng mL FGF2 + 10 ng mL EGF) and control groups. The number and area of SSC colonies were significantly (p