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Spermatogonial Stem Cells

Meaning

Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) are the foundational, self-renowing population of germ cells located within the seminiferous tubules of the testes, responsible for initiating and sustaining the lifelong process of spermatogenesis, or sperm production. These adult stem cells are unique in their ability to both self-replicate to maintain their pool and differentiate into mature sperm, ensuring male fertility from puberty onward. The delicate balance of SSC self-renewal and differentiation is highly sensitive to local and systemic hormonal signals, particularly testosterone and FSH.