Androgen action via testicular arteriole smooth muscle cells is important for leydig cell function, vasomotion and testicular fluid dynamics

Welsh, M., Sharpe, R.M., Moffat, L., Atanassova, N., Saunders, P.T.K., Kilter, S., Bergh, A. and Smith, L.B. (2010) Androgen action via testicular arteriole smooth muscle cells is important for leydig cell function, vasomotion and testicular fluid dynamics. PLoS ONE, 5(10), e13632. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013632)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013632

Abstract

Regulation of blood flow through the testicular microvasculature by vasomotion is thought to be important for normal testis function as it regulates interstitial fluid (IF) dynamics which is an important intra-testicular transport medium. Androgens control vasomotion, but how they exert these effects remains unclear. One possibility is by signalling via androgen receptors (AR) expressed in testicular arteriole smooth muscle cells. To investigate this and determine the overall importance of this mechanism in testis function, we generated a blood vessel smooth muscle cell-specific AR knockout mouse (SMARKO). Gross reproductive development was normal in SMARKO mice but testis weight was reduced in adulthood compared to control littermates; this reduction was not due to any changes in germ cell volume or to deficits in testosterone, LH or FSH concentrations and did not cause infertility. However, seminiferous tubule lumen volume was reduced in adult SMARKO males while interstitial volume was increased, perhaps indicating altered fluid dynamics; this was associated with compensated Leydig cell failure. Vasomotion was impaired in adult SMARKO males, though overall testis blood flow was normal and there was an increase in the overall blood vessel volume per testis in adult SMARKOs. In conclusion, these results indicate that ablating arteriole smooth muscle AR does not grossly alter spermatogenesis or affect male fertility but does subtly impair Leydig cell function and testicular fluid exchange, possibly by locally regulating microvascular blood flow within the testis.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Welsh, Dr Michelle
Authors: Welsh, M., Sharpe, R.M., Moffat, L., Atanassova, N., Saunders, P.T.K., Kilter, S., Bergh, A., and Smith, L.B.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:PLoS ONE
Publisher:Public Library of Science
ISSN:1932-6203
ISSN (Online):1932-6203
Published Online:01 January 2010
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2010 Welsh et al
First Published:First published in PLoS ONE 2010 5(10): e13632
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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