Identifying disruptors of male germ cell development by small molecule screening in ex vivo gonad cultures

BMC Research Notes

Patrick S Western¹  Denise C Miles³  Stephanie I Wakeling² 

[1] Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, 27-31 Wright St, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia;Current addresses: SIW: Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia;Department of Molecular Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

关键词: Germ cell tumour;    Gonad;    Flow cytometry;    Organ culture;    Testicular dysgenesis;    Signaling;    Germ cell;   

Others  :  1142816
DOI  :  10.1186/1756-0500-6-168

 received in 2013-01-16, accepted in 2013-04-18,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Germ cell development involves formation of the spermatogenic or oogenic lineages from the bipotential primordial germ cells. Signaling mechanisms in the fetal testis and ovary determine whether germ cells enter the male or female developmental pathway, respectively. These signaling processes underpin an important phase of germ cell development, disruption of which can lead to failed germ cell function resulting in infertility or the formation of germ cell tumours.

Findings

In this study we have developed a small molecule screening protocol combined with flow cytometry to identify signaling pathways that direct male-specific development of germ cells. Here we provide a detailed method for this screening protocol, which we have used to identify signaling pathways important for male germ cell development.

Conclusion

This method will be of particular use in screening inhibitors of signaling pathways, endocrine disruptors or other chemicals for their ability to disrupt testis and germ cell development, thereby providing insight into testicular dysgenesis and factors underlying poor male reproductive health.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Wakeling et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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