Abstract: Glial cell line-derived neurophic factor(GDNF) is secreted by sertoli cells, peritubular myoid cells, spermatocytes and roud spermatids in testes, is a critical component during self-renwal of spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs) self-renewal. GDNF binds to GFRα1, expressed on the surface of SSCs, to form a heterodimer complex. As a consequence, this complex via activation of RET, triggers MAPK, SFK and PI3K-ATK signaling pathway to regulate SSCs self-renewal and differentiation.

Key words: GDNF, spermatogonial stem cells, self-renewal, mammalian