Leydig cell loss and spermatogenic arrest in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A-deficient mice

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)A-deficient male mice were found to de velop progressive reduction of testicular size, Leydig cells loss, and sper matogenic arrest. In normal mice, the PDGF-A and PDGF-R alpha expression pa ttern showed positive cells ill the seminiferous epithelium and in intersti tial mesenchymal cells, respectively The testicular defects seen in PDGF-A -/- mice. combined with the normal developmental expression of PDGF-A and P DGF-R alpha, indicate that through an epithelial-mesenchymal signaling, the PDGF-A gene is essential for the development of the Leydig cell lineage. T hese findings suggest that PDGF-A may play a role in the cascade of genes i nvolved in male gonad differentiation. The Leydig cell loss and the spermat ogenic impairment in the mutant mice are reminiscent of cases of testicular failure in man.