Abstract
Adult Leydig cells (ALCs) are the steroidogenic cells in the testes that produce testosterone. ALCs develop postnatally from a pool of stem cells, referred to as stem Leydig cells (SLCs). SLCs are spindle-shaped cells that lack steroidogenic cell markers, including luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The commitment of SLCs into the progenitor Leydig cells (PLCs), the first stage in the lineage, requires growth factors, including Dessert Hedgehog (DHH) and platelet-derived growth factor-AA. PLCs are still spindle-shaped, but become steroidogenic and produce mainly androsterone. The next transition in the lineage is from PLC to the immature Leydig cell (ILC). This transition requires LH, DHH, and androgen. ILCs are ovoid cells that are competent for producing a different form of androgen, androstanediol. The final stage in the developmental lineage is ALC. The transition to ALC involves the reduced expression of 5α-reductase 1, a step that is necessary to make the cells to produce testosterone as the final product. The transitions along the Leydig cell lineage are associated with the progressive down-regulation of the proliferative activity, and the up-regulation of steroidogenic capacity, with each step requiring unique regulatory signaling.
Highlights
Adult Leydig cells (ALCs) are located in the interstitial compartment of the testis
Conditional knockout of Wilms tumor protein 1 (Wt1) gene in Sertoli cells in 2 month-old mice resulted in loss of ALC functions, as shown by a severe reduction in testosterone production and significant downregulations of steroidogenic enzymes and LHCGR, all possibly because of loss of DHH gene (Dhh) expression, since the defects in steroidogenesis can be partially rescued by a hedgehog pathway agonist (Chen et al, 2014)
luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation is required for LC development, it seems unlikely that the horomone is required for the commitment of stem Leydig cell (SLC) into the LC lineage because progenitor Leydig cells (PLCs) can be formed in Lhcgr knockout mouse testis (Zhang et al, 2004)
Summary
Adult Leydig cells (ALCs) are located in the interstitial compartment of the testis. The cells synthesize testosterone that is essential for the physiological functions of the male reproductive system. The first stage in ALC lineage that have committed from SLC is the progenitor Leydig cell (PLC) (Shan and Hardy, 1992).
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