Artículo
Ontogeny of the androgen receptor expression in the fetal and postnatal testis: Its relevance on sertoli cell maturation and the onset of adult spermatogenesis
Fecha de publicación:
12/2009
Editorial:
Wiley-liss, div John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Revista:
Microscopy Research And Technique.
ISSN:
1059-910X
e-ISSN:
1097-0029
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
From fetal life to adulthood, the testis evolves through maturational phases showing specific morphologic and functional features in its different compartments. The seminiferous cords contain Sertoli and germ cells, surrounded by peritubular cells, and the interstitial tissue contains Leydig cells and connective tissue. Sertoli cells secrete anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), whereas Leydig cells secrete androgens. In the fetal and early postnatal testis, Leydig cells actively secrete androgens. Sertoli cells are morphologically and functionally immature - e.g., they secrete high levels of AMH - and germ cells proliferate by mitosis but do not enter meiosis. During infancy and childhood, Leydig cells regress and testosterone secretion declines dramatically. Sertoli cells remain immature and spermatogenesis is arrested at the premeiotic stage. At puberty, Leydig cells differentiate again, and testosterone concentration increases and provokes Sertoli cell maturation - e.g., down-regulation of AMH expression - and germ cells undergo meiosis, the hallmark of adult spermatogenesis driving to sperm production. An intriguing feature of testicular development is that, although testosterone production is as active in the fetal and early postnatal periods as in puberty, Sertoli cells and spermatogenesis remain immature until pubertal onset. Here, we review the ontogeny of the androgen receptor expression in the testis and its impact on Sertoli cell maturation and the onset of pubertal spermatogenesis. We show that the absence of androgen receptor expression in Sertoli cells underlies a physiological stage of androgen insensitivity within the male gonad in the fetal and early postnatal periods. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Palabras clave:
LEYDIG CELL
,
LH RECEPTOR
,
TESTICULAR MATURATION
,
TESTOSTERONE
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Colecciones
Articulos(CEDIE)
Articulos de CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENDOCRINOLOGICAS "DR. CESAR BERGADA"
Articulos de CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENDOCRINOLOGICAS "DR. CESAR BERGADA"
Citación
Rey, Rodolfo Alberto; Musse, Mariana Paula; Venara, Marcela Cristina; Chemes, Hector Edgardo; Ontogeny of the androgen receptor expression in the fetal and postnatal testis: Its relevance on sertoli cell maturation and the onset of adult spermatogenesis; Wiley-liss, div John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Microscopy Research And Technique.; 72; 11; 12-2009; 787-795
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