Elucidation of blood-testis barrier formation by single-cell RNA sequencing and application to male infertility treatment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18149
• 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: KATO Taiki 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 研究員 (00620931)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 停留精巣 / セルトリ細胞 / 男性不妊

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sertoli cells are somatic cells that serve as scaffolds for spermatogenesis and support normal differentiation of spermatogenic cells through local hormone secretion and establishment of intercellular adhesion. We report the results of our study on Sertoli cell function in undescended testes. We investigated the relationship between testicular biopsy tissue from undescended testes and serum hormone levels reflecting Sertoli cell function in children with undescended testes (122 unilateral and 23 bilateral). The results were published in the Journal of Urology and showed that among bilateral undescended testis patients under 2 years of age, those with impaired Sertoli cell function had significantly lower spermatogenic cell counts and were at high risk for future male infertility, and that the risk of spermatogenesis dysfunction could be stratified according to serum hormone levels.

Free Research Field

小児泌尿器科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

停留精巣は幼少期から精子形成細胞数の減少がみられることが知られている。精巣生検における1精細管断面あたりの平均精子形成細胞数は、造精機能障害の予測因子となり、不妊リスクの指標として長年使用されてきたが、精巣生検は侵襲を伴うことが問題である。今回、私たちは生検を行わずに、セルトリ細胞の機能に注目して、不妊リスクを予測するバイオマーカーを確立し得た。停留精巣術後の父性獲得率は、片側例で89.5%、両側例で62%と報告され、その原因のひとつがセルトリ細胞の機能異常に起因する可能性が示唆された。