title: Androgens and mammalian male reproductive tract development.
abstract: One of the main functions of androgen is in the sexually dimorphic development of the male reproductive tissues. During embryogenesis, androgen determines the morphogenesis of male specific organs, such as the epididymis, seminal vesicle, prostate and penis. Despite the critical function of androgens in masculinization, the downstream molecular mechanisms of androgen signaling are poorly understood. Tissue recombination experiments and tissue specific androgen receptor (AR) knockout mouse studies have revealed epithelial or mesenchymal specific androgen-AR signaling functions. These findings also indicate that epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are a key feature of AR specific activity, and paracrine growth factor action may mediate some of the effects of androgens. This review focuses on mouse models showing the interactions of androgen and growth factor pathways that promote the sexual differentiation of reproductive organs. Recent studies investigating context dependent AR target genes are also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear receptors in animal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama 641-8509, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murashima
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kinki University, Kinokawa 649-6493, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishigami
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, McGill University Health Centre, 1650 Cedar Av, Montreal, Québec, H3A 1A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama 641-8509, Wakayama, Japan. Electronic address: genyama77@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens
keywords: androgen receptor; epididymis; external genitalia; growth factor; knockout mouse; prostate