Ana Paula Jacobus
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Title: FSH-mediated signaling pathways in proliferating and differentiating Sertoli cells.
Biography
Biography: Ana Paula Jacobus
Abstract
Spermatogenesis and male fertility are dependent upon a complex interplay of hormonal inputs. In the testis, Sertoli cells are required to support germ cell development and survival after puberty. Because Sertoli cells can support only a finite population of germ cells, the extent of Sertoli cell proliferation and its number defines the upper limit of sperm output and fertility. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is a known regulator of Sertoli cell proliferation that ends with the establishment of the blood testis barrier. After that, FSH assumes a role on Sertoli cells differentiation. For this reason, it is expect that FSH-receptor downstream signaling differ during the two development stages (pre and post pubertal). FSH stimulates some mechanisms only on the pre pubertal stage such as Ca2+ uptake, MAPK/Erk phosphorylation and PI3k/Akt activation. On the other hand, cAMP can acts either way on proliferation and differentiation by different pathways mediating FSH signal. This fine tune on the timing regulation by the same molecules, show us the diversity and complexity of this hormonal signaling. We want to discuss the importance of pathways for the Sertoli cell development, demonstrate the expression of key molecules that change related to the pre and post-pubertal phases and have a broad view at the FSH role on proliferation and differentiation of Sertoli cells. Altogether, these data may contribute for the understanding of the signaling dynamics, especially for the development of the favorable seminiferous milieu for sperm production and for identifying better control points providing strategies for male contraception.