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Li N, Mruk DD, Tang EI, Wong CK, Lee WM, Silvestrini B, Cheng CY. Formins: Actin nucleators that regulate cytoskeletal dynamics during spermatogenesis. SPERMATOGENESIS 2015; 5:e1066476. [PMID: 26413414 DOI: 10.1080/21565562.2015.1066476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Formins are a growing class of actin nucleation proteins that promote the polymerization of actin microfilaments, forming long stretches of actin microfilaments to confer actin filament bundling in mammalian cells. As such, microfilament bundles can be formed in specific cellular domains, in particular in motile mammalian cells, such as filopodia. Since ectoplasmic specialization (ES), a testis-specific adherens junction (AJ), at the Sertoli cell-cell and Sertoli-spermatid interface is constituted by arrays of actin microfilament bundles, it is likely that formins are playing a significant physiological role on the homeostasis of ES during the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis. In this Commentary, we provide a timely discussion on formin 1 which was recently shown to be a crucial regulator of actin microfilaments at the ES in the rat testis (Li N et al. Endocrinology, 2015, in press; DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1161, PMID:25901598). We also highlight research that is needed to unravel the functional significance of formins in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research; Center for Biomedical Research; Population Council ; New York, NY USA
| | - Dolores D Mruk
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research; Center for Biomedical Research; Population Council ; New York, NY USA
| | - Elizabeth I Tang
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research; Center for Biomedical Research; Population Council ; New York, NY USA
| | - Chris Kc Wong
- Department of Biology; Hong Kong Baptist University ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Will M Lee
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
| | | | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research; Center for Biomedical Research; Population Council ; New York, NY USA
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202
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Otaka K, Hiradate Y, Kobayashi N, Shirakata Y, Tanemura K. Distribution of the sex chromosome during mouse spermatogenesis in testis tissue sections. J Reprod Dev 2015; 61:375-81. [PMID: 26073979 PMCID: PMC4623142 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2015-013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During mammalian spermatogenesis, spermatogenic cells undergo mitotic division and are subsequently divided into haploid spermatids by meiotic division, but the dynamics of sex chromosomes during spermatogenesis are unclear in vivo. To gain insight into the distribution of sex chromosomes in the testis, we examined the localization of sex chromosomes before and after meiosis in mouse testis sections. Here, we developed a method of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using specific probes for the X and Y chromosomes to obtain their positional information in histological testis sections. FISH analysis revealed the sex chromosomal position during spermatogenesis in each stage of seminiferous epithelia and in each spermatogenic cell. In the spermatogonia and leptotene spermatocytes, sex chromosomes were distantly positioned in the cell. In the zygotene and pachytene spermatocytes at prophase I, X and Y chromosomes had a random
distribution. After meiosis, the X and Y spermatids were random in every seminiferous epithelium. We also detected aneuploidy of sex chromosomes in spermatogenic cells using our developed FISH analysis. Our results provide further insight into the distribution of sex chromosomes during spermatogenesis, which could help to elucidate a specific difference between X and Y spermatids and sex chromosome-specific behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Otaka
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Miyagi 981-8555, Japan
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203
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Li N, Mruk DD, Wong CKC, Lee WM, Han D, Cheng CY. Actin-bundling protein plastin 3 is a regulator of ectoplasmic specialization dynamics during spermatogenesis in the rat testis. FASEB J 2015; 29:3788-805. [PMID: 26048141 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-267997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ectoplasmic specialization (ES) is an actin-rich adherens junction in the seminiferous epithelium of adult mammalian testes. ES is restricted to the Sertoli-spermatid (apical ES) interface, as well as the Sertoli cell-cell (basal ES) interface at the blood-testis barrier (BTB). ES is typified by the presence of an array of bundles of actin microfilaments near the Sertoli cell plasma membrane. These actin microfilament bundles require rapid debundling to convert them from a bundled to branched/unbundled configuration and vice versa to confer plasticity to support the transport of 1) spermatids in the adluminal compartment and 2) preleptotene spermatocytes at the BTB while maintaining cell adhesion. Plastin 3 is one of the plastin family members abundantly found in yeast, plant and animal cells that confers actin microfilaments their bundled configuration. Herein, plastin 3 was shown to be a component of the apical and basal ES in the rat testis, displaying spatiotemporal expression during the epithelial cycle. A knockdown (KD) of plastin 3 in Sertoli cells by RNA interference using an in vitro model to study BTB function showed that a transient loss of plastin 3 perturbed the Sertoli cell tight junction-permeability barrier, mediated by changes in the localization of basal ES proteins N-cadherin and β-catenin. More importantly, these changes were the result of an alteration of the actin microfilaments, converting from their bundled to branched configuration when examined microscopically, and validated by biochemical assays that quantified actin-bundling and polymerization activity. Moreover, these changes were confirmed by studies in vivo by plastin 3 KD in the testis in which mis-localization of N-cadherin and β-catenin was also detected at the BTB, concomitant with defects in the transport of spermatids and phagosomes and a disruption of cell adhesion most notably in elongated spermatids due to a loss of actin-bundling capability at the apical ES, which in turn affected localization of adhesion protein complexes at the site. In summary, plastin 3 is a regulator of actin microfilament bundles at the ES in which it dictates the configuration of the filamentous actin network by assuming either a bundled or unbundled/branched configuration via changes in its spatiotemporal expression during the epithelial cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- *The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dolores D Mruk
- *The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- *The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Will M Lee
- *The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Daishu Han
- *The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- *The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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204
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Kimura R, Yoshizaki K, Osumi N. Dynamic expression patterns of Pax6 during spermatogenesis in the mouse. J Anat 2015; 227:1-9. [PMID: 26032914 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a series of complex processes to generate mature sperm, and various molecules play crucial roles in regulating these processes. Previous studies imply a possibility that a transcriptional factor Pax6, a key player of brain and sensory organ development, could be involved in spermatogenesis, but neither expression nor function of Pax6 in the adult testis has been examined yet. In the present study, we described for the first time Pax6 expression dynamics in the adult mouse testis. Using cell-type-specific markers, the expression of Pax6 was detected in 67.0% of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (Plzf)-positive type A spermatogonia. The expression of Pax6 was also observed in p63-positive spermatocytes and round spermatids. We did not detect any expression of Pax6 in Sox9-positive Sertoli cells or in elongated spermatids and mature sperm. High-resolution analyses revealed that Pax6 formed a single dot-like structure during mid-phase of the pachytene spermatocyte. This dot-like structure co-localized with γH2A.X demarcating XY body, a domain in which X and Y chromosomes are silenced and compartmentalized. These results may suggest a novel role of Pax6 in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuichi Kimura
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kaichi Yoshizaki
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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205
