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Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit (K.A.L.T., M.W., R.M.S., P.T.K.S.), Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, Scotland, United Kingdom; Department of Developmental Biology (K.D.G., E.D., G.V.), Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Catholic University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; and Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology (N.A.), Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Professor G. Verhoeven; Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Onderwijs en Navorsing, Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49 bus 902, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail: guido.verhoeven{at}med.kuleuven.ac.be.
The role of androgens in the proliferation and maturation of Sertoli cells (SC) and the development of their capacity to support spermatogenesis remains poorly understood. We evaluated these functions in complete androgen receptor knockout (ARKO) and SC-selective androgen receptor knockout (SCARKO) mice. Compared with controls, ARKO mice exhibited a progressive reduction in SC number/testis, whereas SCARKOs showed minor changes, suggesting that androgen effects on SC number are not mediated via direct action on SCs. Immunoexpression of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), p27kip1, GATA-1, and sulfated glycoprotein-2, which changes according to SC maturational status, occurred normally in ARKOs and SCARKOs. Functional capacity of SCs to support spermatogonia was similar in SCARKOs and controls, whereas ARKOs showed reduced capacity with age. SC capacity to support total germ cells revealed major deficits in ARKO and SCARKO adults, particularly with respect to postmeiotic germ cells. Using quantitative RT-PCR, the expression of SC markers was compared in d 50 testes. In ARKOs, expression of Pem, fatty acid binding protein, platelet-derived growth factor-A, and transferrin were all significantly reduced, whereas FSH receptor and AMH were increased. In SCARKOs, there were modest reductions in expression of cystatin-related gene highly expressed in testis and epididymis (cystatin-TE) and claudin-11, whereas expression of Pem, fatty acid binding protein, and platelet-derived growth factor-A was markedly reduced, highlighting these as potentially androgen-regulated SC genes that merit further study. In conclusion, androgen action is not required for maturation-dependent changes in immunoexpression of the SC markers AMH, p27kip1, GATA-1, and sulfated glycoprotein-2 but is essential for expression of other SC genes, the attainment of normal SC number, and the support of meiotic and postmeiotic germ cell development.
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