|
|
||||||||
The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on testicular germ cell differentiation was investigated. Testicular fragments from surgically prepared cryptorchid testes of adult mice were cultured for 9 days in serum-free media containing various concentrations of EGF. Histological sections of testis were examined under a light microscope and each type of germ cell and mitotic cell in the seminiferous tubules was counted per 1000 Sertoli cells. EGF at concentrations ranging from 100 to 200 ng/ml induced differentiation of type A spermatogonia. The observed maximal stimulatory activity of EGF at a concentration of 100 ng/ml was 30% of the positive control cultures treated with calf serum. EGF at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ng/ml significantly inhibited the mitotic activity of FSH, FSH plus retinol, or FSH plus fetuin on type A spermatogonia and their differentiation. The number of type A spermatogonia in testes cultured with FSH, FSH plus retinol, or FSH plus fetuin decreased when EGF was added. On the other hand, EGF stimulated the differentiation of type A spermatogonia induced with fetuin but did not influence retinol-induced differentiation. It is proposed that EGF inhibits testicular germ cell differentiation by blocking the proliferation of type A spermatogonia stimulated by FSH.
Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 383–388
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
N. Sofikitis, E. Pappas, A. Kawatani, D. Baltogiannis, D. Loutradis, N. Kanakas, D. Giannakis, F. Dimitriadis, K. Tsoukanelis, I. Georgiou, et al. Efforts to create an artificial testis: culture systems of male germ cells under biochemical conditions resembling the seminiferous tubular biochemical environment Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2005; 11(3): 229 - 259. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. P. De Miguel and P. J. Donovan Determinants of Retroviral-Mediated Gene Delivery to Mouse Spermatogonia Biol Reprod, March 1, 2003; 68(3): 860 - 866. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Gnessi, A. Fabbri, and G. Spera Gonadal Peptides as Mediators of Development and Functional Control of the Testis: An Integrated System with Hormones and Local Environment Endocr. Rev., August 1, 1997; 18(4): 541 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. W.-C. Wong, R. W.-P. Kwan, P. H.-S. Mak, K. K.-L. Mak, M.-H. Sham, and S.-Y. Chan Overexpression of Epidermal Growth Factor Induced Hypospermatogenesis in Transgenic Mice J. Biol. Chem., June 9, 2000; 275(24): 18297 - 18301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |