Regulatory role of BMP2 and BMP7 in spermatogonia and Sertoli cell proliferation in the immature mouse

Abstract

We have demonstrated a stimulatory action of BMP2 and BMP7 in spermatogonia and Sertoli cell proliferation respectively. ActRIIB is the type II receptor expressed most in spermatogonia, whereas Sertoli cells specifically expressed BMPRIIB, in addition to ActRIIB. By contrast, the presence of ActRIIA was undetectable in either germ or somatic cells. The type I receptors ActRIA, ActRIB and BMPRIA were all found in both cell types, indicating that the observed effect of BMP2 and BMP7 on testicular cell proliferation may be mediated by a number of combinatorial interactions in the receptor complexes. These findings suggest that BMPs are involved in physiological paracrine signalling during the first wave of spermatogenesis.