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Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) is specifically expressed in mammalian germ cells before their transition from mitosis to meiosis. STRA8 expression is observed only in the postnatal testis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms but no mutations were identified in the coding or proximal promoter region of STRA8 in some gonadal dysgenesis patients. Studies on the teratocarcinoma cells and embryonic stem cells (ESC) transfected with STRA8-EGFP, a fusion construct harboring the promoter and coding region of the enhanced green fluorescence protein, have shown that the STRA8-EGFP positive cells may undergo meiosis, develop into sperm and generate live offspring mice. STRA8-EGFP positive cells derived from the bone marrow are able to differentiate into spermatogenic cells, but arrest in the premeiotic stage, and those from the adult mouse testis, when cultured in ESC culture conditions, may acquire ESC properties, pluripotency and redifferentiation capacity and act as a new stem cell source for tissue regeneration. The presence of oocytes renewed in postnatal mouse ovaries calls in question the absence of STRA8 in postnatal mouse ovaries.

Fluorescence microscopic self-ordered ring (SOR) technique with microwave heating is proposed for minocycline based on the capillary flow of solvent on the surface of hydrophobic glass slide and applied to residues detection of the antibiotics in milks of Inner Mongolia. In the reaction medium of hexahydropyridine containing polyvinyl alcohol-124 (PVA-124), a SOR of minocycline with the outer diameter of 1.54 mm and the ring belt width of 22.6 microm can be formed. When a 0.30 microL droplet of minocycline mixture was spotted on the solid surface, minocycline in the range of 4.2 x 10(-2)-1.8 x 10(-11) mol x ring(-1) (1.4 x 10(-6)-0.60 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)) can be detected, the maximum fluorescence intensity was found to be proportional to the minocycline concentration, and the limit of detection can reach 4.2 x 10(-13) mol x ring(-1) (1.4 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1)) with three times of signal to noise ratio. With the present method, the contents of minocycline in milk samples of Inner Mongolia and minocycline hydrochloride capsule sample were satisfactorily determined with recoveries of 97.2%-103% and 99.4%-102%, respectively, and RSD lower than 1.2%, correspondingly. Therefore, a highly sensitive and selective analysis method for detecting content of trace drug contaminations was established. The method provided theory basis to quantificational analysis of the residues of the antibiotics in milks which was Inner Mongolia' preponderant resource products. It has important realistic meaning and broad application prospect.

Stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8) is a specific expression gene in mammalian germ cells' transition from mitosis to meiosis. Stra8 expresses in an anterior to posterior wave from embryonic days 12.5 to 16.5 in germ cells of XX gonads in mice. Meiosis germ cells are observed 1 day after Stra8 expression, which begins in the testis after birth and triggers meiosis entry. Germ cell sex determination is directed by a difference in the timing of entry into meiosis in embryonic gonads. The position of retinoic acid production and CYP26b1 expression that metabolizes RA to an inactive form regulates Stra8 expression. Although cytoplasmic protein Stra8 is necessary for the entry of germ cells into meiotic prophase, the function of the protein remains unknown.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of proto-oncogene c-src on the viability of rat spermatogonial stem cells from 9 day-old rat in vitro. MTT method was used to observe the viability of the spermatogonial stem cells treated with antisense c-src oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) in vitro; RT-PCR was utilized to observe the expression of c-src mRNA and Western blot was used to observe the protein expressions of pp60c-src and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3). Compared with that in control group, the viability of spermatogonial stem cells decreased by 8.1% (P<0.05) and the expression of c-src mRNA decreased significantly after treatment with 10 μmol/L antisense c-src ODNs for 12 h. Compared with that in the control group, the protein expressions of pp60c-src and p-STAT3 decreased by 33.8% and 45.3% (both P<0.01), respectively, in the spermatogonial stem cells after being transfected with antisense c-src ODNs. The results suggest that proto-oncogene c-src regulates the viability of rat spermatogonial stem cells through p-STAT3.

This article reviews the specific expression of many proto-oncogenes during male germ cell development. The normal expression of proto-oncogenes plays an important role in the regulation of spermatogonial mitosis, spermatocyte meiosis as well as spermiogenesis and sperm maturation.

Apoptosis is necessary for the development and maturation of Leydig cells. However, increased apoptosis results the decline of testosterone production, which may increase germ cell apoptosis and the possibility of infertility. There are several aspects contributing to Leydig cell apoptosis such as ethane dimethanesulphonate (EDS), glucocorticoid, developmental stage and some hormones including FSH, LH/hCG and testosterone. A number of genes are involved in the regulation of Leydig cells apoptosis. It was reported that SCF/c-kit, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl inhibited the apoptosis while caspase-3, Fas, Bax and clusterine stimulated it.

In recent years, people have paid more attention to the spermatogonial stem cells that have the capacity for self renewal and multilineage differentiation and produce daughter cells that can expand and differentiate into spermatozoa under the adjustment of self genes and external signal. This article reviews recent advances in studies of enrichment and original selection of the spermatogonial stem cells. This review also summarizes some control factors in proliferation and transplantation techniques.