Elucidation of somatic testicular cell abnormalities in male infertility and their application to new gene therapy

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16706
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: NOZAKI SATOSHI 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 研究員 (50813432)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ライディッヒ細胞 / ホルモン異常 / 精巣毒性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Advances in assisted reproductive technology in male infertility have made remarkable progress, and surgery to collect intratesticular sperm under a microscope has become the standard treatment. However, sperm are not found in more than half, and it is necessary to establish a new treatment method. Therefore, we focused on testicular somatic cells rather than germ cells. As a result, we succeeded in isolating Leydig cells and clarified the mechanism of sperm dysfunction in hormonally abnormal male infertility model animals.

Free Research Field

アンドロロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、精巣の体細胞であるライディッヒ細胞を効率よく分離することに成功した。また、LH-RH製剤を投与したホルモン異常男性不妊症モデル動物において、精巣間質の拡大とIL-6分泌の増加を明らかにした。今後、精巣間質の主体であるライディッヒ細胞をターゲットとする治療を行うことにより、次世代に伝播しない遺伝子治療が可能になると考える。