Age-related changes to Drosophila m. male germline stem cells

Abstract

A decline in the regenerative potential of adult tissues is one of the most apparent hallmarks of aging. As tissue regeneration is facilitated by resident stem cells, this age-related decline has been attributed to altered stem cell behavior. The male germline of Drosophila melanogaster has provided a valuable model system for studying the effects of aging on stem cells, due to the presence of both somatic and germline stem cells that reside within the same environment. Stem cells can be easily identified and manipulated genetically to allow for precise tracking of age-related changes in vivo. In this chapter we discuss the age-related decline in spermatogenesis in Drosophila. Specifically, we outline intrinsic changes both to stem cells and to the local microenvironment, known as the stem cell niche. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying these age-related changes has provided new paradigms that have been used to guide work in more complex mammalian stem cell systems.