histomorphometric evaluation of treatment of rat azoosper-mic seminiferous tubules by allotransplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

objective(s): bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bm-mscs) potentials make them appropriate for cell therapy including ability of differentiation and release of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors secreta. for treatment of azoospermia to induce proliferation and differentiation of germ cells, mscs transplantation has been introduced. the aim of the present experimental case-control study was to histomorphometric evaluation of the germinal cells in seminiferous tubules of azoospermic rats before and after bm-mscs allotransplantation. materials and methods: in the present study, bm-mscs were isolated from six male rats and confirmed. their testes also served as intact negative controls. the recipient rats (n=6) were received two doses of 10 mg/kg of busulfan with 21 days interval to induce azoospermia. after cessation of spermatogenesis, the rats were allotransplanted with the bm-mscs into efferent duct of right testes. thirty-five days later, the right cell-treated testes were compared to left azoospermic ones. results: histomorphometric analyses showed that the seminiferous tubules treated with bm-mscs had normal morphology in comparison with azoospermic testes, which were without germinal layer. in most bm-mscs-treated seminiferous tubules, spermatogenesis was observed. conclusion: the allotransplanted bm-mscs could induce spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules of azoospermic rats.