Testicular macrophages are recruited during a narrow fetal time window and promote organ-specific developmental functions

Abstract

How testis resident macrophages develop and influence tissue function is not fully understood. Here the authors use mouse lineage tracing methods to document the haematopoietic source, development and recruitment of early testicular macrophages, support of foetal testis differentiation, and interaction with, and promotion of steroidogenesis in, Leydig cells.