TABLE 4

Cytokines found in the rodent testes that regulate BTB function

TGF-β2TGF-β3TNFαIL-1α
Molecular mass25-kDa Homodimer with two 12.5-kDa monomers25-kDa Homodimer with two 12.5-kDa monomers51-kDa Homotrimer with three 17-kDa monomers17-kDa Monomer; 31-kDa precursor is also biologically active
Cellular association in adult testesSertoli cells, round spermatidsSertoli cells, spermatocytes, round spermatidsSertoli cells, spermatocytes, round spermatids, elongating and elongated spermatidsSertoli cells, spermatocytes, round spermatids
Stage-specific expression/localization
    I-IV−++−
    V-VII+++−
    VIII-IX−+−+
    X-XIV−−++
ReferencesTeerds and Dorrington, 1993Mullaney and Skinner, 1993; Lui et al., 2003bDe et al., 1993; Siu et al., 2003aHaugen et al., 1994; Syed et al., 1995

  • +, presence; −, absence.