College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Reproduction. 2020 Sep;160(3):405-415. doi: 10.1530/REP-19-0601.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been proved to play important roles in male reproductive physiology, but the molecular mechanisms of NGF action remain unclear. In this study, the effects of NGF on the growth of newborn bovine testicular Sertoli (NBS) cells and the related signaling pathways were investigated. The NBS cells were treated in vitro with NGF (100 ng/mL) for 18 h. The expression levels of cell proliferation related genes, INHBB, and cytoplasmic specialization related gene were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot. The roles of PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in NGF-induced cell proliferation were investigated. It was found that NGF regulates proliferation and function of NBS cells via its receptor NTRK1 by activating the PI3K/ATK and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. The study will help to further understand the role of NGF in male reproduction and provide new therapeutic targets for reproductive dysfunctions in male animals.
神经生长因子（NGF）已被证明在男性生殖生理学中发挥重要作用，但 NGF 作用的分子机制仍不清楚。本研究探讨了 NGF 对新生牛睾丸支持细胞（NBS）生长的影响及其相关信号通路。体外培养 NBS 细胞，用 NGF（100ng/ml）处理 18 小时。采用实时 PCR 和 Western blot 法检测细胞增殖相关基因 INHBB 和细胞质特化相关基因的表达水平。研究了 NGF 诱导细胞增殖过程中 PI3K/AKT 和 MAPK/ERK 通路的作用。结果表明，NGF 通过其受体 NTRK1 激活 PI3K/AKT 和 MAPK/ERK 信号通路，调节 NBS 细胞的增殖和功能。该研究有助于进一步了解 NGF 在男性生殖中的作用，并为男性动物生殖功能障碍提供新的治疗靶点。
