O'Shaughnessy P J, Baker P J, Johnston H
Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Rd, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. P.O'
Int J Androl. 2006 Feb;29(1):90-5; discussion 105-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00555.x.
The foetal Leydig cell population arises shortly after testicular differentiation at around 12.5 dpc in the mouse and 6 weeks in the human. These cells function, primarily, to produce androgens which are essential for masculinization of the foetus. The origin of the foetal Leydig cells remains uncertain but it has been suggested that adrenocortical cells and foetal Leydig cells may share a common origin in an adreno-genital primordium. Studies in the mouse are beginning to identify factors such as desert hedgehog and platelet-derived growth factor which are required for foetal Leydig cell development. Regulation of foetal Leydig cell function remains uncertain in most species. Unlike the adult population of Leydig cells, the foetal Leydig cells in the mouse do not require luteinizing hormone (LH) to stimulate androgen production. An intact pituitary does appear to be required, however, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) will stimulate foetal Leydig cell function directly suggesting that both LH and ACTH act to maintain Leydig cell function in vivo. In the human LH/hCG is required for foetal Leydig cell function although the cells may also be sensitive to ACTH.
胎儿睾丸间质细胞群体在小鼠约胚胎第12.5天、人类6周时睾丸分化后不久出现。这些细胞主要功能是产生雄激素，这对胎儿男性化至关重要。胎儿睾丸间质细胞的起源尚不确定，但有观点认为肾上腺皮质细胞和胎儿睾丸间质细胞可能在肾上腺生殖原基中有共同起源。对小鼠的研究开始确定诸如沙漠刺猬因子和血小板衍生生长因子等胎儿睾丸间质细胞发育所需的因子。在大多数物种中，胎儿睾丸间质细胞功能的调节仍不确定。与成年睾丸间质细胞群体不同，小鼠胎儿睾丸间质细胞不需要促黄体生成素（LH）来刺激雄激素产生。然而，完整的垂体似乎是必需的，促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）可直接刺激胎儿睾丸间质细胞功能，这表明LH和ACTH在体内均对维持睾丸间质细胞功能起作用。在人类，胎儿睾丸间质细胞功能需要LH/hCG，尽管这些细胞可能也对ACTH敏感。
