Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Extracellular matrix (ECM) has both structural and regulatory roles in tissues and influences the activity of local growth factors. In testis, ECM plays an integral role in the differentiation of germ cells and the function of support cells. It is becoming clear that sex steroids influence ECM and growth factors. In swine, suppression of aromatase activity resulted in an estrogen receptor-mediated increase in Sertoli cells (Berger et al. 2013), with sign...