The Journal of Cell Biology, Vol 117, 629-641, Copyright © 1992 by The Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLES

Expression of beta-nerve growth factor and its receptor in rat seminiferous epithelium: specific function at the onset of meiosis

M Parvinen, M Pelto-Huikko, O Soder, R Schultz, A Kaipia, P Mali, J Toppari, H Hakovirta, P Lonnerberg and EM Ritzen
Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, Finland.

beta-Nerve growth factor (NGF) is expressed in spermatogenic cells and has testosterone-downregulated low-affinity receptors on Sertoli cells suggesting a paracrine role in the regulation of spermatogenesis. An analysis of the stage-specific expression of NGF and its low affinity receptor during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat revealed NGF mRNA and protein at all stages of the cycle. Tyrosine kinase receptor (trk) mRNA encoding an essential component of the high- affinity NGF receptor was also present at all stages. In contrast, expression of low affinity NGF receptor mRNA was only found in stages VIIcd and VIII of the cycle, the sites of onset of meiosis. The low- affinity NGF receptor protein was present in the plasma membrane of the apical Sertoli cell processes as well as in the basal plasma membrane of these cells at stages VIIcd to XI. NGF was shown to stimulate in vitro DNA synthesis of seminiferous tubule segments with preleptotene spermatocytes at the onset of meiosis while other segments remained nonresponsive. We conclude that NGF is a meiotic growth factor that acts through Sertoli cells.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Lim, P., Robson, M., Spaliviero, J., McTavish, K. J., Jimenez, M., Zajac, J. D., Handelsman, D. J., Allan, C. M. (2009). Sertoli Cell Androgen Receptor DNA Binding Domain Is Essential for the Completion of Spermatogenesis. Endocrinology 150: 4755-4765 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gyamera-Acheampong, C., Mbikay, M. (2009). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 4 in mammalian fertility: a review. Hum Reprod Update 15: 237-247 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gassei, K., Ehmcke, J., Schlatt, S. (2008). Initiation of testicular tubulogenesis is controlled by neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinases in a three-dimensional Sertoli cell aggregation assay. Reproduction 136: 459-469 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Johnston, D. S., Wright, W. W., DiCandeloro, P., Wilson, E., Kopf, G. S., Jelinsky, S. A. (2008). Stage-specific gene expression is a fundamental characteristic of rat spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105: 8315-8320 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Schell, C., Albrecht, M., Mayer, C., Schwarzer, J. U., Frungieri, M. B., Mayerhofer, A. (2008). Exploring Human Testicular Peritubular Cells: Identification of Secretory Products and Regulation by Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha}. Endocrinology 149: 1678-1686 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mruk, D. D., Cheng, C. Y. (2004). Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-Germ Cell Interactions and Their Significance in Germ Cell Movement in the Seminiferous Epithelium during Spermatogenesis. Endocr. Rev. 25: 747-806 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Seifer, D. B., Feng, B., Shelden, R. M., Chen, S., Dreyfus, C. F. (2002). Neurotrophin-4/5 and Neurotrophin-3 Are Present within the Human Ovarian Follicle but Appear to Have Different Paracrine/Autocrine Functions. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87: 4569-4571 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yan, W., Rajkovic, A., Viveiros, M. M., Burns, K. H., Eppig, J. J., Matzuk, M. M. (2002). Identification of Gasz, an Evolutionarily Conserved Gene Expressed Exclusively in Germ Cells and Encoding a Protein with Four Ankyrin Repeats, a Sterile-{alpha} Motif, and a Basic Leucine Zipper. Mol. Endocrinol. 16: 1168-1184 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Campagnolo, L., Russo, M.A., Puglianiello, A., Favale, A., Siracusa, G. (2001). Mesenchymal Cell Precursors of Peritubular Smooth Muscle Cells of the Mouse Testis Can Be Identified by the Presence of the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor. Biol. Reprod. 64: 464-472 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vidal, F, Lopez, P, Lopez-Fernandez, L., Ranc, F, Scimeca, J., Cuzin, F, Rassoulzadegan, M (2001). Gene trap analysis of germ cell signaling to Sertoli cells: NGF-TrkA mediated induction of Fra1 and Fos by post-meiotic germ cells. J. Cell Sci. 114: 435-443 [Abstract]  
• El-Hefnawy, T., Ioffe, S., Dym, M. (2000). Expression of the Leptin Receptor during Germ Cell Development in the Mouse Testis. Endocrinology 141: 2624-2630 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Russo, M.A., Giustizieri, M.L., Favale, A., Fantini, M.C., Campagnolo, L., Konda, D., Germano, F., Farini, D., Manna, C., Siracusa, G. (1999). Spatiotemporal Patterns of Expression of Neurotrophins and Neurotrophin Receptors in Mice Suggest Functional Roles in Testicular and Epididymal Morphogenesis. Biol. Reprod. 61: 1123-1132 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hakovirta, H., Yan, W., Kaleva, M., Zhang, F., Vänttinen, K., Morris, P. L., Söder, M., Parvinen, M., Toppari, J. (1999). Function of Stem Cell Factor as a Survival Factor of Spermatogonia and Localization of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium. Endocrinology 140: 1492-1498 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gnessi, L., Fabbri, A., Spera, G. (1997). Gonadal Peptides as Mediators of Development and Functional Control of the Testis: An Integrated System with Hormones and Local Environment. Endocr. Rev. 18: 541-609 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Zhao, G Q, Deng, K, Labosky, P A, Liaw, L, Hogan, B L (1996). The gene encoding bone morphogenetic protein 8B is required for the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis in the mouse.. Genes Dev. 10: 1657-1669 [Abstract]  
• Tessarollo, L, Tsoulfas, P, Martin-Zanca, D, Gilbert, D., Jenkins, N., Copeland, N., Parada, L. (1993). trkC, a receptor for neurotrophin-3, is widely expressed in the developing nervous system and in non-neuronal tissues. Development 118: 463-475 [Abstract]  

Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents