Spermatogonial stem cells: What does the future hold?

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are responsible for the preservation of spermatogenesis throughout a man’s adult reproductive life. Like other stem cells in the body, SSCs can either self-renew or differentiate. Recent research has shown that SSCs can be considered as multipotent stem cells which can differentiate into cell types other than exclusively gametes. SSC proliferation is a well regulated mechanism and is mainly orchestrated by the Sertoli cells. In the future, SSCs may offer clinically relevant options for preservation and re-establishment of the reproductive potential in patients suffering from spermatogonial stem cell loss, i.e. after gonadotoxic treatments for cancer or haematological diseases. However, one day, differentiation in-vitro of SSCs may also become an important strategy in other fields of regenerative medicine.