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Mort programmée des cellules germinales testiculaires: causes et mécanismes mis en jeu

Apoptotic process in testicular germ cells: causes and mechanisms

Résumé

La spermatogenèse résulte d'un équilibre entre prolifération et apoptose. Si cet équilibre est rompu il peut conduire à certaines pathologies testiculaires: cancers testiculaires, infertilités. L'apoptose semble être particulièrement importante lors de la spermatogenèse puisque 60 à 75% des cellules germinales formées n'atteignent pas le stade spermatozoïde.

Dans les cellules germinales de rongeurs ou bien humaines, les différentes molécules de l'apoptose ont été détectées: caspases effectrices qui sont au cœur du processus et en amont les protéines de la voie des récepteurs de mort ou de la voie mitochondriale. Selon le type d'apoptose des cellules germinales (apoptose physiologique, induite par un retrait hormonal, par des lésions chimiques ou physiques), une ou les différentes voies entrent en jeu.

Enfin, dans différentes pathologies testiculaires humaines, les voies de l'apoptose et particulièrement les caspases semblent être impliquées.

Abstract

Spermatogenesis results from a balance between proliferation and apoptosis. An alteration in this balance could lead to testicular diseases such as testicular tumour or infertility. Apoptosis seem to be important in regulating the processes of spermatogenesis since 60 to 75% of germ cells do not reach the spermatozoa stage. The various molecules of the apoptotic cascade have been detected in rodent or human germ cells, such as effector caspases and upstream proteins from cell death receptor or mitochondrial pathways. One or several different pathways may be involved in the germ cell apoptotic process triggered physiologically, by hormonal deprivation, or by chemical or physical inducers. Finally, caspases appear to play a role in various testicular diseases (particularly infertility).

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Correspondence to Claire Mauduit.

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Bourse SALF 2004 de Recherche en Andrologie.

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Amara, S., Bozec, A., Benahmed, M. et al. Mort programmée des cellules germinales testiculaires: causes et mécanismes mis en jeu. Androl. 15, 263–277 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034773

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