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1 June 2005 Gene Expression in Rat Leydig Cells During Development from the Progenitor to Adult Stage: A Cluster Analysis
Ren-Shan Ge, Qiang Dong, Chantal M. Sottas, Haolin Chen, Barry R. Zirkin, Matthew P. Hardy
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Abstract

The postnatal development of Leydig cells can be divided into three distinct stages: initially they exist as fibroblast-like progenitor Leydig cells (PLCs) appearing in the testis by Days 14–21; subsequently, by Day 35, they become immature Leydig cells (ILCs) acquiring steroidogenic organelle structure and enzyme activities but metabolizing most of the testosterone they produce; finally, as adult Leydig cells (ALCs) by Day 90, they actively produce testosterone. The factors controlling proliferation and differentiation of Leydig cells remain largely unknown, and the aim of the present study was to identify changes in gene expression during development through cDNA array analysis of PLCs, ILCs, and ALCs. By cluster analysis, it was determined that the transitions from PLC to ILC to ALC were associated with downregulation of mRNAs corresponding to 107 genes. The downregulated genes included cell-cycle regulators, e.g., cyclin D1 (Ccnd1); growth factors, e.g., basic fibroblast growth factor (Fgf2); growth-factor-related receptors, e.g., platelet-derived growth factor α receptor (Pdgfra); oncogenes, e.g., kit oncogene (Kit); and transcription factors, e.g., early growth response 1 (Egr1). Conversely, expression levels of 264 genes were increased by at least twofold. Most of these were related to differentiated function and included steroidogenic enzymes, e.g., 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (Hsd11b2); neurotransmitter receptors, e.g., acetylcholine receptor nicotinic α 4 (Chrna4); stress response factors, e.g., glutathione transferase 8 (Gsta4); and protein turnover enzymes, e.g., tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (Timp2). The detection of Hsd11b2 mRNA in the array was the first indication that this gene is expressed in Leydig cells, and parallel increases in Hsd11b2 mRNA and enzyme activity were recorded. Thus, gene profiling demonstrates that postnatal development is associated with changes in the expression levels of several different clusters of genes consistent with the processes of Leydig cell growth and differentiation.

Ren-Shan Ge, Qiang Dong, Chantal M. Sottas, Haolin Chen, Barry R. Zirkin, and Matthew P. Hardy "Gene Expression in Rat Leydig Cells During Development from the Progenitor to Adult Stage: A Cluster Analysis," Biology of Reproduction 72(6), 1405-1415, (1 June 2005). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.104.037499
Received: 28 October 2004; Accepted: 1 February 2005; Published: 1 June 2005
KEYWORDS
developmental biology
gene regulation
Leydig cells
luteinizing hormone
steroid hormone receptors
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