The Warburg-like effect in male reproductive events

The continuity, propagation, and success of a species depend on its reproductive capacity, which is linked to a striking metabolic control and cooperation between different testicular cells. These cooperative metabolic processes increase the complexity and specificity of reproduction. Male reproductive potential is marked by a metabolic Warburg-like effect cooperation established between Sertoli and developing germ cells. In this chapter, after a brief description of the structure and morphology of the male reproductive system, the metabolic features and the associated active signaling pathways (that mediate or control the male reproductive potential) are discussed. The differentiation processes of germline cells are dependent on metabolic changes that occur throughout the reproductive tract, particularly the Warburg-like effect of Sertoli cells. Different cell types, in different degrees of differentiation, present a dependence on oxidative pathways or fermentative pathways, varying according to the needs but lactate production by Sertoli cells is a key control point.