Constitutively active follicle-stimulating hormone receptor enables androgen-independent spermatogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Spermatogenesis is regulated by the 2 pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This process is considered impossible without the absolute requirement of LH-stimulated testicular testosterone (T) production. The role of FSH remains unclear because men and mice with inactivating FSH receptor (FSHR) mutations are fertile. We revisited the role of FSH in spermatogenesis using transgenic mice expressing a constitutively strongly active FSHR mutant in a LH receptor-null (LHR-null) background. The mutant FSHR reversed the azoospermia and partially restored fertility of Lhr-/- mice. The finding was initially ascribed to the residual Leydig cell T production. However, when T action was completely blocked with the potent antiandrogen flutamide, sperma

SUBMITTER: Oduwole OO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5919831 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature