《美國實驗生物學會聯(lián)合會雜志》（FASEB Journal）12月刊上刊登了一篇研究報告稱,，科學家已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)睪丸中的雄性激素控制精子生成和男性生育的機理,，男性可能采用和女性類似的方式避孕。這個發(fā)現(xiàn)同時也給那些精子數(shù)量少和無生育能力的男性帶來了希望,。雖然上述結(jié)果只在小鼠上進行了驗證,，在其它哺乳動物例如人類身上也可能得到類似結(jié)果。
米歇爾·威爾士（Michelle Welsh）博士是論文的合著者,，他來自英國愛丁堡的女王醫(yī)學研究院生殖生育學中心,，他說：“這項研究給我們提供了一個新的機會，讓我們可以了解雄性激素是如何控制精子產(chǎn)生的,，這機理可以為男性不育治療提供新的思路,，同時,，為研制出新型男性避孕藥提供新的啟示。”
威爾士和同事用兩組老鼠來進行了研究,。第一組老鼠是正常鼠群,。第二組老鼠睪丸管周肌樣細胞中缺少一個基因,，這個基因是用來為男性荷爾蒙受體編碼的,，相比擁有正常基因組的老鼠來說,，缺少基因組老鼠精子產(chǎn)生量將大幅減少，并導致不育,。
醫(yī)學博士杰拉德·韋斯曼（Gerald Weissmann）是《美國實驗生物學會聯(lián)合會雜志》的主編,，他說：“盡管女性避孕藥在60年代以來就已經(jīng)開始使用,，而類似的男性避孕藥卻一直沒有研究出來。這個新研究結(jié)果不僅是針對雄性激素和它們的細胞而得到的新型男性避孕藥,，它同時有望發(fā)現(xiàn)新的方法來促進精子生成,。”（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
The FASEB Journal. 2009;23:4218-4230.doi: 10.1096/fj.09-138347.
Androgen action via testicular peritubular myoid cells is essential for male fertility
Michelle Welsh*, Philippa T. K. Saunders*, Nina Atanassova, Richard M. Sharpe* and Lee B. Smith*,1
* Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK; and the
Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Androgens are essential for normal spermatogenesis and male fertility, but how androgens exert this effect remains uncertain. Androgen receptors (ARs) are expressed in several testicular cell types, but continuing uncertainty exists over which cell type mediates androgen control of spermatogenesis. Androgen signaling via Sertoli cells (SCs) is essential for complete spermatogenesis, but the role for androgen signaling via peritubular myoid (PTM) cells is contentious. To address this controversy, we generated PTM-specific AR-knockout (PTM-ARKO) mice in which gross reproductive development was normal, but all PTM-ARKO males were azoospermic and infertile. Testis weight was reduced beyond puberty, and in adulthood there was an 86% reduction in germ cells, compared with wild-type littermates. These changes were not explained by any deficits in testosterone, luteinizing hormone, or follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. SC function was impaired in PTM-ARKO males, indicated by reduced seminiferous tubule fluid production and reduced expression of some androgen-dependent SC genes. Androgen action via PTM cells is therefore essential for normal testis function, spermatogenesis, and fertility in males. This study also provides the first direct evidence for the importance of androgen-driven stromal-epithelial interactions underpinning the regulation of spermatogenesis; PTM-ARKO mice will enable identification of the new molecular pathways involved.—Welsh, M., Saunders, P. T. K., Atanassova, N., Sharpe, R. M., Smith, L. B. Androgen action via testicular peritubular myoid cells is essential for male fertility.