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Steinhauer J. Separating from the pack: Molecular mechanisms of Drosophila spermatid individualization. SPERMATOGENESIS 2015; 5:e1041345. [PMID: 26413413 PMCID: PMC4581072 DOI: 10.1080/21565562.2015.1041345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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206
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Kumari M, Singh P. Tribulus terrestris ameliorates metronidazole-induced spermatogenic inhibition and testicular oxidative stress in the laboratory mouse. Indian J Pharmacol 2015; 47:304-10. [PMID: 26069369 PMCID: PMC4450557 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.157129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 12/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of the fruit extract of Tribulus terrestris (TT) on the metronidazole (MTZ)-induced alterations in spermatogenesis, sperm count, testicular functions, and oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty adult Swiss strain mice were divided into six groups. Animals of Groups I and II served as untreated and vehicle-treated controls, while that of Groups III and IV were administered with MTZ (500 mg/kg BW/day) and TT (200 mg/kg BW/day) alone for 28 days, respectively. Low (100 mg/kg BW/day) and high (200 mg/kg BW/day) doses of TT along with MTZ (500 mg/kg BW/day) were administered for 28 days in the mice of Groups V and VI, respectively. Twenty four hours after the last treatment, all the animals were euthanized to study the histological changes in the testis and sperm count in the epididymis. Testicular functional markers, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, were also assessed in the mice of all the groups. RESULTS Metronidazole caused marked alterations in the testicular weight, spermatogenesis, activities of antioxidant enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and the level of LPO. The epididymal sperm count also declined significantly in MTZ-treated group. These changes were partially restored following co-administration of 500 mg/kg BW/day of MTZ and 100 mg/kg BW/day of TT. However, in the mice co-administered with 500 mg/kg BW/day of MTZ and 200 mg/kg BW/day of TT, the changes reverted back completely, similar to that of the controls. CONCLUSION The fruit extract of TT ameliorates the MTZ-induced alterations in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinalini Kumari
- Department of Zoology, MMV, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Poonam Singh
- Department of Zoology, MMV, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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207
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Nistal M, Paniagua R, González-Peramato P, Reyes-Múgica M. Perspectives in pediatric pathology, chapter 4. Pubertal and adult testis. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2015; 18:187-202. [PMID: 25993606 DOI: 10.2350/12-11-1271-pb.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Nistal
- Department of Pathology, Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Arzobispo Morcillo #2, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Ricardo Paniagua
- Department of Cell Biology, Universidad de Alcala, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar González-Peramato
- Department of Pathology, Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Arzobispo Morcillo #2, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Miguel Reyes-Múgica
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, One Children's Hospital Drive, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
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208
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Song R, Yao X, Shi L, Ren Y, Zhao H. Effects of dietary selenium on apoptosis of germ cells in the testis during spermatogenesis in roosters. Theriogenology 2015; 84:583-8. [PMID: 25986065 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation on apoptosis of germ cells in the testis during spermatogenesis in roosters. Eighty 12-week-old Hy-Line Variety white roosters with an averaged body weight of 1.38 ± 0.2 kg were selected and randomly divided into four experimental groups. They were fed the basal diet (0.044 mg/kg Se dry matter) supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg/kg of Se dry matter (from sodium selenite). After the 45-day feeding experiment, testis samples were collected from the roosters of each treatment group to detect the population of apoptotic germ cells using the terminal deoxynucleotidy1 transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. The protein expression of cell cycle-related genes and the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of apoptosis and cell cycle-related genes had also been detected. The results show that the population of apoptotic germ cells in the control and 2.0 mg/kg groups was increased (P < 0.05) compared with that in the 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg groups. Expressions of CDC2 and CCNB1 protein in the control and 2.0 mg/kg groups were lower (P < 0.05) than those in the 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg groups. The mRNA level of CDC2 in the 0.5 mg/kg group was higher (P < 0.05) than that in other groups. The lowest (P < 0.05) mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes (BCL-2, CASPASE 3, CASPASE 8) were also obtained in the 0.5 mg/kg group. These results show that dietary Se of roosters can affect apoptosis of germ cells by regulating the mRNA expressions of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes in the testis during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruigao Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China
| | - Xiaolei Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China
| | - Lei Shi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China; Lab of Animal Reproduction, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China.
| | - Youshe Ren
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China; Lab of Animal Reproduction, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China
| | - Hui Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, PR China
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209
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Anand S, Patel H, Bhartiya D. Chemoablated mouse seminiferous tubular cells enriched for very small embryonic-like stem cells undergo spontaneous spermatogenesis in vitro. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:33. [PMID: 25903688 PMCID: PMC4407302 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-015-0031-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extensive research is ongoing to empower cancer survivors to have biological parenthood. For this, sperm are cryopreserved prior to therapy and in younger children testicular biopsies are cryopreserved with a hope to mature the germ cells into sperm later on for assisted reproduction. In addition, lot of hope was bestowed on pluripotent embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into sperm and oocytes. However, obtaining functional gametes from pluripotent stem cells still remains a distant dream and major bottle-neck appears to be their inefficient differentiation into primordial germ cells (PGCs). There exists yet another population of pluripotent stem cells termed very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in adult body organs including gonads. We have earlier reported that busulphan (25 mg/Kg) treatment to 4 weeks old mice destroys actively dividing cells and sperm but VSELs survive and differentiate into sperm when a healthy niche is provided in vivo. METHODS Mouse testicular VSELs that survived busulphan treatment were cultured for 3 weeks. A mix of surviving cells in seminiferous tubules (VSELs, possibly few spermatogonial stem cells and Sertoli cells) were cultured using Sertoli cells conditioned medium containing fetal bovine serum, follicle stimulating hormone and with no additional growth factors. RESULTS Stem cells underwent proliferation and clonal expansion in culture and spontaneously differentiated into sperm whereas Sertoli cells attached and provided a somatic support. Transcripts specific for various stages of spermatogenesis were up-regulated by qRT-PCR studies on day 7 suggesting VSELs (Sca1) and SSCs (Gfra) proliferate (Pcna), undergo spermatogenesis (spermatocyte specific marker prohibitin), meiosis (Scp3) and differentiate into sperm (post-meiotic marker protamine). CONCLUSIONS Process of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis was replicated in vitro starting with testicular cells that survived busulphan treatment. We have earlier reported similar ability of ovarian VSELs enriched in the ovary surface epithelial cells to form oocyte-like structures in vitro. This striking potential of spontaneous differentiation of primitive testicular cells including VSELs that survive chemotherapy is being described for the first time in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Anand
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
| | - Hiren Patel
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
| | - Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
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210
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Xiao X, Mruk DD, Wong CKC, Cheng CY. Germ cell transport across the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis. Physiology (Bethesda) 2015; 29:286-98. [PMID: 24985332 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00001.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Transport of germ cells across the seminiferous epithelium is crucial to spermatogenesis. Its disruption causes infertility. Signaling molecules, such as focal adhesion kinase, c-Yes, c-Src, and intercellular adhesion molecules 1 and 2, are involved in these events by regulating actin-based cytoskeleton via their action on actin-regulating proteins, endocytic vesicle-mediated protein trafficking, and adhesion protein complexes. We critically evaluate these findings and provide a hypothetical framework that regulates these events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Xiao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York; and
| | - Dolores D Mruk
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York; and
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York; and
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211
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Okano T, Onuma M, Ishiniwa H, Azuma N, Tamaoki M, Nakajima N, Shindo J, Yokohata Y. Classification of the spermatogenic cycle, seasonal changes of seminiferous tubule morphology and estimation of the breeding season of the large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus) in Toyama and Aomori prefectures, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2015; 77:799-807. [PMID: 25754934 PMCID: PMC4527501 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.14-0411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The large Japanese field mouse, Apodemus speciosus, is a potential indicator of environmental stress, but this function has not been confirmed by histological studies. Since environmental stress affects the reproductive function of mice, we determined the reproductive characteristics of this species at two locations: Toyama (36°35'N, 137°24'E) and Aomori (40°35'N, 140°57'E). Mice were captured during May-November (n=119) and July-November (n=146) at these locations, respectively. We classified the breeding season from the numbers of pregnant females and young, in addition to the spermatogenic cycle and seasonal changes in seminiferous tubule morphology of males. Testicular weight was measured, and seminiferous tubule morphology was examined histologically. Fourteen stages were found in the seminiferous epithelium cycle based on acrosome formation and spermatid head morphology. At both locations, the breeding season peaked from late summer to early autumn and possibly in spring. Spermatogenic activity was classified into 4 periods from June to November: resting around June and October-November; resumptive around July; active around August; and degenerative around September. During the resting period, the seminiferous tubules consisted of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Spermatogenesis began during the resumptive period, and spermatids were observed. During the active period, active spermatogenesis and a broad lumen were observed. During the degenerative period, spermatogenesis ended, and Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and degenerating exfoliated round spermatids were observed. This study provides scientific information about the testicular histopathological evaluations of the large Japanese field mouse for its use as an index species of environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsukasa Okano
- Ecological Genetics Analysis Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
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212
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Li Z, Wang H, Huang S, Zhou L, Wang L, Du C, Wang C. Establishment of stable MRP1 knockdown by lentivirus-delivered shRNA in the mouse testis Sertoli TM4 cell line. Toxicol Mech Methods 2015; 25:81-90. [DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2014.989350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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213
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Reis MMS, Moreira AC, Sousa M, Mathur PP, Oliveira PF, Alves MG. Sertoli cell as a model in male reproductive toxicology: Advantages and disadvantages. J Appl Toxicol 2015; 35:870-83. [DOI: 10.1002/jat.3122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana M. S. Reis
- Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, UMIB-FCT, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS); University of Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Ana C. Moreira
- Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, UMIB-FCT, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS); University of Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Mário Sousa
- Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, UMIB-FCT, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS); University of Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Premendu P. Mathur
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences; Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, India & KIIT University; Bhubaneswar India
| | - Pedro F. Oliveira
- CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre; University of Beira Interior; Covilhã Portugal
| | - Marco G. Alves
- CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre; University of Beira Interior; Covilhã Portugal
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214
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Tang EI, Mok KW, Lee WM, Cheng CY. EB1 regulates tubulin and actin cytoskeletal networks at the sertoli cell blood-testis barrier in male rats: an in vitro study. Endocrinology 2015; 156:680-93. [PMID: 25456071 PMCID: PMC4298315 DOI: 10.1210/en.2014-1720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, developing germ cells are transported across the seminiferous epithelium. Studies propose that because microtubules (MTs) serve as the tracks for transporting cell organelles, they may also serve a similar function in the transport of developing germ cells. Polarized MTs may provide the tracks along which polarized actin microfilaments, which act as vehicles to transport cargo, such as preleptotene spermatocytes through the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and spermatids across the epithelium. Yet the molecular mechanism(s) underlying these events remain unknown. Using an established in vitro Sertoli cell system to study BTB function, we demonstrated herein that a MT regulatory protein end-binding protein 1 (EB1) regulates the MT- and also the actin-based cytoskeleton of the Sertoli cell BTB in the rat. EB1 serves as a coordinator between the two cytoskeletons by regulating MT polymerization and actin filament bundling to modulate germ cell transport at the Sertoli cell BTB. A knockdown of EB1 by RNA interference was found to perturb the tight junction (TJ)-permeability barrier, as evidenced by mislocalization of junctional proteins critical for barrier function to facilitate spermatocyte transport, which was likely achieved by two coordinated events. First, EB1 knockdown resulted in changes in MT polymerization, thereby perturbing MT organization in Sertoli cells in which polarized MT no longer stretched properly across the cell cytosol to serve as the tracks. Second, EB1 knockdown perturbed actin organization via its effects on the branched actin polymerization-inducing protein called Arp3 (actin-related protein 3), perturbing microfilament bundling capability based on a biochemical assay, thereby causing microfilament truncation and misorganization, disrupting the function of the vehicle. This reduced actin microfilament bundling capability thus perturbed TJ-protein distribution and localization at the BTB, destabilizing the TJ barrier, leading to its remodeling to facilitate spermatocyte transport. In summary, EB1 provides a functional link between tubulin- and actin-based cytoskeletons to confer spermatocyte transport at the BTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth I Tang
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (E.I.T., K.-W.M., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065; and School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Kuo YC, Shen YR, Chen HI, Lin YH, Wang YY, Chen YR, Wang CY, Kuo PL. SEPT12 orchestrates the formation of mammalian sperm annulus by organizing core octameric complexes with other SEPT proteins. J Cell Sci 2015; 128:923-34. [PMID: 25588830 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.158998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Male infertility has become a worldwide health problem, but the etiologies of most cases are still unknown. SEPT12, a GTP-binding protein, is involved in male fertility. Two SEPT12 mutations (SEPT12(T89M) and SEPT12(D197N)) have been identified in infertile men who have a defective sperm annulus with a bent tail. The function of SEPT12 in the sperm annulus is still unclear. Here, we found that SEPT12 formed a filamentous structure with SEPT7, SEPT 6, SEPT2 and SEPT4 at the sperm annulus. The SEPT12-based septin core complex was assembled as octameric filaments comprising the SEPT proteins 12-7-6-2-2-6-7-12 or 12-7-6-4-4-6-7-12. In addition, the GTP-binding domain of SEPT12 was crucial for its interaction with SEPT7, and the N- and C-termini of SEPT12 were required for the interaction of SEPT12 with itself to polymerize octamers into filaments. Mutant mice carrying the SEPT12(D197N) mutation, which disrupts SEPT12 filament formation, showed a disorganized sperm annulus, bent tail, reduced motility and loss of the SEPT ring structure at the sperm annulus. These phenotypes were also observed in an infertile man carrying SEPT12(D197N). Taken together, our results demonstrate the molecular architecture of SEPT12 filaments at the sperm annulus, their mechanical support of sperm motility, and their correlation with male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Che Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ru Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Hau-Inh Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan Department of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hung Lin
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Yun Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Yet-Ran Chen
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yih Wang
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Pao-Lin Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
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216
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Murta D, Batista M, Trindade A, Silva E, Henrique D, Duarte A, Lopes-da-Costa L. In vivo notch signaling blockade induces abnormal spermatogenesis in the mouse. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113365. [PMID: 25412258 PMCID: PMC4239051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study we identified active Notch signaling in key cellular events occurring at adult spermatogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the function of Notch signaling in spermatogenesis through the effects of in vivo Notch blockade. Adult CD1 male mice were either submitted to a long term DAPT (?-secretase inhibitor) or vehicle treatment. Treatment duration was designed to attain one half the time (25 days) or the time (43 days) required to accomplish a complete cycle of spermatogenesis. Blockade of Notch signaling was depicted from decreased transcription of Notch effector genes. Notch signaling blockade disrupted the expression patterns of Notch components in the testis, induced male germ cell fate aberrations, and significantly increased germ cell apoptosis, mainly in the last stages of the spermatogenic cycle, and epididymis spermatozoa morphological defects. These effects were more pronounced following the 43 day than the 25 day DAPT treatment schedule. These results indicate a relevant regulatory role of Notch signaling in mammalian spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Murta
- Reproduction and Development, Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Batista
- Reproduction and Development, Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Trindade
- Reproduction and Development, Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Silva
- Reproduction and Development, Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Domingos Henrique
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António Duarte
- Reproduction and Development, Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Luís Lopes-da-Costa
- Reproduction and Development, Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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217
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Nakata H, Wakayama T, Takai Y, Iseki S. Quantitative analysis of the cellular composition in seminiferous tubules in normal and genetically modified infertile mice. J Histochem Cytochem 2014; 63:99-113. [PMID: 25411188 DOI: 10.1369/0022155414562045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish a quantitative standard for the cellular composition in seminiferous tubules at each stage of spermatogenesis in the mouse testis, and thereby evaluate abnormalities in the infertile mouse testis. We applied a combination of lectin histochemistry for acrosomes and immunohistochemistry for various specific cell markers, both of which were visualized with fluorescence, on paraffin sections of the testis. We first examined seminiferous tubules from normal mice and counted the number of each cell type at each stage of spermatogenesis. We then examined seminiferous tubules from genetically modified mice deficient (-/-) for one of the cell adhesion molecules, nectin-2 or nectin-3, and compared the number of each cell type at each stage of spermatogenesis with the corresponding value in normal mice. In both nectin-2-/- and nectin-3-/- mice, which are infertile despite the apparently normal morphology of the seminiferous epithelia, we measured a progressive loss in the later-step spermatids, with significantly lower numbers of step 11-16 spermatids in nectin-3-/- mice and step 15-16 spermatids in nectin-2-/- mice as compared with that in normal control mice. The present study demonstrated that a quantitative analysis of cellular compositions at different stages in seminiferous tubules was useful for evaluating abnormalities in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Nakata
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan (HN, TW, SI)
| | - Tomohiko Wakayama
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan (HN, TW, SI)
| | - Yoshimi Takai
- Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan (YT)
| | - Shoichi Iseki
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan (HN, TW, SI)
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218
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Fang P, Xu W, Li D, Zhao X, Dai J, Wang Z, Yan X, Qin M, Zhang Y, Xu C, Wang L, Qiao Z. A novel acrosomal protein, IQCF1, involved in sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction. Andrology 2014; 3:332-44. [PMID: 25380116 DOI: 10.1111/andr.296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
On the basis of the unknown tags in the mature human sperm serial analysis of gene expression library constructed by our laboratory, some transcripts were cloned, including Iqcf1 (IQ motif containing F1). To investigate the function of sperm-retained Iqcf1 in spermatogenesis and fertilization of mice, we investigated the spatial and temporal expression of IQCF1. By using the (transcription activator-like effector nuclease) strategy, Iqcf1-knockout mice were produced, and the phenotypes of the Iqcf1(-/-) mice were analyzed. The results showed that IQCF1 was localized in the acrosome of spermatozoa and spermatids; the expression of IQCF1 in testes was associated with spermatogenic capacity. The Iqcf1(-/-) mice were significantly less fertile than the wild-type mice (p = 0.0057) because of reduced sperm motility (p = 0.0094) and the acrosome reaction (AR) (p = 0.0093). In spermatozoa, IQCF1 interacted with calmodulin (CaM) and possibly participated in the tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins during capacitation. In conclusion, a newly identified acrosomal protein, IQCF1, is closely related to sperm capacitation and AR; in particular, it is involved in tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins through interaction with CaM. Research into the function of IQCF1 during fertilization could facilitate the investigation of the molecular mechanism of capacitation, which is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Fang
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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219
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Cardoso HJ, Figueira MI, Correia S, Vaz CV, Socorro S. The SCF/c-KIT system in the male: Survival strategies in fertility and cancer. Mol Reprod Dev 2014; 81:1064-79. [PMID: 25359157 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Maintaining the delicate balance between cell survival and death is of the utmost importance for the proper development of germ cells and subsequent fertility. On the other hand, the fine regulation of tissue homeostasis by mechanisms that control cell fate is a factor that can prevent carcinogenesis. c-KIT is a type III receptor tyrosine kinase activated by its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF). c-KIT signaling plays a crucial role in cell fate decisions, specifically controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. Indeed, deregulating the SCF/c-KIT system by attenuation or overactivation of its signaling strength is linked to male infertility and cancer, and rebalancing its activity via c-KIT inhibitors has proven beneficial in treating human tumors that contain gain-of-function mutations or overexpress c-KIT. This review addresses the roles of SCF and c-KIT in the male reproductive tract, and discusses the potential application of c-KIT target therapies in disorders of the reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique J Cardoso
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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220
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Qian X, Mruk DD, Cheng YH, Cheng CY. Actin cross-linking protein palladin and spermatogenesis. SPERMATOGENESIS 2014; 3:e23473. [PMID: 23687615 PMCID: PMC3644046 DOI: 10.4161/spmg.23473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the seminiferous epithelium of the mammalian testis, the most distinctive ultrastructure is the extensive bundles of actin filaments that lie near the Sertoli-spermatid interface and the Sertoli-Sertoli cell interface known as the apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES) and the basal ES, respectively. These actin filament bundles not only confer strong adhesion at these sites, they are uniquely found in the testis. Recent studies have shown that ES also confers spermatid and Sertoli cell polarity in the seminiferous epithelium during the epithelial cycle. While these junctions were first described in the 1970s, there are few functional studies in the literature to examine the regulation of these actin filament bundles. It is conceivable that these actin filament bundles at the ES undergo extensive re-organization to accommodate changes in location of developing spermatids during spermiogenesis as spermatids are transported across the seminiferous epithelium. Additionally, these actin filaments are rapidly reorganized during BTB restructuring to accommodate the transit of preleptotene spermatocytes across the barrier at stage VIII of the epithelial cycle. Thus, actin binding and regulatory proteins are likely involved in these events to confer changes in F-actin organization at these sites. Interestingly, there are no reports in the field to study these regulatory proteins until recently. Herein, we summarize some of the latest findings in the field regarding a novel actin cross-linker and actin-bundling protein called palladin. We also discuss in this opinion article the likely role of palladin in regulating actin filament bundles at the ES during spermatogenesis, highlighting the significant of palladin and how this protein is plausibly working in concert with other actin-binding/regulatory proteins and components of polarity proteins to regulate the cyclic events of actin organization and re-organization during the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis. We also propose a hypothetic model by which palladin regulates ES restructuring during the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Qian
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research; Center for Biomedical Research; Population Council; New York, NY USA ; School of Basic Medicine; Peking Union Medical College; Beijing, China
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221
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Tang EI, Xiao X, Mruk DD, Qian XJ, Mok KW, Jenardhanan P, Lee WM, Mathur PP, Cheng CY. Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) is a component of the ectoplasmic specialization in the rat testis. SPERMATOGENESIS 2014; 2:117-126. [PMID: 22670221 PMCID: PMC3364792 DOI: 10.4161/spmg.20724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
During the seminiferous epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis, the ectoplasmic specialization (ES, a testis-specific adherens junction, AJ, type) maintains the polarity of elongating/elongated spermatids and confers adhesion to Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium, and known as the apical ES. On the other hand, the ES is also found at the Sertoli-Sertoli cell interface at the blood-testis barrier (BTB) known as basal ES, which together with the tight junction (TJ), maintains Sertoli cell polarity and adhesion, creating a functional barrier that limits paracellular transport of substances across the BTB. However, the apical and basal ES are segregated and restricted to the adluminal compartment and the BTB, respectively. During the transit of preleptotene spermatocytes across the BTB and the release of sperm at spermiation at stage VIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle, both the apical and basal ES undergo extensive restructuring to facilitate cell movement at these sites. The regulation of these events, in particular their coordination, remains unclear. Studies in other epithelia have shown that the tubulin cytoskeleton is intimately related to cell movement, and MARK [microtubule-associated protein (MAP)/microtubule affinity-regulating kinase] family kinases are crucial regulators of tubulin cytoskeleton stability. Herein MARK4, the predominant member of the MARK protein family in the testis, was shown to be expressed by both Sertoli and germ cells. MARK4 was also detected at the apical and basal ES, displaying highly restrictive spatiotemporal expression at these sites, as well as co-localizing with markers of the apical and basal ES. The expression of MARK4 was found to be stage-specific during the epithelial cycle, structurally associating with α-tubulin and the desmosomal adaptor plakophilin-2, but not with actin-based BTB proteins occludin, β-catenin and Eps8 (epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8, an actin bundling and barbed end capping protein). More importantly, it was shown that the expression of MARK4 tightly associated with the integrity of the apical ES because a diminished expression of MARK4 associated with apical ES disruption that led to the detachment of elongating/elongated spermatids from the epithelium. These findings thus illustrate that the integrity of apical ES, an actin-based and testis-specific AJ, is dependent not only on the actin filament network, but also on the tubulin-based cytoskeleton.
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222
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Lee KH, Lee R, Lee WY, Kim DH, Chung HJ, Kim JH, Kim NH, Choi SH, Kim JH, Song H. Identification and in vitro derivation of spermatogonia in beagle testis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109963. [PMID: 25333749 PMCID: PMC4198177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vitro culture of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) is important for exploration of SSCs self-renewal, differentiation, and manipulation. There are several reports on rodent SSC cultures; however, data on SSC cultures in domestic animals are limited. To provide basic scientific information on canine SSC cultures, we report canine testes development, and the development of spermatogonia-derived colonies (SDCs) for in vitro cultures. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Testes from 2-, 3-, and 12-month-old beagles were used for histology, immunohistochemistry, in vitro culture, immunocytochemistry, and PCR. Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5)-positive spermatogonia, both single and paired, were found to be abundant in the testes of 2-month-old beagles. stempro-34 and Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium with 5% fetal bovine serum provided as useful substrates for culture of SDCs, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) played a key role in colony formation. Colonies were positive for alkaline phosphatase and anti-PGP9.5 staining. The early spermatogonia and stem cell markers such as octamer binding protein 4 (Oct4), Nanog homeobox (Nanog), promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF), PGP9.5, and GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα-1) were expressed in the colonies at higher levels than in the testis tissue. CONCLUSIONS Testes of the 2-month-old beagles had abundant single and paired spermatogonia, which can be used for derivation of SDCs, and FGF was important for colony formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hoon Lee
- Department of Animal and Food Bioscience, RIBH, Konkuk University, Chung-ju, Korea
| | - Ran Lee
- Department of Animal and Food Bioscience, RIBH, Konkuk University, Chung-ju, Korea
| | - Won Young Lee
- Department of Animal and Food Bioscience, RIBH, Konkuk University, Chung-ju, Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Kim
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Suwon, Korea
| | - Hak Jae Chung
- Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Suwon, Korea
| | - Jin Hoi Kim
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nam Hyung Kim
- Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University, Choung-ju, Korea
| | - Suk Hwa Choi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Chungbuk National University, Choung-ju, Korea
| | - Jae Hwan Kim
- Departmemt of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuk Song
