Transcriptome and epigenome characterization of mouse spermatogonial cells reveals distinct chromatin regulatory landscapes in postnatal and adult testis

In mammals, spermatogonial cells exit quiescence immediately after birth and initiate a life-long equilibrium between proliferation and differentiation for the production of spermatogenic cells and functional sperm. Although it is generally accepted that the transcriptome of spermatogonial cells is different in postnatal life and adulthood, it is not known if the genome landscape at the chromatin level is also different across age. We characterized the transcriptome and chromatin landscape of spermatogonial cells by RNA-seq and ATAC-seq using enriched populations at different postnatal stages and in adulthood, and established a comprehensive multiparametric profiling building on published epigenetic datasets. Our results validate previously described changes in gene expression between postnatal and adult stages, and reveal novel transcriptomic transitions. We show that extensive chromatin remodeling takes place in adult spermatogonial cells that is accompanied by distinct transcription factor dynamics and histone modifications. The data identify chromatin and transcription factor dynamics at common repeat elements in postnatal and adult spermatogonia. Overall, our results provide new knowledge about the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape of spermatogonial cells across postnatal stages until adulthood, and provide a valuable resource for germ cell studies.