FSH and testosterone signaling in Sertoli cells.
Testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are required to obtain full reproductive potential. In the testis, somatic Sertoli cells transduce signals from testosterone and FSH into the production of factors that are required by germ cells as they mature into spermatozoa. Recent advances in identifying new signaling pathways that are regulated by FSH and testosterone have allowed for refinement in the understanding of the independent, overlapping and synergistic actions of these hormones. In this review, we discuss the signaling pathways that are regulated by FSH and testosterone as well as the resulting metabolic and gene expression changes that occur as related to Sertoli cell proliferation, differentiation and the support of spermatogenesis.
Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. walkerw@pitt.edu
William H
WH
Walker
Jing
J
Cheng
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D011962:Receptors, FSH; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium