High concentrations of FSH have been shown to boost in-vitro differentiation of germ cells from men with normal spermatogenesis and from some patients with in-vivo maturation arrest. This study shows that the differentiation-promoting effect of FSH is connected to protection against germ cell apoptosis and that both effects can be mimicked by the intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP)-elevating drug pentoxifylline. On the other hand, a high concentration of insulin, supposed to act at the insulin-like growth factor I receptor did not exert any effect either on differentiation or apoptosis of germ cells in vitro. These data show that the in-vitro effects of supraphysiological concentrations of FSH on human spermatogenesis are mediated by the classical FSH signal transduction pathway involving cAMP as a second messenger. Pentoxifylline may thus be useful as an alternative means for intracellular cAMP elevation in men with high circulating FSH concentrations leading to desensitization of the FSH receptor.

The effect of FSH on male germ cell survival and differentiation in vitro is mimicked by pentoxifylline but not insulin

Greco, Ermanno
2000-01-01

Abstract

High concentrations of FSH have been shown to boost in-vitro differentiation of germ cells from men with normal spermatogenesis and from some patients with in-vivo maturation arrest. This study shows that the differentiation-promoting effect of FSH is connected to protection against germ cell apoptosis and that both effects can be mimicked by the intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP)-elevating drug pentoxifylline. On the other hand, a high concentration of insulin, supposed to act at the insulin-like growth factor I receptor did not exert any effect either on differentiation or apoptosis of germ cells in vitro. These data show that the in-vitro effects of supraphysiological concentrations of FSH on human spermatogenesis are mediated by the classical FSH signal transduction pathway involving cAMP as a second messenger. Pentoxifylline may thus be useful as an alternative means for intracellular cAMP elevation in men with high circulating FSH concentrations leading to desensitization of the FSH receptor.
2000
FSH
In-vitro spermatogenesis
Insulin
Male germ cell
Pentoxifylline
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14245/11761
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