The Human Leydig Cell

O’Shaughnessy, Peter J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53298-1_2

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 189 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…LCs, on the other hand, are in charge of the synthesis and secretion of androgens, necessary for the masculinization of male fetuses, together with the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis [4,5]. In addition, LCs produce proteins with endogenous and xenotoxic metabolic functions, which also reduce oxidative stress, which thus protects the testicle from toxins [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fate of Leydig Cells in Men with Spermatogenic Failure

Adamczewska

Słowikowska-Hilczer

Walczak-Jędrzejowska

2022

Life

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The steroidogenic cells in the testicle, Leydig cells, located in the interstitial compartment, play a vital role in male reproductive tract development, maintenance of proper spermatogenesis, and overall male reproductive function. Therefore, their dysfunction can lead to all sorts of testicular pathologies. Spermatogenesis failure, manifested as azoospermia, is often associated with defective Leydig cell activity. Spermatogenic failure is the most severe form of male infertility, caused by disorders of the testicular parenchyma or testicular hormone imbalance. This review covers current progress in knowledge on Leydig cells origin, structure, and function, and focuses on recent advances in understanding how Leydig cells contribute to the impairment of spermatogenesis.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fate of Leydig Cells in Men with Spermatogenic Failure

Adamczewska

Słowikowska-Hilczer

Walczak-Jędrzejowska

2022

Life

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The normal prepubertal human testicular interstitium is devoid of mature adult Leydig cells and is composed of immature Leydig cells and numerous fibroblast-like cells (adult Leydig cell precursors), with the latter accounting for the majority of the interstitial cells (91%) in the prepubertal human testis [ 10 , 40 ]. In our study, we hypothesise that CYP11A1-positive cells detected in the prepubertal testis xenografts are immature Leydig cells that have become steroidogenically active when exposed to exogenous gonadotrophins, rather than fibroblast-like cells that have differentiated into an “adult” Leydig cell population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It could, therefore, be speculated that in our study, the fibroblast-like precursors did not differentiate to fully mature testosterone-producing Leydig cells and that the immature Leydig cells were capable of producing low levels of testosterone. Interestingly, it has been shown in rodents that LH is unlikely to be the initial stimulus for the development of adult Leydig cell precursors, but once the differentiation has started adult Leydig cells require LH-stimulation [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. This concept is further supported by the expression of a truncated, nonfunctional form of LHCGR in adult Leydig cell precursors [ 13 , 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertility Preservation in Childhood Cancer: Endocrine Activity in Prepubertal Human Testis Xenografts Exposed to a Pubertal Hormone Environment

Hutka

Kadam

Saen

et al. 2020

Cancers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for long-term treatment-induced health sequelae, including gonadotoxicity and iatrogenic infertility. At present, for prepubertal boys there are no viable clinical options to preserve future reproductive potential. We investigated the effect of a pubertal induction regimen with gonadotrophins on prepubertal human testis xenograft development. Human testis tissue was obtained from patients with cancer and non-malignant haematological disorders (n = 6; aged 1–14 years) who underwent testis tissue cryopreservation for fertility preservation. Fresh and frozen-thawed testis fragments were transplanted subcutaneously or intratesticularly into immunocompromised mice. Graft-bearing mice received injections of vehicle or exogenous gonadotrophins, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG, 20 IU), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, 12.5 IU) three times a week for 12 weeks. The gross morphology of vehicle and gonadotrophin-exposed grafts was similar for both transplantation sites. Exposure of prepubertal human testis tissue xenografts to exogenous gonadotrophins resulted in limited endocrine function of grafts, as demonstrated by the occasional expression of the steroidogenic cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1). Plasma testosterone concentrations (0.13 vs. 0.25 ng/mL; p = 0.594) and seminal vesicle weights (10.02 vs. 13.93 mg; p = 0.431) in gonadotrophin-exposed recipient mice were comparable to vehicle-exposed controls. Regardless of the transplantation site and treatment, initiation and maintenance of androgen receptor (AR) expression were observed in Sertoli cells, indicating commitment towards a more differentiated status. However, neither exogenous gonadotrophins (in castrated host mice) nor endogenous testosterone (in intact host mice) were sufficient to repress the expression of markers associated with immature Sertoli cells, such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and Ki67, or to induce the redistribution of junctional proteins (connexin 43, CX43; claudin 11, CLDN11) to areas adjacent to the basement membrane. Spermatogonia did not progress developmentally but remained the most advanced germ cell type in testis xenografts. Overall, these findings demonstrate that exogenous gonadotrophins promote partial activation and maturation of the somatic environment in prepubertal testis xenografts. However, alternative hormone regimens or additional factors for pubertal induction are required to complete the functional maturation of the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche.

show abstract

The Human Leydig Cell

Cited by 2 publications

References 189 publications

The Fate of Leydig Cells in Men with Spermatogenic Failure

The Fate of Leydig Cells in Men with Spermatogenic Failure

Fertility Preservation in Childhood Cancer: Endocrine Activity in Prepubertal Human Testis Xenografts Exposed to a Pubertal Hormone Environment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About