The beneficial effect of equine chorionic gonadotropin hormone (eCG) on the in vitro co-culture of bovine spermatogonial stem cell with Sertoli cells

Spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process that originates from spermatogonia stem cell. This process consists of sequential, highly organized steps of cell proliferation and differentiation resulting in the generation of functional spermatozoa. Many growth factors, hormones, and cell interactions of germ cells with Sertoli cells regulate these processes, and the failure of any of the processes can lead to male infertility The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin on spermatogonial stem cell colony formation and differentiation after in vitro co-culture with Sertoli cells. In this experimental study, Sertoli and spermatogonial stem cells were isolated from 3- to 5-month-old calves. Co-cultured Sertoli and spermatogonial stem cells were treated with equine chorionic gonadotropin in treatment groups before colony assay. The present study showed that equine chorionic gonadotropin increase colony number and decrease colony diameter. Equine chorionic gonadotropin can induce proliferative pathway and inhibit differentiation process in spermatogonia stem cell co-culture with Sertoli cells.