Abstract
In addition to its essential role for the survival, development and differentiation of neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems, nerve growth factor (NGF) seems to exert also a variety of nonneurotrophic activities. In particular, there is considerable evidence for crucial functions of NGF within the male reproductive system. For example, functional studies indicated the presence of 13 ng of biologically active NGF per g of mouse testis and even a tenfold higher amount of NGF per g of epididymis (Ayer-LeLievre et al., 1988). By in situ hybridization, NGF mRNA was localized to germ cells in seminiferous tubules and to epithelial cells of the ductus epididymis (Ayer-LeLievre et al., 1988). Similar levels of NGF were also ascertained in human testis (Seidl and Holstein, 1990).
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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Müller, D., Paust, HJ., Middendorff, R., Davidoff, M.S. (1997). Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Receptors in Male Reproductive Organs. In: Ivell, R., Holstein, AF. (eds) The Fate of the Male Germ Cell. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 424. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5913-9_29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5913-9_29
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