- Department of Animal and Food Bioscience, RIBH, Konkuk University, Chung-ju, Korea
- * E-mail:
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223
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Hasegawa K, Namekawa SH, Saga Y. MEK/ERK signaling directly and indirectly contributes to the cyclical self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells. Stem Cells 2014; 31:2517-27. [PMID: 23897718 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Coordination of stem cell fate is regulated by extrinsic niche signals and stem cell intrinsic factors. In mammalian testes, spermatogonial stem cells maintain constant production of abundant spermatozoa by alternating between self-renewal and differentiation at regular intervals according to a periodical program known as the seminiferous epithelial cycle. Although retinoic acid (RA) signaling has been suggested to direct the cyclical differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells, it remains largely unclear how their cycle-dependent self-renewal/proliferation is regulated. Here, we show that MEK/ERK signaling contributes to the cyclical activity of spermatogonial stem cells. We found that ERK1/2 is periodically activated in Sertoli cells during the stem cell self-renewal/proliferation phase, and that MEK/ERK signaling is required for the stage-related expression of the critical niche factor GDNF. In addition, ERK1/2 is activated in GFRα1-positive spermatogonial stem cells under the control of GDNF and prevent them from being differentiated. These results suggest that MEK/ERK signaling directly and indirectly maintains spermatogonial stem cells by mediating a signal that promotes their periodical self-renewal/proliferation. Conversely, RA signaling directly and indirectly induces differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells. We propose that temporally regulated activations of RA signaling and a signal regulating MEK/ERK antagonistically coordinates the cycle-related activity of spermatogonial stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuteru Hasegawa
- Division of Mammalian Development, National Institute of Genetics; Division of Reproductive Sciences, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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224
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Song Y, Wu N, Wang S, Gao M, Song P, Lou J, Tan Y, Liu K. Transgenerational impaired male fertility with an Igf2 epigenetic defect in the rat are induced by the endocrine disruptor p,p'-DDE. Hum Reprod 2014; 29:2512-21. [PMID: 25187598 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deu208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the transgenerational effect of p,p'-DDE on male fertility? SUMMARY ANSWER Impaired male fertility with an Igf2 epigenetic defect is transgenerationally inherited upon exposure of p,p'-DDE. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY p,p'-Dichlorodiphenoxydichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) is one of the primary metabolite products of the ancestral organochlorine pesticide dichlorodiphenoxytrichloroethane. As it is a known anti-androgen endocrine disruptor, it could cause harmful effects on the male reproductive system. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Pregnant rats (F0) were administered with p,p'-DDE or corn oil at the critical time of testis development, i.e. from gestation days 8 to 15. Male and female rats of the F1 generation were mated with each other to produce F2 progeny. To reveal whether the transgenerational phenotype is produced by the maternal or paternal line, F3 progeny were generated by intercrossing control (C) and treated (DDE) males and females of the F2 generation according to the following groups: (i) C♂-C♀, (ii) DDE♂-DDE♀, (iii) DDE♂-C♀ and (iv) C♂-DDE♀. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Mature sperm and testes were collected from male offspring of the F1-F3 generations for the examination of male fertility parameters, i.e. sperm count and motility, testis histology and apoptosis. Expression of the imprinted genes, H19 and Igf2, was detected by real-time PCR. Igf2 DMR2 methylation was analyzed by bisulfite genomic sequencing. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Upon exposure of p,p'-DDE, the male F1 generation showed impaired male fertility and altered imprinted gene expression caused by Igf2 DMR2 hypomethylation. These defects were transferred to the F3 generation through the male germline. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study has examined the effect of p,p'-DDE only on the sperm number and motility and the possible mechanism of Igf2 DMR2 methylation in vivo and thus has some limitations. Further investigation is necessary to focus on the epigenetic effects of p,p'-DDE at the genome level and to include a more detailed semen quality analysis including sperm morphology assessment. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Impaired male fertility with epigenetic alterations is transgenerationally inherited after environmental exposure of p,p'-DDE, posing significant implications in the etiology of male infertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS The present research was supported by National Natural Science Fund for Young Scholar (81102161), the Natural Science Fund of Zhejiang Province (LY14H260004) and funding from the Health Department of Zhejiang Province (201475777). No competing interests are declared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Song
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Nanxiang Wu
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Simeng Wang
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Ming Gao
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Peng Song
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Jianlin Lou
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Yufeng Tan
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Kecheng Liu
- Hygiene Institute in Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, China
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Tscherner A, Gilchrist G, Smith N, Blondin P, Gillis D, LaMarre J. MicroRNA-34 family expression in bovine gametes and preimplantation embryos. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2014; 12:85. [PMID: 25179211 PMCID: PMC4162940 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-12-85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oocyte fertilization and successful embryo implantation are key events marking the onset of pregnancy. In sexually reproducing organisms, embryogenesis begins with the fusion of two haploid gametes, each of which has undergone progressive stages of maturation. In the final stages of oocyte maturation, minimal transcriptional activity is present and regulation of gene expression occurs primarily at the post-transcriptional level. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are potent effectors of post-transcriptional gene silencing and recent evidence demonstrates that the miR-34 family of miRNA are involved in both spermatogenesis and early events of embryogenesis. METHODS The profile of miR-34 miRNAs has not been characterized in gametes or embryos of Bos taurus. We therefore used quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) to examine this family of miRNAs: miR-34a, -34b and -34c as well as their precursors in bovine gametes and in vitro produced embryos. Oocytes were aspirated from antral follicles of bovine ovaries, and sperm cells were isolated from semen samples of 10 bulls with unknown fertility status. Immature and in vitro matured oocytes, as well as cleaved embryos, were collected in pools. Gametes, embryos and ovarian and testis tissues were purified for RNA. RESULTS All members of the miR-34 family are present in bovine spermatozoa, while only miR-34a and -34c are present in oocytes and cleaved (2-cell) embryos. Mir-34c demonstrates variation among different bulls and is consistently expressed throughout oocyte maturation and in the embryo. The primary transcript of the miR-34b/c bicistron is abundant in the testes and present in ovarian tissue but undetectable in oocytes and in mature spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS The combination of these findings suggest that miR-34 miRNAs may be required in developing bovine gametes of both sexes, as well as in embryos, and that primary miR-34b/c processing takes place before the completion of gametogenesis. Individual variation in sperm miR-34 family abundance may offer potential as a biomarker of male bovine fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Tscherner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Canada
| | - Graham Gilchrist
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Canada
| | - Natasha Smith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Canada
| | - Patrick Blondin
- L’Alliance Boviteq, 19320 Rang Grand St François Ouest, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
| | - Daniel Gillis
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Physical and Engineering Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Canada
| | - Jonathan LaMarre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Canada
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Osuru HP, Monroe JE, Chebolu AP, Akamune J, Pramoonjago P, Ranpura SA, Reddi PP. The acrosomal protein SP-10 (Acrv1) is an ideal marker for staging of the cycle of seminiferous epithelium in the mouse. Mol Reprod Dev 2014; 81:896-907. [PMID: 25158006 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The study of spermatogenesis requires accurate identification of the stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. A stage refers to the unique association of germ cell types at a particular phase of development, as seen in a cross-sectioned seminiferous tubule. Stage-identification, however, is a daunting task. There are 12 stages represented in the mouse seminiferous epithelium. Stages are typically identified on the basis of the morphology of the developing acrosome of spermatids. Although the characteristic features of the acrosome are well-documented in ultrastructure images, a reagent that can highlight the subtle differences in acrosome shape under the light microscope is lacking. Here we demonstrate that a polyclonal antibody raised against the mouse acrosomal protein SP-10 is extremely useful for stage identification. Immunohistochemistry showed that the anti-SP-10 antibody is highly specific for the acrosome of spermatids, as no other cell type in the epithelium showed immunoreactivity. At lower magnification, the gross shape of the acrosome and the increasing intensity of immunostaining served as a guide for the identification of stages I-XII. At higher magnification, characteristic morphological features-such as whether the part of the acrosome that contacts the nuclear surface is round (stage III) or flat (stage IV) or curved (stage VI)-could be identified unambiguously. Overall, we present evidence that SP-10 is a useful marker for staging the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. The anti-SP-10 antibody works well in different fixatives, on paraffin-embedded as well as cryosections, and has been shown to be useful for characterizing spermatogenic defects in mutant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari Prasad Osuru
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia
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227
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Nilsen A, Fusser M, Greggains G, Fedorcsak P, Klungland A. ALKBH4 depletion in mice leads to spermatogenic defects. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105113. [PMID: 25153837 PMCID: PMC4143218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
ALKBH4, an AlkB homologue in the 2-oxoglutarate and Fe2+ dependent hydroxylase family, has previously been shown to regulate the level of monomethylated lysine-84 in actin and thereby indirectly influences the ability of non-muscular myosin II to bind actin filaments. ALKBH4 modulates fundamental processes including cytokinesis and cell motility, and its depletion is lethal during early preimplantation embryo stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ALKBH4 deficiency in a physiological context, using inducible Alkbh4 knockout mice. Here, we report that ALKBH4 is essential for the development of spermatocytes during the prophase of meiosis, and that ALKBH4 depletion leads to insufficient establishment of the synaptonemal complex. We also show that ALKBH4 is localized in nucleolar structures of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Nilsen
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markus Fusser
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gareth Greggains
- Section for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter Fedorcsak
- Section for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail: (AK); (PF)
| | - Arne Klungland
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail: (AK); (PF)
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228
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Yuen BTK, Bush KM, Barrilleaux BL, Cotterman R, Knoepfler PS. Histone H3.3 regulates dynamic chromatin states during spermatogenesis. Development 2014; 141:3483-94. [PMID: 25142466 DOI: 10.1242/dev.106450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The histone variant H3.3 is involved in diverse biological processes, including development, transcriptional memory and transcriptional reprogramming, as well as diseases, including most notably malignant brain tumors. Recently, we developed a knockout mouse model for the H3f3b gene, one of two genes encoding H3.3. Here, we show that targeted disruption of H3f3b results in a number of phenotypic abnormalities, including a reduction in H3.3 histone levels, leading to male infertility, as well as abnormal sperm and testes morphology. Additionally, null germ cell populations at specific stages in spermatogenesis, in particular spermatocytes and spermatogonia, exhibited increased rates of apoptosis. Disruption of H3f3b also altered histone post-translational modifications and gene expression in the testes, with the most prominent changes occurring at genes involved in spermatogenesis. Finally, H3f3b null testes also exhibited abnormal germ cell chromatin reorganization and reduced protamine incorporation. Taken together, our studies indicate a major role for H3.3 in spermatogenesis through regulation of chromatin dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T K Yuen
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kelly M Bush
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Bonnie L Barrilleaux
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Rebecca Cotterman
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Paul S Knoepfler
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Genome Center, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital For Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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229
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Al-Asmakh M, Stukenborg JB, Reda A, Anuar F, Strand ML, Hedin L, Pettersson S, Söder O. The gut microbiota and developmental programming of the testis in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103809. [PMID: 25118984 PMCID: PMC4132106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrients and environmental chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, have been incriminated in the current increase in male reproductive dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The gastrointestinal tract represents the largest surface area exposed to our environment and thereby plays a key role in connection with exposure of internal organs to exogenous factors. In this context the gut microbiome (all bacteria and their metabolites) have been shown to be important contributors to body physiology including metabolism, cognitive functions and immunity. Pivotal to male reproduction is a proper development of the testis, including the formation of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) that encapsulates and protects germ cells from stress induced environmental cues, e.g. pathogenic organisms and xenobiotics. Here we used specific pathogen free (SPF) mice and germ-free (GF) mice to explore whether gut microbiota and/or their metabolites can influence testis development and regulation of BTB. Lumen formation in the seminiferous tubules, which coincides with the development of the BTB was delayed in the testes of GF mice at 16 days postpartum. In addition, perfusion experiments (Evans blue) demonstrated increased BTB permeability in these same mice. Reduced expressions of occludin, ZO-2 and E-cadherin in GF testis suggested that the microbiota modulated BTB permeability by regulation of cell-cell adhesion. Interestingly, exposure of GF mice to Clostridium Tyrobutyricum (CBUT), which secrete high levels of butyrate, restored the integrity of the BTB and normalized the levels of cell adhesion proteins. Moreover, the GF mice exhibited lower serum levels of gonadotropins (LH and FSH) than the SPF group. In addition, the intratesticular content of testosterone was lower in GF compared to SPF or CBUT animals. Thus, the gut microbiome can modulate the permeability of the BTB and might play a role in the regulation of endocrine functions of the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Al-Asmakh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jan-Bernd Stukenborg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ahmed Reda
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Farhana Anuar
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mona-Lisa Strand
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Hedin
- Sidra Medical and Research Center, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sven Pettersson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Olle Söder
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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230
