Controlling system of teleostean
spermatogenesis
We established the culture system of the medaka testis in which every step of
spermatogenesis may progress under the control through the germ-somatic cell
interaction (Iwasaki et al., 2009). In this system, primary spermatocytes
differentiate into swimming sperm. We also established germ cell culture in
which primary spermatocytes autonomously differentiated into fertilizable sperm
(Saiki et al., 1997; Sasaki et al., 2005). We are investigating the mechanisms
for controlling spermatogenesis using those culture systems at cellular and
molecular levels and straggling to establish a system for estimating the influences
of environment, such as endocrine disruptors in freshwater or microgravity in
space, in spermatogenesis of the medaka fish and its control.
Iwasaki Y,
Ohkawa K, Sadakata H, Kashiwadate A, Takayama-Watanabe E, Onitake K, Watanabe
A. 2009. Develop. Growth Differ. 51: 521-532.
Sasaki T, Watanabe A, Takayama-Watanabe E, Suzuki M, Abe H, Onitake K.
2005. Develop. Growth & Differ. 47:
87-97.