Abstract:
The effect of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on the proliferation ofprospermatogonial stem cells was testedin vitro. Piecesof 3-day-old rat testis were cultured in the presence of a range of doses ofLIF alone or in combination with 1 ng mL <emph type="7">-1 seminiferousgrowth factor (SGF). Stimulation of the proliferative activity of quiescentprospermatogonia was detected immunocytochemically with a cell proliferationkit. After 24 h culture, LIF signicantly increased the percentage of labelledprospermatogonia, with the peak of activity at 20 pg mL<emph type="7">-1 . The combination of LIF and SGF resulted in adecrease in DNA synthetic activity of the germ cells. Hence, LIF and SGF playa role in local regulation at the onset of spermatogenesis in the rat testis.