Molecular markers and cryopreservation of spermatogonial stem cells of common carp, Cyprinus carpio and zebrafish, Danio rerio

• Grant number: 13/20450-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
• Grantee: Melanie Digmayer
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/24148-2 - Production of germ cell-less by the dead end gene knockout in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) embryos using CRISPR/Cas system, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Pluripotency refers to the potential of stem cells to differentiate into three germinal layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Pluripotency is conferred by genes/markers which are specifically expressed in embryonic stem cells and (some) adult stem cells. Among the adult stem cells, spermatogonia are the only stem cell in the body capable to transmit the genetic information to the progeny, and to sustain fertility and spermatogenesis homeostasis. The aim of this project is to characterize genes/markers expressed specifically in spermatogonial stem cells of common carp and zebrafish in order to select and cultivate these cells. After selection, it is also our aim to cryopreserve spermatogonial stem cells and test the viability of these cells after thawing. Spermatogonial stem cell cryopreservation offers an alternative tool to conserve endangered and valuable specie genotypes, since cryopreservation of gametes and embryos are difficult and limited. Recent technologies have shown that transplanting spermatogonial stem cell into phylogenetic related species can surrogate the parents, and produce donor-derived gametes (spermatozoa and oocytes). Therefore, cryopreservation of spermatogonial stem cells would allow the creation of a cryo-bank, which could be used in transplantation assays as a powerful tool to preserve valuable and endangered species, as well as in biotechnology studies applied to aquaculture and also to understand the biology of stem cells in teleost fish. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BRANCO, GIOVANA SOUZA; MELO, ALINE GOMES; RICCI, JULIANA M. B.; DIGMAYER, MELANIE; DE JESUS, LAZARO W. O.; HABIBI, HAMID R.; NOBREGA, RAFAEL HENRIQUE. Effects of GnRH and the dual regulatory actions of GnIH in the pituitary explants and brain slices of Astyanax altiparanae males. General and Comparative Endocrinology, v. 273, n. SI, p. 209-217, MAR 1 2019. (14/07620-7, 13/20450-0, 15/12104-0)