The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2022 Jul 2;20(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s12958-022-00971-w.
Follicle-stimulating hormone signaling is essential for the initiation and early stages of spermatogenesis. Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor is exclusively expressed in Sertoli cells. As the only type of somatic cell in the seminiferous tubule, Sertoli cells regulate spermatogenesis not only by controlling their own number and function but also through paracrine actions to nourish germ cells surrounded by Sertoli cells. After follicle-stimulating hormone binds to its receptor and activates the follicle-stimulating hormone signaling pathway, follicle-stimulating hormone signaling will establish a normal Sertoli cell number and promote their differentiation. Spermatogonia pool maintenance, spermatogonia differentiation and their entry into meiosis are also positively regulated by follicle-stimulating hormone signaling. In addition, follicle-stimulating hormone signaling regulates germ cell survival and limits their apoptosis. Our review summarizes the aforementioned functions of follicle-stimulating hormone signaling in Sertoli cells. We also describe the clinical potential of follicle-stimulating hormone treatment in male patients with infertility. Furthermore, our review may be helpful for developing better therapies for treating patients with dysfunctional follicle-stimulating hormone signaling in Sertoli cells.
卵泡刺激素信号对于精子发生的启动和早期阶段至关重要。卵泡刺激素受体仅在支持细胞中表达。作为生精小管中唯一的体细胞类型，支持细胞不仅通过控制自身数量和功能，而且通过旁分泌作用来滋养被支持细胞包围的生殖细胞，从而调节精子发生。卵泡刺激素与其受体结合并激活卵泡刺激素信号通路后，卵泡刺激素信号将建立正常的支持细胞数量并促进其分化。精原细胞池维持、精原细胞分化及其进入减数分裂也受到卵泡刺激素信号的正向调节。此外，卵泡刺激素信号调节生殖细胞的存活并限制其凋亡。我们的综述总结了卵泡刺激素信号在支持细胞中的上述功能。我们还描述了卵泡刺激素治疗男性不育症患者的临床潜力。此外，我们的综述可能有助于开发更好的治疗方法，以治疗卵泡刺激素信号在支持细胞中功能失调的患者。
