Molecular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways Involved in Sertoli Cell Proliferation

Molecular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways Involved in Sertoli Cell Proliferation Silvina Beatriz Meroni, María Noel Galardo, Gustavo Rindone, Agostina Gorga, María Fernanda Riera and Selva Beatriz Cigorraga* Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr César Bergadá” CONICET-FEI-División de Endocrinología Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina Sertoli cells are somatic cells present in seminiferous tubules which have essential roles in regulating spermatogenesis. Considering that each Sertoli cell is able to support a limited number of germ cells, the final number of Sertoli cells reached during the proliferative period determines sperm production capacity. Only immature Sertoli cells, which have not established the blood-testis barrier, proliferate. A number of hormonal cues regulate Sertoli cell proliferation. Among them, FSH, the insulin family of growth factors, activin, and cytokines action must be highlighted. It has been demonstrated that cAMP/PKA, ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt, and mTORC1/p70SK6 pathways are the main signal transduction pathways involved in Sertoli cell proliferation. Additionally, c-Myc and hypoxia inducible factor are transcription factors which participate in the induction by FSH of various genes of relevance in cell cycle progression. Cessation of proliferation is a pre-requisite to Sertoli cell maturation accompanied by the establishment ...
Source: Frontiers in Endocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research