Centre for Reproduction and Development

Testis development and germ cell differentiation

Lab head: Associate Professor Kate Loveland

Lab team

Male reproductive health is determined by events in the fetus, in the juvenile period and adulthood.  Our research aims to understand what underpins normal testis development and germ cell maturation so that we can develop preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for conditions such as crytorchidism, testicular cancer and male infertility.

Research Interests
Sperm production in the adult is critically dependent on a unique population of germ line stem cells and their supporting sertoli cells. These spermatogenic stem cells represent the only truly immortal cell population present in the adult body, and they undergo a complex sequence of differentiation events to ensure the male gamete is poised to carry its genetic cargo into the next generation.  Our research is focused on understanding how this cell population is established and what guides their maturation.  We view this as a unique opportunity to explore paradigms in cell fate decisions relating to a more global sense to normal and disregulated (i.e. Oncogenic) development. 

The Story in Greater Detail
By investigating the mechanisms that underpin testis development and germ cell differentiation, we aim to understand the underlying causes of testicular cancer and male infertility, and provide long-term solutions to problems which are increasing in frequency in many populations.  Our research has demonstrated key switches in the molecules that regulate cell fate decisions, including the bcl-2 family of apoptotic regulators and the pleiotropic TGFβ superfamily of ligands. Recent involvement with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development has led us to investigations of the role of regulated nuclear transport in spermatogenesis, findings with implications for cell differentiation in many other systems.

Studies in the lab include investigating the earliest time in embryonic life when the germline is established, using embryonic stem cells which can be maintained in culture for prolonged periods and then driven to form specific kinds of cells.  Our work also addresses how signaling from specific growth factors in the TGFβ superfamily influence growth of the fetal testis, using genetically modified mice as models for understanding key steps in formation of the cords and appropriate growth of the most immature sperm precursor cells.  We are interested in how perturbations to the fetal testis can lead to the formation of aberrant cells with the potential to cause testicular cancer in humans.  The growth of the testis before puberty is crucial for achievement of full fertility in adulthood, and we are studying the hormones and factors that control this.