Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a proinflammatory cytokine originally isolated as a product of activated mononuclear phagocytes, consists of two distinct agonist proteins, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta, of which IL-1beta is the major inducible IL-1 protein produced by macrophages. We show here that mRNA of IL-1alpha, but not IL-1beta, is constitutively expressed by the intact rat testis and localize the transcr...

background: the complex process of spermatogenesis is regulated by various factors. studies on spermatogonial stem cells have provided a very important tool to improve herd genetic and different field. 0.2 to 0.3 percent of total cells of seminiferous tubules consist of spermatogonial stem cells. to investigate and biomanipulate these cells, first the proliferation and viability rate of cells s...

background: the basis of spermatogenesis is the spermatogonial stem cells (sscs). the concentration of sscs is very small. however, a system that supports the proliferation and maintenance of sscs in vitro could be used to preserve and expand sscs numbers as well as increase success in transplantation. it is a new avenue to restore spermatogenesis in azoospermia subjects. objective: proliferati...

Breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp) is an ATP-dependent efflux drug transporter. It has a diverse spectrum of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates ranging from anticancer, antiviral and antihypertensive drugs, to organic anions, antibiotics, phytoestrogens (e.g., genistein, daidzein, coumestrol), xenoestrogens and steroids (e.g., dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate). Bcrp is an integral membra...

Sertoli and Leydig cells, the two major somatic cell types in the testis, have different morphologies and functions. Both are essential for gonad development and spermatogenesis. However, whether these cells are derived from the same progenitor cells and the mechanism regulating the differentiation between these two cell types during gonad development remains unclear. A previous study showed th...

Thyroid hormone regulates early postnatal Sertoli cell proliferation. Transient neonatal hypothyroidism allows prolonged postnatal Sertoli cell mitogenesis and doubles adult Sertoli cell numbers, testis weight, and sperm production. The mechanism of this effect is unknown. Cell proliferation is stimulated by cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases and inhibited by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor...

A Sertoli-spermatid coculture model is described in which a large percentage (greater than 76%) of round spermatids remain viable for 48 h and bind to Sertoli cells. The effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone on spermatid binding (expressed as the spermatid density; SD = the number of spermatids per unit area of Sertoli cell cytoplasm), ultrastructure of the Sertoli-sper...

Microtubules in the cytoplasm of rat Sertoli cell stage VI-VIII testicular seminiferous epithelium were studied morphometrically by electron microscopy. The Sertoli cell microtubules demonstrated axonal features, being largely parallel in orientation and predominantly spaced one to two microtubule diameters apart, suggesting the presence of microtubule-bound spacer molecules. Testis microtubule...

Cultured rat Sertoli cells have been shown to contain the components of an androgen-responsive system. A macromolecule distinguishable from androgen binding protein and exhibiting a Kd of 6.3 nM for 3H-testosterone has been found in Sertoli cell cytosol. Effectiveness of unlabeled steroids in competing for 3H-testosterone binding sites was found to be testosterone = dihydrotestosterone > R1881 ...