Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to reveal the expression of adrenergic receptors(β1AR,β2AR,β3AR,α1A,α1B and α1D) and cholinergic receptors (M1,M2,M3,M4 and M5) mRNA in mouse testis during different periods,and the effects of NE and Ach on the differentiation of Leydig cells from development mouse testis. RT-PCR results showed that β1AR and β2AR mRNA expressed from postnatal day 1 (PD1) to PD50. β3AR,α1A and α1B mRNA only expressed in the earlier development period,no detected in mature testis. α1D mRNA expressed in mature testis,no detected in the earlier devepoment period. M1R,M2R,M3R and M5R mRNA expressed from newborn to the adult period,however,M4R mRNA only detected in the mature testis. Otherwise, we modified the methods to culture the Leydig cells in vitro on PD15,then treated with NE and Ach. The results showed that Ach improved the numbers of BrdU labeled cells in the culturing Leydig cells(P＜0.01). Adrenergic receptors and cholinergic receptors expressed through all the development stages in mouse testis. Ach enhanced the proliferation of Leydig cells during development stage.

Key words: adrenergic receptors and cholinergic receptors; norepinephrine (NE) and acetylcholine (Ach); Leydig cells; proliferation