Germ cell development in vivo after grafting (WP3)

In this work-package, we will develop improved strategies for sperm development in grafting of fragments of intact testicular tissue and develop germ cells up to sperm. Fetal testis tissue grafting will be used to recapitulate human testis development during the fetal and early postnatal period. We will use xenografting models in conjunction with immunohistochemistry to identify factors that may be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the SSC niche to investigate subsequent differentiation of the spermatogonia.

In addition, we will optimize the efficiency of the grafting system and will develop this system in a primate model system that is more related to the human situation.