The evaluation of the number and distribution of spermatogonial stem cells in rat testes from neonatal to adulthood period

In the development of the male genital system, the developmental process of spermatogonia is called spermatogenesis. The formation of spermatogonias from spermatogenic stem cells begins in intrauterine life. In adults, new spermatozoa need to be formed from the spermatogonia in the testes in order to start and maintain the spermatogenesis in the adolescence period. The purpose of our work; Spermatogonial stem cells from the immediate postnatal period to the adult period. In our study, 30 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 5 groups. The testes of the rats were removed at the 24th hour, 10th day, 20th day, 30th day and 60th days after birth. After histological processing, rhe slides were stained with both histopathologically, hematoxylin eosin and immunohistochemically stained with c-kit and Vasa primer antibodies and examined under light microscope. Spermatogonial stem cells were counted by image analysis program and the changes of spermatogonial stem cells in developmental stage were determined. According to the results obtained, a more horizontal but increasing expression was observed in c-kit expression. Although c-kit and Vasa (+) expressions started to become increased in postnatal period, Vasa expression showed a rapid increase depending on the time. The results revealed that these 2 proteins could be used as markers in spermatogenesis process evaluation. Keywords: • Spermatogonial Stem Cell • Testes • Immunohistochemistry • Spermatogenesis, • C-Kit • Vasa.