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The expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in the prenatal and adult human testis: evidence for functions in Leydig cells

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Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated local functions for neurotrophins in the developing and mature testis of rodents. To examine whether these signaling molecules are present and also potentially active in the human testis, we characterized immunohistochemically the expression and cellular localization of the known neurotrophins and their receptors during prenatal testicular development as well as in the adult human testis. Results obtained revealed the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 and 4, as well as neurotrophin receptors p75NTR, TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC during testis morphogenesis. These proteins were also detectable in the adult human testis, and their local expression could be confirmed largely by immunoblot and RT-PCR analyses. Remarkably, the Leydig cells were found to represent the predominant neurotrophin/receptor expression sites within both fetal and adult human testes. Functional assays performed with a mouse tumor Leydig cell line revealed that NGF exposure increases cellular steroid production, indicating a role in differentiation processes. These findings support previously-recognized neuronal characteristics of Leydig cells, provide additional evidence for potential roles of neurotrophins during testis morphogenesis and in the mature testis, and demonstrate for the first time a neurotrophin-induced functional activity in Leydig cells.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mrs. M. Köhler and Mrs. Ch. Knies for their excellent technical assistance. This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DA 459/1-1; MI 637/1-1), Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (01 KY 9103/0 to D. Müller) and the Verein zur Förderung der Forschung auf dem Gebiete der Fortpflanzung e.V.”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research, University of Hamburg, Falkenried 88, 20251, Hamburg, Germany

    Dieter Müller & Hans-J. Paust

  2. Institute for Anatomy 1, University Hospital Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Michail S. Davidoff, Oliver Bargheer, Wolfgang Pusch, Adolf F. Holstein & Ralf Middendorff

  3. Department of Anatomy and Histology, Medical University Plovdiv, V. Aprilov Street 15, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

    Yvetta Koeva

  4. Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Šalata 3b, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Davor Ježek

  5. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, 35385, Giessen, Germany

    Ralf Middendorff

  6. Institute for Anatomy 1, UKE, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Michail S. Davidoff

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  1. Dieter Müller
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  2. Michail S. Davidoff
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  3. Oliver Bargheer
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  4. Hans-J. Paust
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  8. Adolf F. Holstein
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Correspondence to Michail S. Davidoff.

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Müller, D., Davidoff, M.S., Bargheer, O. et al. The expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in the prenatal and adult human testis: evidence for functions in Leydig cells. Histochem Cell Biol 126, 199–211 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-006-0155-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-006-0155-8

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