title: Receptors and signaling pathways involved in proliferation and differentiation of Sertoli cells.
abstract: The identification of the hormones and other factors regulating Sertoli cell survival, proliferation, and maturation in neonatal, peripubertal, and pubertal life remains one of the most critical questions in testicular biology. The regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation and differentiation is thought to be controlled by cell-cell junctions and a set of circulating and local hormones and growth factors. In this review, we will focus on receptors and intracellular signaling pathways activated by androgen, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormone, activin, retinoids, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, relaxin, and estrogen, with special emphasis on estrogen receptors. Estrogen receptors activate intracellular signaling pathways that converge on cell cycle and transcription factors and play a role in the regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology; Department of Pharmacology; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Universidade Federal de São Paulo; INFAR; Vila Clementino; São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Fg
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology; Department of Pharmacology; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Universidade Federal de São Paulo; INFAR; Vila Clementino; São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology; Department of Pharmacology; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Universidade Federal de São Paulo; INFAR; Vila Clementino; São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Raisa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pisolato
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology; Department of Pharmacology; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Universidade Federal de São Paulo; INFAR; Vila Clementino; São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Maristela T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology; Department of Pharmacology; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Universidade Federal de São Paulo; INFAR; Vila Clementino; São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Fatima M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lazari
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology; Department of Pharmacology; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Universidade Federal de São Paulo; INFAR; Vila Clementino; São Paulo, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Catarina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Porto
keywords: androgen receptor; estrogen receptor; follicle-stimulating hormone receptor; relaxin receptor; thyroid hormone receptor