Abstract
The cells responsible for production of the male sex hormone testosterone, the Leydig cells of the testis, are post-mitotic cells with neuroendocrine characteristics. Their origin during ontogeny and regeneration processes is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that cells of testicular blood vessels, namely vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes, are the progenitors of Leydig cells. Resembling stem cells of the nervous system, the Leydig cell progenitors are characterized by the expression of nestin. Using an in vivo model to induce and monitor the synchronized generation of a completely new Leydig cell population in adult rats, we demonstrate specific proliferation of vascular progenitors and their subsequent transdifferentiation into steroidogenic Leydig cells which, in addition, rapidly acquire neuronal and glial properties. These findings, shown to be representative also for ontogenetic Leydig cell formation and for the human testis, provide further evidence that cellular components of blood vessels can act as progenitor cells for organogenesis and repair.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 935-944 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Cell Biology |
| Volume | 167 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 5 2004 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cell Biology
Cite this
Progenitor cells of the testosterone-producing Leydig cells revealed. / Davidoff, Michail S.; Middendorff, Ralf; Enikolopov, Grigori; Riethmacher, Dieter; Holstein, Adolf F.; Müller, Dieter.
In: Journal of Cell Biology, Vol. 167, No. 5, 05.12.2004, p. 935-944.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Progenitor cells of the testosterone-producing Leydig cells revealed
AU - Davidoff, Michail S.
AU - Middendorff, Ralf
AU - Enikolopov, Grigori
AU - Riethmacher, Dieter
AU - Holstein, Adolf F.
AU - Müller, Dieter
PY - 2004/12/5
Y1 - 2004/12/5
N2 - The cells responsible for production of the male sex hormone testosterone, the Leydig cells of the testis, are post-mitotic cells with neuroendocrine characteristics. Their origin during ontogeny and regeneration processes is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that cells of testicular blood vessels, namely vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes, are the progenitors of Leydig cells. Resembling stem cells of the nervous system, the Leydig cell progenitors are characterized by the expression of nestin. Using an in vivo model to induce and monitor the synchronized generation of a completely new Leydig cell population in adult rats, we demonstrate specific proliferation of vascular progenitors and their subsequent transdifferentiation into steroidogenic Leydig cells which, in addition, rapidly acquire neuronal and glial properties. These findings, shown to be representative also for ontogenetic Leydig cell formation and for the human testis, provide further evidence that cellular components of blood vessels can act as progenitor cells for organogenesis and repair.
AB - The cells responsible for production of the male sex hormone testosterone, the Leydig cells of the testis, are post-mitotic cells with neuroendocrine characteristics. Their origin during ontogeny and regeneration processes is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that cells of testicular blood vessels, namely vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes, are the progenitors of Leydig cells. Resembling stem cells of the nervous system, the Leydig cell progenitors are characterized by the expression of nestin. Using an in vivo model to induce and monitor the synchronized generation of a completely new Leydig cell population in adult rats, we demonstrate specific proliferation of vascular progenitors and their subsequent transdifferentiation into steroidogenic Leydig cells which, in addition, rapidly acquire neuronal and glial properties. These findings, shown to be representative also for ontogenetic Leydig cell formation and for the human testis, provide further evidence that cellular components of blood vessels can act as progenitor cells for organogenesis and repair.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10344249405&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=10344249405&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1083/jcb.200409107
DO - 10.1083/jcb.200409107
M3 - Article
C2 - 15569711
AN - SCOPUS:10344249405
VL - 167
SP - 935
EP - 944
JO - Journal of Cell Biology
JF - Journal of Cell Biology
SN - 0021-9525
IS - 5
ER -