Vitamin A and follicle-stimulating hormone synergistically induce differentiation of type A spermatogonia in adult mouse cryptorchid testes in vitro.
To study the mechanism of vitamin A and FSH action on testicular germ cell differentiation, artificially induced cryptorchid testes of adult mice were cultured in vitro, because such testes contain only type A spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in their seminiferous tubules. A synergistic effect of vitamin A compounds with FSH, but not with LH, on testicular germ cell differentiation was observed. Our data suggested that FSH stimulated the proliferation of type A spermatogonia, whereas retinoids induce spermatogenesis from type A spermatogonia into intermediate or type B spermatogonia. Possible mechanisms of action of retinoids and FSH on testicular germ cell differentiation are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014801:Vitamin A; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone