Spermatogonial fate in mice with increased activin A bioactivity and testicular somatic cell tumours.

ABSTRACT: Adult male fertility depends on spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) which undergo either self-renewal or differentiation in response to microenvironmental signals. Activin A acts on Sertoli and Leydig cells to regulate key aspects of testis development and function throughout life, including steroid production. Recognising that activin A levels are elevated in many pathophysiological conditions, this study investigates effects of this growth factor on the niche that determines spermatogonial fate. Although activin A can promote differentiation of isolated spermatogonia in vitro, its impacts on SSC and spermatogonial function in vivo are unknown. To assess this, we examined testes of Inha KO mice, which feature elevated activin A levels and bioactivity, and develop gonadal

SUBMITTER: Whiley PAF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10409995 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature