[Leydig cell apoptosis and its regulation].
Apoptosis is necessary for the development and maturation of Leydig cells. However, increased apoptosis results the decline of testosterone production, which may increase germ cell apoptosis and the possibility of infertility. There are several aspects contributing to Leydig cell apoptosis such as ethane dimethanesulphonate (EDS), glucocorticoid, developmental stage and some hormones including FSH, LH/hCG and testosterone. A number of genes are involved in the regulation of Leydig cells apoptosis. It was reported that SCF/c-kit, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl inhibited the apoptosis while caspase-3, Fas, Bax and clusterine stimulated it.
Yuan
Shuang-Hu
SH
Department of Physiology, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China. yuanshuanghu@sina.com
Xu
Si-Fan
SF
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000502:physiology; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases