title: Stem Leydig cells: from fetal to aged animals.
abstract: Leydig cells are the testosterone-producing cells of the testis. The adult Leydig cell (ALC) population ultimately develops from undifferentiated mesenchymal-like stem cells present in the interstitial compartment of the neonatal testis. Distinct stages of ALC development have been identified and characterized. These include stem Leydig cells (SLCs), progenitor Leydig cells, immature Leydig cells, and ALCs. This review describes our current understanding of the SLCs in the fetal, prenatal, peripubertal, adult, and aged rat testis, as well as recent studies of the differentiation of steroidogenic cells from the stem cells of other organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Division of Reproductive Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. hchen@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Haolin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Shiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Barry R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Zirkin
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone