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Brief Report
Development of Fetal Testicular Cells in Androgen Receptor Deficient Mice
Jorge Merlet, Evelyne Moreau, René Habert and Chrystèle Racine
volume 6 | issue 18
15 September 2007Pages: 2258 - 2262
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During mammalian development, androgens produced by the fetal testis are the most important hormones controlling the masculinization of the reproductive tract and the genitalia. New findings show that the male germ line is the most sensitive to anti-androgenic endocrine disruptors during the embryonic period. In a recent study, we reported that endogenous androgens physiologically control germ cell growth in the male mouse fetus during early fetal life. In the present study, we extended this result by showing the presence of a functional androgen receptor in the gonocytes in the latter part of the fetal life. We also studied the effect of androgens on the development of the somatic testicular cells using the Tfm mice which carry a naturally inactivating mutation of the androgen receptor. Fetal Leydig cell are largely independent of endogenous androgens during fetal development whereas fetal Sertoli cell number is decreased following a default of peritubular myoid cells differenciation. They also point to the gonocyte as a special target for androgens during the embryonic period and indicate a novel mechanism of androgen action on gonocytes. Elucidation of this new pathway in the fetal testis will clarify not only fetal testis physiology but also the effects of environmental anti-androgens that act during fetal life and open new perspectives for future investigations into the sensitivity of fetal germ cell to androgens.
Authors
Jorge Merlet
INSERM U566; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
Evelyne Moreau
INSERM U566; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
René Habert
INSERM U566; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
Chrystèle Racine
INSERM U566; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
We now provide open access to journal articles published online for one year or more. This article may be downloaded at the following link:
Download PDF If the document does not open, please right-click on the link (control-click on a Macintosh) and select the option to save the file to disk.