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Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Le Gros Clarke Building, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK¹ Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK

(Correspondence should be addressed to P J O'Shaughnessy; Email: p.j.oshaughnessy{at}vet.gla.ac.uk)

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Society for Endocrinology's Re-use Licence which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

(D Baban is now at Genomics Group, The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK)

FSH acts through the Sertoli cell to ensure normal testicular development and function. To identify transcriptional mechanisms through which FSH acts in the testis, we have treated gonadotrophin-deficient hypogonadal (hpg) mice with recombinant FSH and measured changes in testicular transcript levels using microarrays and real-time PCR 12, 24 and 72 h after the start of treatment. Approximately 400 transcripts were significantly altered at each time point by FSH treatment. At 12 h, there was a clear increase in the levels of a number of known Sertoli cell transcripts (e.g. Fabp5, Lgals1, Tesc, Scara5, Aqp5). Additionally, levels of Leydig cell transcripts were also markedly increased (e.g. Ren1, Cyp17a1, Akr1b7, Star, Nr4a1). This was associated with a small but significant rise in testosterone at 24 and 72 h. At 24 h, androgen-dependent Sertoli cell transcripts were up-regulated (e.g. Rhox5, Drd4, Spinlw1, Tubb3 and Tsx) and this trend continued up to 72 h. By contrast with the somatic cells, only five germ cell transcripts (Dkkl1, Hdc, Pou5f1, Zfp541 and 1700021K02Rik) were altered by FSH within the time-course of the experiment. Analysis of canonical pathways showed that FSH induced a general decline in transcripts related to formation and regulation of tight junctions. Results show that FSH acts directly and indirectly to induce rapid changes in Sertoli cell and Leydig cell transcript levels in the hpg mouse but that effects on germ cell development must occur over a longer time-span.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P J O'Shaughnessy, A Monteiro, G Verhoeven, K De Gendt, and M H Abel Effect of FSH on testicular morphology and spermatogenesis in gonadotrophin-deficient hypogonadal mice lacking androgen receptors Reproduction, January 1, 2010; 139(1): 177 - 184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]