title: The cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (Aldh1) is developmentally expressed in Leydig cells.
abstract: Cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH1, participates in the oxidation of different aldehydes including that of all-trans retinal to retinoic acid. The accumulation of mouse Aldh1 transcripts is characterized by having different patterns in different tissues. This paper reports the greatest expression of Aldh1 in testis and liver. It was demonstrated that in testis, Aldh1 is specifically expressed in Leydig cells and is under developmental regulation. In vitro studies of cultured Leydig TM3 cells confirmed these results though such gene expression was found not to be mediated by LH regulation. Previous investigations have associated androgen receptors, and hence the androgen insensitivity syndrome in man, with the presence of ALDH1 in genital skin fibroblasts. However, this relationship was not established in a functional cell type, as is reported here for Leydig cells. These results could suggest a model for a molecular pathway from androgen receptor to retinoic acid biogenesis in Leydig cells via the mediation of ALDH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (C.S.I.C.), Velázquez, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: López-Fernández
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: del Mazo
mesh_terms: D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D000818:Animals; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; D014212:Tretinoin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; C515028:ALDH1A1 protein, mouse; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase; D012172:Retinaldehyde