Busulfan administration replicated the characteristics of the epididymal initial segment observed in mice lacking testis-epididymis lumicrine signaling.

ABSTRACT: The physiological functions of the mammalian epididymis are typically regulated by the testes. In addition to sex steroids secreted by testicular Leydig cells, which act on the epididymis in an endocrine manner, there is a non-sex-steroidal signaling pathway known as the lumicrine pathway. This lumicrine signaling pathway involves ligand proteins secreted from germ cells within the testicular seminiferous tubules traversing the male reproductive tract, which induce epithelial differentiation in the epididymis. These findings prompted an inquiry into whether treatments influencing testis physiology can disrupt epididymal function by interfering with testis-epididymis communication. Busulfan, an alkylating agent commonly used to deplete testicular germ cells in reproductive biology, has not

SUBMITTER: Kiyozumi D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11017096 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature