A single-cell atlas of the testicular interstitium defines Leydig progenitor networks sustaining Leydig cell homeostasis across the lifespan.

ABSTRACT: Declining rates of male fertility pose a significant clinical challenge, while the mechanisms underlying testicular interstitial function remain incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of the murine testicular interstitium across the postnatal lifespan. The investigation unveiled a previously unrecognized population of Cd34⁺/Sox4⁺ mesenchymal cells nestled within the interstitium, hinting at their potential as Leydig cell (LC) progenitors. With the aging process of Cd34⁺/Sox4⁺ mesenchymal cells, we observed a decline in glutathione levels within the testicular interstitium. Remarkably, these Cd34⁺/Sox4⁺ mesenchymal cells exhibited clonogenic self-renewa

SUBMITTER: Huang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12826670 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature