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Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor actions in the embryonic testis influences normal cord development and

Mehmet Uzumcu1, Kristen A Dirks, Michael K Skinner

  • 1Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4231, USA.

Biology of Reproduction
|March 1, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors are present in developing testes. Inhibiting PDGF signaling disrupts embryonic testicular cord formation, altering cord morphology.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are crucial paracrine factors involved in mesenchymal-epithelial interactions.
  • PDGF and its receptor (PDGFR) expression has been noted in perinatal, peripubertal, and adult rat testes.
  • The specific role of PDGF in embryonic testicular cord formation remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of PDGFs and PDGFRs during embryonic testicular cord formation.
  • To determine if inhibiting PDGF signaling affects normal cord development in embryonic testes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized embryonic day 13 rat gonadal organ cultures for 3 days.
  • Treated cultures daily with vehicle or PDGFR-specific tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitors (AG1295 or AG1296).
  • Examined PDGF and PDGFR expression (mRNA and protein) across various embryonic and postnatal developmental stages.

Main Results:

  • Vehicle-treated testes exhibited normal cord formation.
  • Tyrphostin-treated testes displayed "swollen cords" with fewer, fused cords and increased diameter.
  • PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and PDGFR alpha/beta mRNAs were expressed throughout development; PDGF and PDGFR protein localized to specific testicular compartments.
  • Inhibitors did not impact apoptosis or cell growth but altered cord morphology.

Conclusions:

  • PDGFs and PDGFRs are expressed in a tissue-specific manner during embryonic testis cord formation.
  • Inhibition of PDGF signaling does not prevent cord formation but significantly alters normal cord development and morphology.
  • These findings offer insights into the molecular mechanisms governing male sex differentiation and embryonic testis development.

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