Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8) expression in maturing testis.

Aim: Although epidermal growth factor receptors are expressed in the testes, whether they signal through epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8) is unknown. Here we evaluated the expression pattern of Eps8 in the maturing testis.

Methods: The expression of Eps8 was analysed by Northern blotting, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting in primary Sertoli cell cultures and in testicular tissue of rodents.

Gene expression profiling of mouse Sertoli cell lines.

The proliferation and differentiation of Sertoli cells is regulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The molecular events following FSH stimulation are only partially known. To investigate FSH action in Sertoli cells, we established two novel FSH-responsive mouse Sertoli-cell-derived lines expressing human wild-type (WT) FSH receptor (FSHR) or overexpressing mutated (Asp567Gly) constitutively active FSHR (MUT).