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Abstract
The germline represents the future of all metazoan species. In the male, reproductive success has largely been attributed to the ability to produce vast quantities of gametes specially adapted for motility. In order to achieve such a feat, a stem cell must both maintain a constant supply of differentiating daughters and consistently self-renew. This thesis applies modern techniques, utilizing two model organisms, to further our understanding and ability to study the cells responsible for germline renewal. The first manuscript presented addresses the complex architecture of the mouse testis through the use tissue clearing and light-sheet microscopy. An assessment of this approach is accomplished through the staining of a well characterized population. Measurement of tissue arrangement is achieved through computer recognition of signal and background features. The paper concludes with validation of putative labels of stem cell populations. A second manuscript uses the fruit fly to investigate the effects of persistent mating on germline stem cells. A mating induced increase in the mitotic activity of these cells is shown to be dependent on G-protein signaling. The presented research provides new avenues of study in the germline; increasing the tools available in mammalian tissues and uncovering signal pathways regulating division in Drosophila.