Mali P, Welsh M J, Toppari J, Vihko K K, Parvinen M
Med Biol. 1986;63(5-6):237-44.
Spermatogenesis is dependent on stimulation by pituitary gonadotropins, FSH and LH. Targets for these hormones are Sertoli and Leydig cells, respectively. The effect of LH on spermatogenesis is mediated by testosterone. In addition to hormones, interactions between neighbouring cells seem to regulate spermatogenesis. This is reflected by cyclic secretion of several proteins by the seminiferous epithelium, of which plasminogen activator is a good example. While it is controlled by FSH a factor in preleptotene spermatocytes may also influence its cyclic secretion pattern. Both testosterone and FSH have a cyclic action in the seminiferous epithelium. The androgens seem to predominate in stages where spermiation, onset of meiosis and the highest rate of RNA transcription occur (VII-XI). FSH is most active in stages that contain meiotic divisions and early spermiogenesis (XIII-V), greatly stimulating the production of cyclic AMP. To investigate further the "second messengers" of FSH action in the seminiferous epithelium, the cellular distribution of calmodulin was analyzed using an indirect immunocytochemical method. In addition to their clear cyclic distribution in primary spermatocytes and in spermatids, Sertoli cells also showed a bright calmodulin immunofluorescence that was apparently cyclic. These observations suggest a local calmodulin and calcium regulation of spermatogenesis.
精子发生依赖于垂体促性腺激素（促卵泡激素和促黄体生成素）的刺激。这些激素的靶细胞分别是支持细胞和间质细胞。促黄体生成素对精子发生的作用是由睾酮介导的。除激素外，相邻细胞间的相互作用似乎也参与调节精子发生。这一点在生精上皮中几种蛋白质的周期性分泌中得到体现，纤溶酶原激活剂就是一个很好的例子。虽然它受促卵泡激素的控制，但前细线期精母细胞中的一个因子也可能影响其周期性分泌模式。睾酮和促卵泡激素在生精上皮中都有周期性作用。雄激素似乎在精子释放、减数分裂开始以及RNA转录率最高的阶段（VII - XI期）占主导地位。促卵泡激素在含有减数分裂和早期精子发生的阶段（XIII - V期）最为活跃，能极大地刺激环磷酸腺苷的产生。为了进一步研究促卵泡激素在生精上皮中作用的“第二信使”，采用间接免疫细胞化学方法分析了钙调蛋白的细胞分布。除了在初级精母细胞和精子细胞中有明显的周期性分布外，支持细胞也显示出明亮的钙调蛋白免疫荧光，且明显呈周期性。这些观察结果提示精子发生存在局部钙调蛋白和钙调节。
