Testicular Stem Cell-Mediated Transgenesis and In Vitro Spermatogenesis

Abstract

Transgenesis is a valuable tool for genetic modification of animals to improve their productivity, disease resistance, creation of animal models, or producing proteins of pharmaceutical importance. Testicular stem cell-mediated transgenesis is an emerging method for producing transgenic livestock. Male germline stem cells (GSCs) are unipotent and, upon testicular transplantation into empty seminiferous tubules of infertile males, can re-establish donor-derived spermatogenesis. Further, in vitro generation of spermatozoa from genetically-engineered GSCs may prevent the need for testicular transplantation. In-vitro spermatogenesis is also vital for preserving male fertility in prepubertal animals, posthumus reproduction, and fertility management. Here, we discuss our data on the genetic engineering of goat GSCs for expression of the pharmaceutical protein (G-CSF) and in vitro spermatogenesis. These technologies will expand the application of transgenics in agriculture and biomedicine and may help achieve our goal of producing transgenic livestock in India.