title: Ontogenesis of testicular function in humans.
abstract: The two major functions of the testis, steroidogenesis and gametogenesis, take place during fetal life. These two functions have been extensively studied in rodents and adult humans. However, their onset during fetal life is poorly documented in humans. In the first part of this work we presented both our experimental data and some data of literature concerning the development of the human fetal testis. In the second part of this article, using the organ culture system we previously developed, we have investigated the regulations or perturbations of fetal testis development both in rodent and human models. Our findings provide important insight into the potential role of exposure to environmental pollutants (physical factors, in particular ionizing radiation, cadmium and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates) during fetal testicular development and their potential deleterious effects on male fertility in adulthood. Our results highlight the specificity of the human model compared with rodent models.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Differentiation and Radiobiology of the Gonads, CEA - DSV / iRCM / SCSR, F-92265 Fontenay aux Roses, France Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7, F-92265, Fontenay aux Roses, France INSERM, Unité 967, F-92265, Fontenay aux Roses, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rouiller-Fabre
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muczynski
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambrot
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lécureuil
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coffigny
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pairault
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moison
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angenard
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakalska
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Courtot
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frydman
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Habert
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D006801:Humans; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors