INVESTIGATION OF A TESTIS PARACRINE FACTOR, P-MOD-S

睾丸体细胞在维持和 控制精子发生。 体细胞-细胞相互作用的分析 已经证明睾丸管周细胞 分泌P-Mod-S，一种局部衍生的非促有丝分裂旁分泌因子。 P-Mod-S 支持细胞的功能维持着生殖细胞的发育。P-Mod-S 已经显示出刺激支持细胞的程度比任何 已知影响细胞的单一调节剂。 因此，我们认为， 通过P-Mod-S介导的小管周细胞-Sertoli细胞相互作用， 假设在维护和控制 睾丸功能 本研究的目标是：1）确定 P-Mod-S对睾丸支持细胞的作用机制;2）确定P-Mod-S对睾丸支持细胞的作用机制。 P-Mod-S对支持细胞基因表达的影响 睾丸功能; 3）识别并初步表征P-Mod-S 受体的 这些目标的实现将为 对旁分泌因子P-Mod-S的认识及其在乳腺癌发病中的意义 维持和控制精子发生。 因此，进一步调查 睾丸旁分泌因子P-Mod-S将提供所需信息 对于未来可能设计的作用于睾丸的药物， 避孕药或用于预防不孕症。

Testicular somatic cells plays an integral role in the maintenance and control of spermatogenesis. Analysis of somatic cell-cell interactions within the testis has demonstrated that testicular peritubular cells secrete P-Mod-S, a locally derived, nonmitogenic paracrine factor. P-Mod-S the functions of Sertoli cells maintains germinal cell development. P-Mod-S has been shown to stimulate Sertoli cells to a greater degree than any single regulatory agent known to influence the cell. Therefore, peritubular cell-Sertoli cell interactions, mediated via P-Mod-S, is postulated to play a critical role in the maintenance and control of testicular function. The goals of this research proposal are:1) determine the mechanism of action of P-Mod-S on the Sertoli cell;2) determine the effects of P-Mod-S on the expression of Sertoli cell genes important for testicular function; and 3) identify and initially characterize the P-Mod-S receptor. The completion of these goals will provide additional understanding of the paracrine factor P-Mod-S and its significance in the maintenance and control of spermatogenesis. Thus, further investigation of the testicular paracrine factor P-Mod-S, will provide information needed for the potential future design of agents to act on the testis as a contraceptive or for the prevention of infertility.