Endocrine Abstracts

Specific ablation of the androgen receptor (AR) in selected target cells prevents the major developmental defects inherent to generalised AR inactivation (Tfm, ARKO) and allows a detailed analysis of the contribution of defined cells and molecular pathways to more complex effects of androgens. We successfully applied this approach in the study of the role of androgens in the control of spermatogenesis, by developing a Cre/loxP-based mouse model with a Sertoli cell (SC)-selecti...

Androgens influence transcription of their target genes through the activation of the androgen receptor (AR). Binding of the AR to DNA motifs in these genes is a critical step in this signal transduction process. The DNA motifs, called androgen response elements (AREs), can be classified in two classes: the classical AREs, which are in vitro also recognized by the other steroid hormone receptors, and the AR-selective AREs, which display selectivity for the AR. For in...

The androgen receptor (AR) is the conduit for androgen-induced fetal male sex differentiation, the acquisition of secondary sexual characteristics at male puberty and subsequently, the onset of spermatogenesis. The AR is expressed ubiquitously in early fetal development to permit male sex differentiation to occur: stabilisation of the Wolffian ducts to form the vas deferens, epididymis and seminal vesicles and morphogenesis of the genital tubercle and folds to form the penis, ...