Background Varicocele (VC) is present in 35-40% of men with infertility. However, current
surgical and antioxidant treatments are not completely effective. In addition to oxidative …

Since their original discovery as regulators of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion
and erythropoiesis, the TGF-β family members activin and inhibin have been shown to …

The mammalian testis possesses a special immunological environment because of its
properties of remarkable immune privilege and effective local innate immunity. Testicular …

Activins are dimeric glycoproteins belonging to the transforming growth factor beta
superfamily and resulting from the assembly of two beta subunits, which may also be …

The purpose of this review is to describe the endocrine and local testicular factors that
contribute to the regulation of the blood-testis barrier (BTB), using information gained from in …

When it was initially discovered in 1923, inhibin was characterized as a hypophysiotropic
hormone that acts on pituitary cells to regulate pituitary hormone secretion. Ninety years …

Protection of the spermatogenic cells from the host immune response is fundamental to male
fertility. Significantly, this protection extends to the tolerance of foreign tissue grafts placed …

BACKGROUND Activins are members of the pleiotrophic family of the transforming growth
factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily of cytokines, initially isolated for their capacity to induce the …

Male germ cell development depends on multiple biological events that combine epigenetic
reprogramming, cell cycle regulation, and cell migration in a spatio-temporal manner. Sertoli …

To achieve and maintain fertility, the adult mammalian testis produces many generations of
sperm. While testicular integrity is established in the fetus and develops further in juvenile …