PMID- 12154079
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20030416
LR  - 20220215
IS  - 0021-9533 (Print)
IS  - 0021-9533 (Linking)
VI  - 115
IP  - Pt 17
DP  - 2002 Sep 1
TI  - Failure of normal adult Leydig cell development in androgen-receptor-deficient 
      mice.
PG  - 3491-6
AB  - During testicular development, fetal and adult populations of Leydig cells arise 
      sequentially. Previous studies have shown that androgen action is required for 
      normal steroidogenic activity in the mouse testis. Therefore, to determine the 
      role of androgens in regulating fetal and adult Leydig cell differentiation and 
      function, Leydig development has been measured in mice lacking functional 
      androgen receptors (AR-null). The Leydig cell number was normal on day 5 after 
      birth in AR-null mice but failed to increase normally thereafter and was about 
      30% of the control level on day 20 and about 60% of control level in adult 
      animals. Levels of 15 different mRNA species expressed specifically in Leydig 
      cells were measured by real-time PCR in AR-null and control animals. Expression 
      levels of all mRNA species were normal on day 5 when only fetal Leydig cells are 
      present. In older animals, which contain predominantly adult Leydig cells, five 
      of the mRNA species (3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD) type 1, 
      cytochrome P450scc, renin, StAR protein and luteinising hormone receptor) were 
      expressed at normal or increased levels in AR-null mice. All other mRNA species 
      measured showed significantly reduced expression in older animals, and three of 
      these mRNA species (17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type III, prostaglandin D 
      (PGD)-synthetase and 3betaHSD type VI), which are only expressed in the adult 
      population of Leydig cells, were barely detectable in the adult AR-null mouse. 
      The results show that in the absence of androgen receptors, fetal Leydig cell 
      function is normal, but there is a developmental failure of adult Leydig cell 
      maturation, with cells only aquiring partial characteristics of the adult 
      population.
FAU - O'Shaughnessy, Peter J
AU  - O'Shaughnessy PJ
AD  - Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, 
      Bearsden Rd, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. p.j.o'shaughnessy@vet.gla.ac.uk
FAU - Johnston, Heather
AU  - Johnston H
FAU - Willerton, Louise
AU  - Willerton L
FAU - Baker, Paul J
AU  - Baker PJ
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - England
TA  - J Cell Sci
JT  - Journal of cell science
JID - 0052457
RN  - 0 (RNA, Messenger)
RN  - 0 (Receptors, Androgen)
RN  - EC 1.3.99.5 (3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase)
SB  - IM
MH  - 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase/metabolism
MH  - Animals
MH  - Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
MH  - Leydig Cells/cytology/*physiology
MH  - Male
MH  - Mice
MH  - Mice, Inbred Strains
MH  - Mice, Knockout
MH  - RNA, Messenger/metabolism
MH  - Receptors, Androgen/genetics/*metabolism
MH  - Testis/chemistry/cytology/pathology/physiology
EDAT- 2002/08/03 10:00
MHDA- 2003/04/17 05:00
CRDT- 2002/08/03 10:00
PHST- 2002/08/03 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2003/04/17 05:00 [medline]
PHST- 2002/08/03 10:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1242/jcs.115.17.3491 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Cell Sci. 2002 Sep 1;115(Pt 17):3491-6. doi: 10.1242/jcs.115.17.3491.