The effects of growth factors on proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells from Guangxi Bama mini-pig

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different growth factors on the proliferation of Bama mini-pig spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro. The growth factors glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFR alpha 1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were investigated. The SSCs were seeded on SIM mouse embryo-derived thioguanine- and ouabain-resistant (STO) feeder layers. Cultivation of the cells were subjected to a factorial design of the growth factors GDNF + bFGF, GDNF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1, LIF + bFGF and LIF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1. The SSCs could propagate for 25 passages in the medium adding GDNF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1, 22 passages in the medium adding GDNF + bFGF, 6 passages in the medium adding LIF + bFGF, or LIF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the highest mRNA expression levels of NANOG, POU5F, DDX4, GFR alpha 1 and UCHL1 were detected in the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1. The SSCs from the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1 also showed UCHL1-, DBA- and CDH1-positive staining. Moreover, Stra8 and Scp3 expression, and haploid peak were detected after induction of the SSCs from the group adding GDNF + bFGF + GFR alpha 1. In conclusion, pig SSCs could be maintained for long term in the presence of GDNF, bFGF, and GFR alpha 1.