Roles of mTORC1 Signalling in Spermatogonial Stem Cell Maintenance and Regeneration

My thesis involved study of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), a population of cells in the testis responsible for continuous sperm production and male fertility. I investigated cellular pathways and factors critical for SSC maintenance. In particular, I assessed function of the mTORC1 signalling pathway in SSCs and demonstrated regulatory roles in SSC maintenance. Germ cells are particularly sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs and cancer patients at a high risk of infertility. I therefore characterised involvement of mTORC1 and other pathways in SSC-driven germline regeneration following chemotherapy. This study provided important mechanistic and therapeutic insight into fertility recovery following testis damage.