Decoding the heterogeneity of human undifferentiated spermatogonia reveals RAS-dependent regulation of stem cell fate

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for long-term spermatogenesis and hold therapeutic potential for treating male infertility. While rodent SSCs are well characterized, human SSCs remain poorly understood. Here, we screen antibodies against proteins encoded by genes enriched in specific subsets of human undifferentiated spermatogonia (uSPG) identified by single-cell RNA sequencing. We characterize four markers labeling distinct uSPG subsets: PIWIL4 marks primitive, quiescent uSPG; EGR4 marks uSPG at a proliferative crossroads; and PPP1R36 and NANOS3 label distinct proliferative subsets poised for differentiation. The most and least advanced subsets-PIWIL4+ and NANOS3+ cells-do not overlap. Comparative transcriptomics uncover candidate pathways involved in uSPG fate transitions, including RAS signaling. Using FSD1, a pan-uSPG cell-surface marker identified here, we purify the entire uSPG population and demonstrate that RAS signaling maintains the primitive uSPG state. These findings provide a framework for human uSPG identity, with broad implications for reproductive biology and regenerative medicine.