ABSTRACT
Seasonal spermatogenesis in fish is driven by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which undergo a complex cellular process to differentiate into mature sperm. In this study, we characterized spermatogenesis in the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), a marine fish of significant commercial value, based on a high-resolution single-cell RNA-sequencing atlas of testicular cells from three distinct developmental stages: juvenile, adult differentiating and regressed testes. We detailed a continuous developmental trajectory of spermatogenic cells, from spermatogonia to spermatids, elucidating the molecular events involved in spermatogenesis. We uncovered dynamic heterogeneity in cellular compositions throughout the annual reproductive cycle, accompanied by strong molecular signatures within specific testicular cells. Notably, we identified a distinct population of SSCs and observed a critical metabolic transition from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, enhancing our understanding of the biochemical and molecular characteristics of SSCs. Additionally, we elucidated the interactions between somatic cells and spermatogonia, illuminating the mechanisms that regulate SSC development. Overall, this work enhances our understanding of spermatogenesis in seasonal breeding teleosts and provides essential insights for the further conservation and culture of SSCs.
Footnotes
Author contributions
Conceptualization: Y.Y., D.X.; Methodology: Y.Y., Y.Z.; Formal analysis: Y.Y.; Investigation: Y.Y.; Resources: W.H.; Writing - original draft: Y.Y.; Writing - review & editing: G.W., D.X.; Visualization: Y.Y.; Supervision: D.X.; Funding acquisition: D.X.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [32202925, 31972785]; and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province [LQ23C19001, LR21C190001].
Data availability
The scRNA-seq data generated in this study have been deposited in Gene Expression Omnibus under accession number GSE269124.
