Objective: To explore the role of neuregulin (neural regulation of protein, NRG) in the process of mouse spermatogonia proliferation.
Methods: Mouse testis fragments were cultured in the medium DMEM containing purified NRG1beta or NRG3 at the concentration of 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml, respectively, followed by BrdU immunohistochemical staining and determination of the proliferation rate of spermatogonia.
Results: Compared with the control group, neuregulin significantly promoted the proliferation of spermatogonia (P < 0.05). The proliferation rates of spermatogonia cultured in the medium with 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml of NRG13 were 1.69, 1.55 and 1.86 times, and those with 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml of NRG3 were 1.35, 1.54 and 2.11 times that of the control.
Conclusion: NRG1beta and NRG3 can promote the proliferation of mouse spermatogonia, and NRG is expected to be applied in the treatment of male infertility.