The telomerase activity of adult mouse testis resides in the spermatogonial alpha6-integrin-positive side population enriched in germinal stem cells.

ABSTRACT

Testis is one of the organs with the most telomerase activity in the adult. This activity protects chromosomes from telomere attrition and ensures the transmission of full-length chromosomes to progeny. Little is known about telomerase activity during adult germ cell differentiation, however. We demonstrate here that the telomerase activity of adult mouse testis resides in the alpha6-integrin-positive Side Population containing spermatogonia and enriched in spermatogonial stem cells. The telomerase activity of these cells fell upon entry into meiosis and during the subsequent spermiogenesis. In addition, the telomerase activity of cells in various stages of differentiation was unaffected by aging and, notably, remained high in the alpha6-integrin-positive Side Population.