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Jiang K, Jorgensen JS. Fetal Leydig cells: What we know and what we don't. Mol Reprod Dev 2024; 91:e23739. [PMID: 38480999 PMCID: PMC11135463 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
During male fetal development, testosterone plays an essential role in the differentiation and maturation of the male reproductive system. Deficient fetal testosterone production can result in variations of sex differentiation that may cause infertility and even increased tumor incidence later in life. Fetal Leydig cells in the fetal testis are the major androgen source in mammals. Although fetal and adult Leydig cells are similar in their functions, they are two distinct cell types, and therefore, the knowledge of adult Leydig cells cannot be directly applied to understanding fetal Leydig cells. This review summarizes our current knowledge of fetal Leydig cells regarding their cell biology, developmental biology, and androgen production regulation in rodents and human. Fetal Leydig cells are present in basement membrane-enclosed clusters in between testis cords. They originate from the mesonephros mesenchyme and the coelomic epithelium and start to differentiate upon receiving a Desert Hedgehog signal from Sertoli cells or being released from a NOTCH signal from endothelial cells. Mature fetal Leydig cells produce androgens. Human fetal Leydig cell steroidogenesis is LHCGR (Luteinizing Hormone Chronic Gonadotropin Receptor) dependent, while rodents are not, although other Gαs -protein coupled receptors might be involved in rodent steroidogenesis regulation. Fetal steroidogenesis ceases after sex differentiation is completed, and some fetal Leydig cells dedifferentiate to serve as stem cells for adult testicular cell types. Significant gaps are acknowledged: (1) Why are adult and fetal Leydig cells different? (2) What are bona fide progenitor and fetal Leydig cell markers? (3) Which signaling pathways and transcription factors regulate fetal Leydig cell steroidogenesis? It is critical to discover answers to these questions so that we can understand vulnerable targets in fetal Leydig cells and the mechanisms for androgen production that when disrupted, leads to variations in sex differentiation that range from subtle to complete sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keer Jiang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Joan S. Jorgensen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Taelman J, Czukiewska SM, Moustakas I, Chang YW, Hillenius S, van der Helm T, van der Meeren LE, Mei H, Fan X, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM. Characterization of the human fetal gonad and reproductive tract by single-cell transcriptomics. Dev Cell 2024; 59:529-544.e5. [PMID: 38295793 PMCID: PMC10898717 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
During human fetal development, sex differentiation occurs not only in the gonads but also in the adjacent developing reproductive tract. However, while the cellular composition of male and female human fetal gonads is well described, that of the adjacent developing reproductive tract remains poorly characterized. Here, we performed single-cell transcriptomics on male and female human fetal gonads together with the adjacent developing reproductive tract from first and second trimesters, highlighting the morphological and molecular changes during sex differentiation. We validated different cell populations of the developing reproductive tract and gonads and compared the molecular signatures between the first and second trimesters, as well as between sexes, to identify conserved and sex-specific features. Together, our study provides insights into human fetal sex-specific gonadogenesis and development of the reproductive tract beyond the gonads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasin Taelman
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sylwia M Czukiewska
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Yolanda W Chang
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hillenius
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Talia van der Helm
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte E van der Meeren
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Xueying Fan
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Susana M Chuva de Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Olea GB, Aguirre MV, Lombardo DM. Early gonadogenesis in Columba livia (birds: Columbiformes): Migration, colonization, and differentiation of germ cells. Dev Growth Differ 2024; 66:56-65. [PMID: 37795634 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
In birds, primordial germ cells (PGCs) use the bloodstream to travel to a specific region, where the cells undergo extravasation followed by intrastromal migration to the gonadal crest for further colonization. Currently, DDX4, SSEA1, and Oct4 are used to identify germ cells. Other germline cell-associated molecules are N-cadherin, GnRHR, and 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD), which have been used in mice and birds during gonadal development; however, its role in early gonadogenesis in birds is poorly described. This study aimed to evaluate the differential immunodetection of N-cadherin binding molecule, Oct4 pluripotency protein, GnRHR receptor, and 3βHSD enzyme in Columba livia embryos during migration colonization of PGCs in the gonadal crest and early gonadogenesis. These markers were revealed by immunohistochemistry in histological preparations of C. livia corresponding to stages (S)15 to S40. Immunodetection of N-cadherin, Oct4, GnRHR, and 3βHSD in the germ line of C. livia allowed the identification of PGCs in the yolk sac membrane at the level of the splanchnic mesoderm during migration to the genital crest and its colonization. In the same way, it was possible to characterize and localize PGCs during early gonadogenesis. This study in C. livia demonstrates that Oct4, N-cadherin, GNRHR, and 3βHSD are immunodetected in PGCs and could be used as potential germline cell markers during cell migration out of blood vessels, colonization in the genital crest, and early gonadogenesis. Furthermore, this study could be used as a novel general model to understand the early gonadogenesis in altricial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Beatriz Olea
- Cátedra de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Argentina
- Cátedra de Histología y Embriología. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Sáenz Peña, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Aguirre
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Facultad de Medicina (LIBIM) Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del NEA, (IQUIBA NEA-UNNE- CONICET), Resistencia, Argentina
| | - Daniel Marcelo Lombardo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Cs Veterinarias, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal (INITRA). Cátedra de Histología y Embriología, Viamonte, Argentina
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Li Y, Overland M, Derpinghaus A, Aksel S, Cao M, Ladwig N, Cunha GR, Baskin LS. Development of the human fetal testis: Morphology and expression of cellular differentiation markers. Differentiation 2023; 129:17-36. [PMID: 35490077 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive immunohistochemical ontogeny of the developing human fetal testis has remained incomplete in the literature to date. We collected human fetal testes from 8 to 21 weeks of fetal age, as well as postnatal human testes at minipuberty, pre-pubertal, and pubertal stages. Immunohistochemistry was performed with a comprehensive panel of antigens targeting gonadocytes, Sertoli cells, fetal Leydig cells, peritubular myoid cells, and other hormonal and developmental targets. Testicular cords, precursor structures to seminiferous tubules, developed from 8 to 14 weeks of fetal age, separating the testis into the interstitial and intracordal compartments. Fetal gonadocytes were localized within the testicular cords and evaluated for Testis-Specific Protein Y, Octamer-binding transcription factor 4, Sal-like protein 4, and placental alkaline phosphatase expression. Fetal Sertoli cells were also localized in the testicular cords and evaluated for SRY-box Transcription Factor 9, inhibin, and anti-Mullerian hormone expression. Fetal Leydig cells were present in the interstitium and stained for cytochrome p450c17 and calretinin, while interstitial peritubular myoid cells were examined using smooth muscle α-actin staining. Androgen receptor expression was localized close to the testicular medulla at 8 weeks and then around the testicular cords in the interstitium as they matured in structure. Postnatal staining showed that Testis-Specific Protein Y remained positive of male gonadocytes throughout adulthood. Anti-Mullerian hormone, SRY-box Transcription Factor 9, and Steroidogenic factor 1 are expressed by the postnatal Sertoli cells at all ages examined. Leydig cell markers cytochrome p450c17 and calretinin are expressed during mini-puberty and puberty, but not expressed during the pre-pubertal period. Smooth muscle α-actin and androgen receptor were not expressed during mini-puberty or pre-puberty, but again expressed during the pubertal period. The ontogenic map of the human fetal and postnatal testicular structure and expression patterns described here will serve as a reference for future investigations into normal and abnormal testicular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Maya Overland
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Amber Derpinghaus
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Sena Aksel
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Mei Cao
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Nicholas Ladwig
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Gerald R Cunha
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Laurence S Baskin
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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