Receptors and Signaling Pathways Involved in Proliferation and Differentiation of Sertoli Cells

Overview

Journal Spermatogenesis

Date 2014 Sep 17

PMID 25225624

Citations 18

Authors

Thais Fg Lucas

Aline R Nascimento

Raisa Pisolato

Maristela T Pimenta

Maria Fatima M Lazari

Catarina S Porto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The identification of the hormones and other factors regulating Sertoli cell survival, proliferation, and maturation in neonatal, peripubertal, and pubertal life remains one of the most critical questions in testicular biology. The regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation and differentiation is thought to be controlled by cell-cell junctions and a set of circulating and local hormones and growth factors. In this review, we will focus on receptors and intracellular signaling pathways activated by androgen, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormone, activin, retinoids, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, relaxin, and estrogen, with special emphasis on estrogen receptors. Estrogen receptors activate intracellular signaling pathways that converge on cell cycle and transcription factors and play a role in the regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation and differentiation.

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