Leydig Cells

Barry Zirkin, PhD, is Professor Emeritus, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research interests include the molecular regulation of adult and aging Leydig cell steroidogenic function, the formation of Leydig cells from stem cells, the effects of environmental chemicals on Leydig cell formation and steroidogenic function, and the role of testosterone in regulating mammalian spermatogenesis,Ilpo Huhtaniemi, MD, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Reproductive Endocrinology at the Imperial College London, UK, and Professor Emeritus of Physiology at the University of Turku, Finland. His research interests include clinical and basic reproductive endocrinology, the function of gonadotrophins, the regulation and treatment of late-onset hypogonadism in middle-aged and elderly men, and the translation of basic concepts to clinical treatment.Dolores Lamb, PhD, is Professor of Surgery at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.  She is an investigator in the fields of urology, male infertility, steroid hormone action, prostate cancer and genitourinary birth defects. She has an extensive background in both the clinical and the basic science arenas in men's health, focused on the genetics of male infertility, specifically non-obstructive azoospermia, the genomics of genitourinary birth defects, steroid regulated growth of male reproductive tumors, and areas of benign urologic research.Vassilios Papadopoulos, DPharm, PhD, is Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. His research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases related to altered steroid hormone synthesis, including endocrine pathologies, male reproductive disorders, neurological diseases, and cancer.

• Section 1: Leydig Cells from Fetus Through Aging.- Chapter 1: History, Present, and Challenges for the Future in Leydig Cell Research.- Chapter 2: Fetal Leydig Cells: Formation, Properties, Function and Fate.- Chapter 3: The Maturation Process of Leydig Cells During Puberty.- Chapter 4: Cell Biology and Steroidogenesis of Adult and Aged Leydig Cells.- Chapter 5: Species Differences in Leydig Cell Structure and Function.- Chapter 6: Cell Models for Leydig Cell Function and Regulation.- Section 2: Leydig Cell Steroidogenesis Regulation and Mechanisms.- Chapter 7: The Hypothalamus-Pituitary in Males in Health and Disease.- Chapter 8: Luteinizing Hormone Receptor: Structure, Signaling Mechanisms and Physiological Functions in Leydig Cells.- Chapter 9: Transcription Factors in Leydig Cells.- Chapter 10: Leydig Cell Interaction with Macrophages, Peritubular Cells and Sertoli Cells.- Chapter 11: Pharmacologic Influences on Leydig Cell Steroidogenic Function and Testosterone.- Section 3: Leydig Cell Function in Health and Pathophysiology.-  Chapter 12: The Androgen Receptor: Key to Testosterone Function and Androgen Sensitivity.- Chapter 13: Testosterone and Spermatogenesis.- Chapter 14: Testosterone and Sexual Function.-Chapter 15: Leydig Cell Estradiol Formation: Effects on Spermatogenesis and Fertility.- Chapter 16: Clinical Diagnosis of Leydig Cell Dysfunction.- Chapter 17: Testosterone Measurement, Use and Misuse.- Chapter 18: Testosterone Replacement Therapy.- Chapter 19: Anabolic Effects of Testosterone.- Chapter 20: Molecular Basis of Leydig Cell and Downstream Signaling Dysfunction Causing Micropenis, Cryptorchidism and/or Hypospadias.- Chapter 21: The Leydig cell hormone INSL3 in fetal and adult physiology.- Chapter 22: Testosterone and osteoporosis.- Chapter 23: Psychological and Behavioral Effects of Testosterone.- Chapter 24: Mutations Affecting Leydig Cell Function.- Chapter 25: Leydig Cell Tumors.- Chapter 26: Toxicant Effects on Leydig Cell Development and Adult Function.- Chapter 27: Late-onset hypogonadism: pathophysiology and diagnosis .- Chapter 28: Testosterone Treatment of Late-Onset Hypogonadism: Benefits and Risks.- Chapter 29: Testosterone and Male Contraception.- Chapter 30: Testosterone and Cardiovascular Disease.- Chapter 31: Testosterone Effects on the Prostate: Focusing on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.- Chapter 32: Testosterone and Prostate Cancer.- Chapter 33: Testosterone and Sickle Cell Disease.- Chapter 34: Leydig Cell Function in Obesity and Diabetes.- Chapter 35: Leydig Cells, Testosterone, Sleep and Andrological Health.