Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM: To investigate the efficacy of transfection of spermatogonial stem cells with pDsRed2-N1 reporter by liposomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Red-fluorescent protein (DsRed2) genes were mediated by DOSPER liposomes to spermatogonial stem cells of donor mice in vitro and in vivo. The DsRed2 gene-transfected cells, after isolation and purification, were transplanted into the seminiferous tubules of anesthetized recipient mice depleted of germ cells by busulfan treatment. RESULTS： The expression rate of DsRed2 gene was 20％ of in vitro transfected cells and higher than 8％ of in vivo transfected cells (P<0.01). Spermatogonial stem cells with DsRed2 expression were detected on frozen section of testis from the recipient mouse 6 wafter transplantation. CONCLUSION: This may provide a simple and effective approach to study spermatogenesis mechanism and to produce transgenic animals using combination of DOSPER-mediated gene transfer in vitro with spermatogonial cell transplantation.

Key words: Spermatogonial stem cells, DOSPER, Red-fluorescent protein, gene transfer