Penn vet researchers identify a critical growth factor that stimulates sperm stem cells to thrive
Friday, March 6, 2009 - 19:14
in Health & Medicine
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Pennsylvania State University have identified for the first time a specific "niche factor" in the mouse testes called colony stimulating factor 1, Csf1, that has a direct effect on sperm stem cell self-renewal. Moreover, the study shows that the origin of this growth factor is the Leydig cell - located in the testes and stimulated by the pituitary gland to supply testosterone - that secretes Csf1 and enhances self-renewal of the stem cells.