Regulation of Sertoli-germ cell adhesion and sperm release by FSH and nonclassical testosterone signaling.

ABSTRACT: Testosterone and FSH act in synergy to produce the factors required to maximize the production of spermatozoa and male fertility. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these hormones support spermatogenesis are not well established. Recently, we identified a nonclassical mechanism of testosterone signaling in cultured rat Sertoli cells. We found that testosterone binding to the androgen receptor recruits and activates Src tyrosine kinase. Src then causes the activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, which results in the phosphorylation and activation of the ERK MAPK and the cAMP response element-binding protein transcription factor. In this report, we find that FSH inhibits testosterone-mediated activation of ERK and the MAPK pathway in Sertoli cells via the protein kinase A

SUBMITTER: Shupe J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3386539 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature