Homeostasis of tissues relies on the regulated differentiation of stem cells. In the epithelium of mouse seminiferous tubules, the differentiation process from undifferentiated spermatogonia (A(undiff)), which harbor the stem cell functions, to sperm occurs in a periodical manner, known as the "seminiferous epithelial cycle". To identify the mechanism underlying this periodic differentiation, w...

Male spermatogenesis is a complex biological process that is regulated by hormonal signals from the hypothalamus (GnRH), the pituitary gonadotropins (LH and FSH) and the testis (androgens, inhibin). The two key somatic cell types of the testis, Leydig and Sertoli cells, respond to gonadotropins and androgens and regulate the development and maturation of fertilization competent spermatozoa. Alt...

The accumulation of two polypeptides, SCm1 and SCm2, in the medium of Sertoli cell cultures is enhanced by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) but is unaffected by either the cAMP analog, N6,O2'-dibutyrl cAMP or luteinizing hormone. The assigned molecular weights of SCm1 and SCm2 differ from those of androgen-binding protein subunits or any other previously identified Sertoli cell secretory prod...

In the testis the mesenchymally derived peritubular cells produce a paracrine factor, PModS, that mediates mesenchymal-epithelial interactions and modulates Sertoli cell functions essential for the process of spermatogenesis. PModS has a more dramatic effect on Sertoli cell differentiated functions in vitro than any regulatory agent previously shown to influence the cells, including FSH. The cu...

Recently, we created a unique gain-of-function mouse model with Sertoli cell-specific transgenic androgen receptor expression (TgSCAR) showing that SCAR activity controls the synchronized postnatal development of somatic Sertoli and Leydig cells and meiotic-postmeiotic germ cells. Moderate TgSCAR (TgSCAR(m)) expression reduced testis size but had no effect on male fertility. Here, we reveal tha...

Though roles of β-catenin signaling during testis development have been well established, relatively little is known about its role in postnatal testicular physiology. Even less is known about its role in post-meiotic germ cell development and differentiation. Here, we report that β-catenin is highly expressed in post-meiotic germ cells and plays an important role during spermiogenesis in mice....

The mammalian blood-testis barrier (BTB) restructures throughout spermatogenesis, thereby allowing developing germ cells to enter the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium. Previous studies have shown pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1α to be important regulators of Sertoli cell barrier/BTB function in vitro and in vivo. In this st...

The testicular vasculature forms a complex network, providing oxygenation, micronutrients, and waste clearance from the testis. The vasculature is also instrumental to testis function because it is both the route by which gonadotropins are delivered to the testis and by which T is transported away to target organs. Whether Sertoli cells play a role in regulating the testicular vasculature in po...

sertoli cells are an essential group of cells in seminiferous epithelium which provide nutritional and structural supports for spermatogenic cells via cell junctions. in this study, the gene expression of connexin-43, the most abundantly distributed gap junction protein of cells, was investigated in ram sertoli cells under mild and severe heat stresses with real-time quantitative pcr. sertoli c...