Role of transcription factors Ad4bp/SF-1 and DAX-1 in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in human testicular development and idiopathic azoospermia

• Published in: International journal of urology 2006-06, Vol.13 (6), p.785-793
• Main Authors: KOJIMA, YOSHIYUKI, SASAKI, SHOICHI, HAYASHI, YUTARO, UMEMOTO, YUKIHIRO, MOROHASHI, KEN-ICHIRO, KOHRI, KENJIRO
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; azoospermia; Azoospermia - blood; Azoospermia - genetics; Azoospermia - pathology; Child; Child, Preschool; DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Infant; Leydig Cells - metabolism; Leydig Cells - pathology; Male; male infertility; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear - genetics; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear - metabolism; Receptors, Retinoic Acid - genetics; Receptors, Retinoic Acid - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Sertoli Cells - metabolism; Sertoli Cells - pathology; Spermatogenesis - genetics; Steroidogenic Factor 1; testis; testosterone; Testosterone - blood; transcription factor; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0919-8172; 1442-2042
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2006.01403.x

Background:  Ad4bp/SF‐1 and DAX‐1 are orphan members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of transcription factors. In order to obtain better understandings of human testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, we examined the expression levels of both factors in human normal and idiopathic azoospermic testes and investigated their physical meaning. Methods:  First, we examined the expression level of Ad4bp/SF‐1 and DAX‐1 by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis using eight normal human testicular tissues from infants to adults. Second, we performed quantitative RT–PCR using testicular biopsy samples obtained from 22 idiopathic azoospermic patients to examine the expression of Ad4bp/SF‐1 and DAX‐1, and analysed the correlation between the expression levels of both factors and the serum hormone levels or histological evaluation to study their potential correlation with steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis on idiopathic azoospermia. Results:  The expression levels of both factors in the normal testes increased with testicular development. Ad4bp/SF‐1 was abundantly expressed in Leydig cell, whereas DAX‐1 was expressed in Sertoli cells. The expression level of Ad4bp/SF‐1 in idiopathic azoospermic patients testes positively correlated with serum testosterone (P