Testicular Chromosome Structure and Gene Expression

The 2005 Workshop, published as volume 1061 of the Annals, focused on testicular cell dynamics and brought an influx of new information into the field of male reproduction. Several laboratories have been actively investigating the endocrine signals between the germ and somatic cells of the testis, revealing previously unknown patterns of cell signaling and cell-to-cell communication in male reproductive tract tissues.Work in this area will provide an opportunity to analyze male reproductive biology and the processes by which sperm are formed in the seminiferous tubule and androgen is synthesized in the interstitium of the testis. The different levels of organization in the testis, including the stages of spermatogenesis, enzymatic steps of steroidogenesis and the intracellular signaling pathways of hormones, are now more amenable for study and selection of potential targets for drug development. Capitalizing on these developments, the editors of this volume have chosen a roster of chapter contributors that is uniquely suited to stimulate research and development ideas among readers.