Mouse spermatogonial stem cells obtain morphologic and functional characteristics of hematopoietic cells in vivo

The aim of this study was to explore the plasticity and transdifferentiation potential of murine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) into hematopoietic cells. GFP(+)CD49f(+)H-2K(b-) SSCs of male donor mice were isolated and injected into the bone marrow (BM) of Busulfan-treated GFP(-) female mice. Twelve weeks post-transplantation, the recipients were sacrificed and their BM, peripheral blood (PB) and spleen (SL) cells were collected and evaluated by phenotypical methods, i.e. fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, and functional assays, i.e. colony-forming units assay and intra-BM transplantation. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)- and Y chromosome-positive cells were observed in the BM, PB and SL of transplanted female mice. These cells presented phenotypical and functional characteristics of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that SSCs have the potential to transdifferentiate into hematopoietic cells in vivo.