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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Ketoconazole | Research article

Identification of a window of androgen sensitivity for somatic cell function in human fetal testis cultured ex vivo

Authors: Malene Lundgaard Riis, Gabriele Matilionyte, John E. Nielsen, Cecilie Melau, David Greenald, Kristine Juul Hare, Lea Langhoff Thuesen, Eva Dreisler, Kasper Aaboe, Pia Tutein Brenøe, Anna-Maria Andersson, Jakob Albrethsen, Hanne Frederiksen, Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts, Anders Juul, Rod T. Mitchell, Anne Jørgensen

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Reduced androgen action during early fetal development has been suggested as the origin of reproductive disorders comprised within the testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). This hypothesis has been supported by studies in rats demonstrating that normal male development and adult reproductive function depend on sufficient androgen exposure during a sensitive fetal period, called the masculinization programming window (MPW). The main aim of this study was therefore to examine the effects of manipulating androgen production during different timepoints during early human fetal testis development to identify the existence and timing of a possible window of androgen sensitivity resembling the MPW in rats.

Methods

The effects of experimentally reduced androgen exposure during different periods of human fetal testis development and function were examined using an established and validated human ex vivo tissue culture model. The androgen production was reduced by treatment with ketoconazole and validated by treatment with flutamide which blocks the androgen receptor. Testicular hormone production ex vivo was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry or ELISA assays, and selected protein markers were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Ketoconazole reduced androgen production in testes from gestational weeks (GW) 7–21, which were subsequently divided into four age groups: GW 7–10, 10–12, 12–16 and 16–21. Additionally, reduced secretion of testicular hormones INSL3, AMH and Inhibin B was observed, but only in the age groups GW 7–10 and 10–12, while a decrease in the total density of germ cells and OCT4+ gonocytes was found in the GW 7–10 age group. Flutamide treatment in specimens aged GW 7–12 did not alter androgen production, but the secretion of INSL3, AMH and Inhibin B was reduced, and a reduced number of pre-spermatogonia was observed.

Conclusions

This study showed that reduced androgen action during early development affects the function and density of several cell types in the human fetal testis, with similar effects observed after ketoconazole and flutamide treatment. The effects were only observed within the GW 7–14 period—thereby indicating the presence of a window of androgen sensitivity in the human fetal testis.
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Metadata
Title
Identification of a window of androgen sensitivity for somatic cell function in human fetal testis cultured ex vivo
Authors
Malene Lundgaard Riis
Gabriele Matilionyte
John E. Nielsen
Cecilie Melau
David Greenald
Kristine Juul Hare
Lea Langhoff Thuesen
Eva Dreisler
Kasper Aaboe
Pia Tutein Brenøe
Anna-Maria Andersson
Jakob Albrethsen
Hanne Frederiksen
Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
Anders Juul
Rod T. Mitchell
Anne Jørgensen
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02602-y

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