Abstract
Postnatally, the germ cell differentiate through several steps to form primary spermatocytes, which are required for postpubertal spermatogenesis. This development is postulated to be controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. To test the effect of hCG on germ eel 1 development, newborn mouse testes (n=75) were cultured in vitro for 7 days. Exogenous hCG (0.102.0 IU/ml) or Mullerian inhibiting substance (0. 5μ/ml) (MIS) were added to serum-free medium containing transferring insulin and retinoic acid or fetal calf serum. Normal germ cell development was seen with added 10% fetal calf serum (P < 0.001) or exogenous MIS (P < 0.001), but was absent with medium ± growth factors or hCG. These results demonstrate that transformation of gonocytes to type-A spermatogonia and other differentiated germ cells is regulated by MIS rather than hCG. As transformation of gonocytes to type-A spermatogonia is deficient in boys with cryptorchidism, MIS may have a role in the clinical management of this common cause of infertility.
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Zhou, B., Hutson, J. HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (hCG) FAILS TO STIMULATE GONOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION IN NEWBORN MOUSE TESTES IN ORGAN CULTURE. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S19 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00095
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00095