Regulatory mechanisms underlying functional maturation of Sertoli cells in response to androgens during postnatal development

SCHTEINGART, H.F.; EDELSZTEIN, N.; REY, R.

Mar del PLata

Congreso; Reunión Anual de Biociencia 2019; 2019

SAIC, SAFE, SAB, SAP

Androgen-dependent maturation of Sertoli cells during postnatal testicular development is key for the establishment of spermatogenesis. Meiosis in the male begins at puberty and relies on androgens and retinoic acid. Immature Sertoli cells produce high levels of AMH, which is inhibited by androgens at puberty. The molecular mechanisms underlying androgen-mediated AMH decline are unknown. CYP26B1 degrades retinoic acid in the prenatal testis preventing meiosis initiation. The concurrence of meiotic entry and Sertoli cell maturation in response to androgens led us to propose that CYP26B1 ?like AMH? is downregulated by androgens in the Sertoli cell during puberty, thus enabling meiosis initiation. By immunohistochemistry, we saw that CYP26B1 expression declines in the postnatal mouse Sertoli cell as androgen receptor (AR) expression increases, closely before meiotic spermatocytes appear. Luciferase reporter assays in the SMAT1 Sertoli cell line showed a direct negative effect on Amh promoter activity in the presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT, P