title: Sex steroids and spermatogenesis in the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).
abstract: Little is known about the physiological regulations of spermatogenesis of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), a species used as an experimental model for two decades. After a brief introduction to the cystic type of spermatogenesis in fish, the role of androgens and estrogens will be discussed, leading to a conclusion that androgens are required for spermatogenesis while their mode of action is poorly understood. In the cystic mode of spermatogenesis in fish, the Sertoli cells are formed cystic, in the somniferous lobules enclosing a single germ cell clone, providing suitable experimental models to address questions of relevance for vertebrate spermatogenesis in general.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Beira Interior, Faculty of Health Sciences, CICS, Rua Marques d'Avila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilha, Portugal. jcavaco@ciunix.ubi.pt
authors.forename: J E B
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cavaco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002397:Catfishes / Q000502:physiology*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013256:Steroids