This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnston, H. Articles by O’Shaughnessy, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Johnston, H. Articles by O’Shaughnessy, P. J. Pubmed/NCBI databases Gene GEO Profiles HomoloGene UniGene Substance via MeSH

Regulation of Sertoli Cell Number and Activity by Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Androgen during Postnatal Development in the Mouse

Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School (H.J., P.J.B., G.J., L.F., P.J.O.), Glasgow, United Kingdom G61 1QH; Department of Human Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford (M.A., H.M.C.), Oxford, United Kingdom OX1 3QX; and Departments of Pathology and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine (T.R.K.), Houston, Texas 77030

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. P. J. O’Shaughnessy, Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, United Kingdom G61 1QH. E-mail: p.j.o'shaughnessy{at}vet.gla.ac.uk.

The roles of FSH and androgen in the postnatal development of Sertoli cell number and function have been investigated using mice that lack FSH (FSHßKO), FSH-receptors (FSHRKO), or androgen receptors (Tfm). At birth and d 5, Sertoli cell number was normal in FSHRKO and FSHßKO mice, but was significantly reduced on d 20 and in adulthood. In contrast, Sertoli cell number was reduced at birth in Tfm mice and remained significantly less than normal up to adulthood. Sertoli cell activity was determined through measurement of 11 different mRNA transcript levels. From birth to adulthood, the expression of most transcripts increased, with a significant rise occurring between d 5 and 10. In animals lacking FSH stimulation, mRNA expression (measured per Sertoli cell) was largely normal on d 5, but was reduced in seven transcripts on d 20 and in five transcripts at adulthood. In Tfm mice two transcripts showed reduced expression on d 5, and four were reduced on d 20, although expression in adult Tfm mice did not differ from that in normal cryptorchid controls. The results show that 1) testosterone, but not FSH, is required for Sertoli cell proliferation during fetal and early neonatal life; 2) FSH and testosterone both regulate the late stages of Sertoli cell proliferation; 3) FSH has a general trophic effect on Sertoli cell activity in the pubertal and adult mouse; and 4) androgens are required for specific transcript expression during prepubertal development. Specific effects of androgens were not seen in the adult, although these may be masked by the effects of cryptorchidism.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. J. S. Brokken, A. Adamsson, J. Paranko, and J. Toppari Antiandrogen Exposure in Utero Disrupts Expression of Desert Hedgehog and Insulin-Like Factor 3 in the Developing Fetal Rat Testis Endocrinology, January 1, 2009; 150(1): 445 - 451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. M. Scott, G. R. Hutchison, M. S. Jobling, C. McKinnell, A. J. Drake, and R. M. Sharpe Relationship between Androgen Action in the "Male Programming Window," Fetal Sertoli Cell Number, and Adult Testis Size in the Rat Endocrinology, October 1, 2008; 149(10): 5280 - 5287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Abel, P. J. Baker, H. M. Charlton, A. Monteiro, G. Verhoeven, K. De Gendt, F. Guillou, and P. J. O'Shaughnessy Spermatogenesis and Sertoli Cell Activity in Mice Lacking Sertoli Cell Receptors for Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Androgen Endocrinology, July 1, 2008; 149(7): 3279 - 3285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P J O'Shaughnessy, L Hu, and P J Baker Effect of germ cell depletion on levels of specific mRNA transcripts in mouse Sertoli cells and Leydig cells Reproduction, June 1, 2008; 135(6): 839 - 850. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. R Hutchison, H. M Scott, M. Walker, C. McKinnell, D. Ferrara, I. K. Mahood, and R. M Sharpe Sertoli Cell Development and Function in an Animal Model of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome Biol Reprod, February 1, 2008; 78(2): 352 - 360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. O'Shaughnessy, P. J. Baker, A. Monteiro, S. Cassie, S. Bhattacharya, and P. A. Fowler Developmental Changes in Human Fetal Testicular Cell Numbers and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels during the Second Trimester J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2007; 92(12): 4792 - 4801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. O'Shaughnessy, M. Abel, H. M. Charlton, B. Hu, H. Johnston, and P. J. Baker Altered Expression of Genes Involved in Regulation of Vitamin A Metabolism, Solute Transportation, and Cytoskeletal Function in the Androgen-Insensitive Tfm Mouse Testis Endocrinology, June 1, 2007; 148(6): 2914 - 2924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. M. Scott, G. R. Hutchison, I. K. Mahood, N. Hallmark, M. Welsh, K. De Gendt, G. Verhoeven, P. O'Shaughnessy, and R. M. Sharpe Role of Androgens in Fetal Testis Development and Dysgenesis Endocrinology, May 1, 2007; 148(5): 2027 - 2036. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Merlet, C. Racine, E. Moreau, S. G. Moreno, and R. Habert Male fetal germ cells are targets for androgens that physiologically inhibit their proliferation PNAS, February 27, 2007; 104(9): 3615 - 3620. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Domanskyi, F.-P. Zhang, M. Nurmio, J. J. Palvimo, J. Toppari, and O. A. Janne Expression and localization of androgen receptor-interacting protein-4 in the testis Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2007; 292(2): E513 - E522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.-S. Wang, S. Yeh, L.-M. Chen, H.-Y. Lin, C. Zhang, J. Ni, C.-C. Wu, P. A. di Sant'Agnese, K. L. deMesy-Bentley, C.-R. Tzeng, et al. Androgen Receptor in Sertoli Cell Is Essential for Germ Cell Nursery and Junctional Complex Formation in Mouse Testes Endocrinology, December 1, 2006; 147(12): 5624 - 5633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Baines, M. O Nwagwu, E. C Furneaux, J. Stewart, J. B Kerr, T. M Mayhew, and F. J P Ebling Estrogenic induction of spermatogenesis in the hypogonadal (hpg) mouse: role of androgens Reproduction, November 1, 2005; 130(5): 643 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. H Walker and J. Cheng FSH and testosterone signaling in Sertoli cells Reproduction, July 1, 2005; 130(1): 15 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. Guigon, N. Coudouel, S. Mazaud-Guittot, M. G. Forest, and S. Magre Follicular Cells Acquire Sertoli Cell Characteristics after Oocyte Loss Endocrinology, July 1, 2005; 146(7): 2992 - 3004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. L. Tan, K. De Gendt, N. Atanassova, M. Walker, R. M. Sharpe, P. T. K. Saunders, E. Denolet, and G. Verhoeven The Role of Androgens in Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Functional Maturation: Studies in Mice with Total or Sertoli Cell-Selective Ablation of the Androgen Receptor Endocrinology, June 1, 2005; 146(6): 2674 - 2683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. Holsberger, G. M. Buchold, M. C. Leal, S. E. Kiesewetter, D. A. O'Brien, R. A. Hess, L. R. Franca, H. Kiyokawa, and P. S. Cooke Cell-Cycle Inhibitors p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 Regulate Murine Sertoli Cell Proliferation Biol Reprod, June 1, 2005; 72(6): 1429 - 1436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q. Zhou, J. E. Shima, R. Nie, P. J. Friel, and M. D. Griswold Androgen-Regulated Transcripts in the Neonatal Mouse Testis as Determined Through Microarray Analysis Biol Reprod, April 1, 2005; 72(4): 1010 - 1019. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. N Atanassova, M. Walker, C. McKinnell, J. S Fisher, and R. M Sharpe Evidence that androgens and oestrogens, as well as follicle-stimulating hormone, can alter Sertoli cell number in the neonatal rat J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2005; 184(1): 107 - 117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. McRae, H. M. Johnston, M. Mihm, and P. J. O'Shaughnessy Changes in Mouse Granulosa Cell Gene Expression during Early Luteinization Endocrinology, January 1, 2005; 146(1): 309 - 317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. De Gendt, J. V. Swinnen, P. T. K. Saunders, L. Schoonjans, M. Dewerchin, A. Devos, K. Tan, N. Atanassova, F. Claessens, C. Lecureuil, et al. A Sertoli cell-selective knockout of the androgen receptor causes spermatogenic arrest in meiosis PNAS, February 3, 2004; 101(5): 1327 - 1332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]