Figure 1.

AFS cells as a model to study gene functions for spermatogenesis and to screen for male reproductive toxicity. Monoclonal AFS cell lines can be established from human and mouse amniotic fluid. These clonal stem cell lines can be tested for their potential to form primordial germ cells and male gametes. The effects of gene modulations and of a variety of different toxicants on spermatogenesis can be tested. For details, see the text. AFS, amniotic fluid stem; FACS, flow-activated cell sorting; GFP, green fluorescent protein; MACS, magnetic cell sorting; VASA, vasa.