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Key factors in the regulation of fetal and postnatal leydig cell development
Author(s) -
Wu Xiufeng,
Wan Shengqin,
Lee Mary M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.21231
Subject(s) - leydig cell , fetus , biology , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , medicine , spermatogenesis , sexual differentiation , hormone , function (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , luteinizing hormone , gene , pregnancy , genetics
The primary function of testicular Leydig cells is the production of androgens to promote sexual differentiation in the fetus, secondary sexual maturation at puberty, and spermatogenesis in the adult. The fetal and postnatal (adult) populations of Leydig cells differ morphologically and have distinct profiles of gene expression. As postnatal Leydig cells differentiate, they transition through three discrete maturational stages characterized by decreasing proliferative rate and increasing testosterone biosynthetic capacity. In this review, we discuss the development of both fetal and postnatal Leydig cells and review the regulation of this process by some of the key hormones and growth factors. J. Cell. Physiol. 213: 429–433, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.