All in the family: TGF-beta family action in testis development.
To achieve and maintain fertility, the adult mammalian testis produces many generations of sperm. While testicular integrity is established in the fetus and develops further in juvenile life, sperm production does not ensue until much later in life, following the onset of puberty. Signals from the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of proteins are vital for governance of testis development and spermatogenesis, and this review discusses our current understanding of the mechanisms and processes in which they have been implicated with a focus on the fetal and juvenile testis.
Itman
Catherine
C
Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
Mendis
Sirisha
S
Barakat
Badia
B
Loveland
Kate Lakoski
KL
D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins