Wnt signaling in spermatogenesis and male infertility

The Wnt signaling pathway is a classical pathway that controls several biological processes during early development and adult life. From a traditional view, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is particularly known to promote ovarian development; however, data from recent studies have reflected that Wnt signaling plays an inhibitory role in testis formation but may have some essential role during late stages of spermatogenesis. This chapter aims to review the role of Wnt signaling in the major events during testis development, testis determination and spermatogenesis. It also summarizes the effect of altered Wnt signaling on testis-related disorders and male infertility.