Regulation of the germ stem cell niche as the foundation for adult spermatogenesis

Regulation of the germ stem cell niche as the foundation for adult spermatogenesis: A role for miRNAs?' Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, vol 29C, pp. 76-83. General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Abbreviated Title: miRNAs and the germ stem cell niche Disclosure summary: The authors have nothing to disclose. Abstract Within the testis the spermatogonial stem cells reside in a unique microenvironment, or 'niche', which includes the surrounding somatic cells. The regulation of the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells determines the lifelong supply of spermatozoa by maintaining a population of undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells and ensuring that adequate numbers of spermatogonia undergo spermatogenesis. Mouse models have been instrumental in determining a large number of factors involved in regulating the spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal and/or differentiation. However, the precise mechanisms controlling regulation of the germ cell niche remain to be elucidated. Recently the discovery of microRNAs, which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, have provided new insight into testis biology, spermatogenesis and germ stem cell regulation. In this review we summarize the main factors involved in the regulation of the germ stem cell niche and describe the role of microRNA signaling in this regulation.