Overviews of Stem Cells for Gonadal and Adrenal Steroidogenic Cells

Abstract

Gonads and adrenal glands are the primary organs for the production of steroid hormones in mammals. Steroid hormones play important roles in development and are essential for the maintenance of homeostasis during adult life. To supply sufficient amounts of hormones, gonads and adrenal glands maintain their functions by replenishment of steroidogenic cells. It has been hypothesized that stem/progenitor cells of steroidogenic cells are important for this phenomenon. In fact, such cells have been recently identified in gonads and adrenal glands. However, steroid hormone production decreases progressively with age, causing problems such as menopausal disorders in women. Although steroid hormones are administered to these patients, induction of steroidogenic cells from stem cells is a potential strategy to prevent menopausal disorders. Here, we review the current knowledge on stem cells that replenish steroid hormone-producing cells in the gonads and adrenal glands. We also discuss induction of steroidogenic cells from stem cells derived from non-steroidogenic organs.

Induction of steroidogenic cells from adult stem cells and pluripotent stem cells [Review]

“…Experimentations were approached through transplantation studies and promoter-sorting analyses using MSCs isolated from rodent bone marrow. Because Leydig cells in the adult testes are known to differentiate until puberty from non-steroidogenic stem cells associated with seminiferous tubules [36][37][38], it was deemed possible to successfully transplant BM-MSCs into this in vivo environment. After 3 weeks, the transplanted BM-MSCs had colonized the interstitium, and whereby they expressed various steroidogenic enzymes similar to endogenous Leydig cells.…”