Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) acting on Sertoli cells of the testis plays important roles during reproductive development. FSH-R knockout (FORKO) mice provide a model to examine alterations in testicular and epididymal structure and function in its absence. Examination of the FORKO testis revealed a gross alteration of Sertoli cell structure indicative of a fluid imbalance. Functional parameters, such as ABP secretion were also significantly reduced in FORKO testis. Morphometry revealed quantitative reductions in seminiferous tubule size. The epididymal epithelium, appeared abnormal and morphometry revealed that epididymal tubule size was reduced in the knockout. Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis on sperm from the cauda epididymidis revealed significant alterations in parameters corresponding to sperm motility as well as sperm counts. These data suggest an important role for the FSH receptor on Sertoli cell structure and functions and on epididymal epithelial size and functions in relation to sperm motility.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.82247 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Grover, Amit |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Physiology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 002198696, proquestno: AAIMR12458, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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