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Oliveira PF, Martins AD, Moreira AC, Cheng CY, Alves MG. The Warburg effect revisited--lesson from the Sertoli cell. Med Res Rev 2014; 35:126-51. [PMID: 25043918 DOI: 10.1002/med.21325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Otto Warburg observed that cancerous cells prefer fermentative instead of oxidative metabolism of glucose, although the former is in theory less efficient. Since Warburg's pioneering works, special attention has been given to this difference in cell metabolism. The Warburg effect has been implicated in cell transformation, immortalization, and proliferation during tumorigenesis. Cancer cells display enhanced glycolytic activity, which is correlated with high proliferation, and thus, glycolysis appears to be an excellent candidate to target cancer cells. Nevertheless, little attention has been given to noncancerous cells that exhibit a "Warburg-like" metabolism with slight, but perhaps crucial, alterations that may provide new directions to develop new and effective anticancer therapies. Within the testis, the somatic Sertoli cell (SC) presents several common metabolic features analogous to cancer cells, and a clear "Warburg-like" metabolism. Nevertheless, SCs actively proliferate only during a specific time period, ceasing to divide in most species after puberty, when they become terminally differentiated. The special metabolic features of SC, as well as progression from the immature but proliferative state, to the mature nonproliferative state, where a high glycolytic activity is maintained, make these cells unique and a good model to discuss new perspectives on the Warburg effect. Herein we provide new insight on how the somatic SC may be a source of new and exciting information concerning the Warburg effect and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro F Oliveira
- CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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231
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Vencato J, Romagnoli S, Stelletta C. Trans-scrotal ultrasonography and testicular fine-needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of ram sperm production. Small Rumin Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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232
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Montagnini BG, Silva LS, dos Santos AH, Anselmo-Franci JA, Fernandes GSA, Mesquita SDFP, Gerardin DCC. Effects of repeated administration of methylphenidate on reproductive parameters in male rats. Physiol Behav 2014; 133:122-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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233
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Functional Analysis of KIF3A and KIF3B during Spermiogenesis of Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97645. [PMID: 24870586 PMCID: PMC4037190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatogenesis represents the transformation process at the level of cellular development. KIF3A and KIF3B are believed to play some roles in the assembly and maintenance of flagella, intracellular transport of materials including organelles and proteins, and other unknown functions during this process. During spermatogenesis in Eriocheir sinensis, if the sperm shaping machinery is dependent on KIF3A and KIF3B remains unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The cDNA of KIF3A and KIF3B were obtained by designing degenerate primers, 3'RACE, and 5'RACE. We detected the genetic presence of kif3a and kif3b in the heart, muscle, liver, gill, and testis of E. sinensis through RT-PCR. By western blot analysis, the protein presence of KIF3A and KIF3B in heart, muscle, gill, and testis reflected the content in protein level. Using in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, we could track the dynamic location of KIF3A and KIF3B during different developmental phases of sperm. KIF3A and KIF3B were found surrounding the nucleus in early spermatids. In intermediate spermatids, these proteins expressed at high levels around the nucleus and extended to the final phase. During the nuclear shaping period, KIF3A and KIF3B reached their maximum in the late spermatids and were located around the nucleus and concentrated in the acrosome to some extent. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our results revealed that KIF3A and KIF3B were involved in the nuclear and cellular morphogenesis at the levels of mRNA and protein. These proteins can potentially facilitate the intracellular transport of organelles, proteins, and other cargoes. The results represent the functions of KIF3A and KIF3B in the spermatogenesis of Crustacea and clarify phylogenetic relationships among the Decapoda.
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234
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Li RK, Tan JL, Chen LT, Feng JS, Liang WX, Guo XJ, Liu P, Chen Z, Sha JH, Wang YF, Chen SJ. Iqcg is essential for sperm flagellum formation in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98053. [PMID: 24849454 PMCID: PMC4029791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis comprises three successive phases: mitosis phase, meiosis phase, and spermiogenesis. During spermiogenesis, round spermatid undergoes dramatic morphogenesis to give rise to mature spermatozoon, including the condensation and elongation of nucleus, development of acrosome, formation of flagellum, and removal of excessive cytoplasm. Although these transformations are well defined at the morphological level, the mechanisms underlying these intricate processes are largely unknown. Here, we report that Iqcg, which was previously characterized to be involved in a chromosome translocation of human leukemia, is highly expressed in the spermatogenesis of mice and localized to the manchette in developing spermatids. Iqcg knockout causes male infertility, due to severe defects of spermiogenesis and resultant total immobility of spermatozoa. The axoneme in the Iqcg knockout sperm flagellum is disorganized and hardly any typical (“9+2”) pattern of microtubule arrangement could be found in Iqcg knockout spermatids. Iqcg interacts with calmodulin in a calcium dependent manner in the testis, suggesting that Iqcg may play a role through calcium signaling. Furthermore, cilia structures in the trachea and oviduct, as well as histological appearances of other major tissues, remain unchanged in the Iqcg knockout mice, suggesting that Iqcg is specifically required for spermiogenesis in mammals. These results might also provide new insights into the genetic causes of human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Ke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jue-Ling Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Ting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Sheng Feng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Xue Liang
- Central Laboratory, Lianyungang First People's Hospital, Lianyungang, China
| | - Xue-Jiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Hao Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yi-Fei Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sai-Juan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences and Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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235
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Hammoud SS, Low DHP, Yi C, Carrell DT, Guccione E, Cairns BR. Chromatin and transcription transitions of mammalian adult germline stem cells and spermatogenesis. Cell Stem Cell 2014; 15:239-53. [PMID: 24835570 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Adult germline stem cells (AGSCs) self-renew (Thy1(+) enriched) or commit to gametogenesis (Kit(+) enriched). To better understand how chromatin regulates AGSC biology and gametogenesis, we derived stage-specific high-resolution profiles of DNA methylation, 5hmC, histone modifications/variants, and RNA-seq in AGSCs and during spermatogenesis. First, we define striking signaling and transcriptional differences between AGSC types, involving key self-renewal and proliferation pathways. Second, key pluripotency factors (e.g., Nanog) are silent in AGSCs and bear particular chromatin/DNAme attributes that may "poise" them for reactivation after fertilization. Third, AGSCs display chromatin "poising/bivalency" of enhancers and promoters for embryonic transcription factors. Remarkably, gametogenesis occurs without significant changes in DNAme and instead involves transcription of DNA-methylated promoters bearing high RNAPol2, H3K9ac, H3K4me3, low CG content, and (often) 5hmC. Furthermore, key findings were confirmed in human sperm. Here, we reveal AGSC signaling asymmetries and chromatin/DNAme strategies in AGSCs to poise key transcription factors and to activate DNA-methylated promoters during gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saher Sue Hammoud
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences, and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Diana H P Low
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A(∗)STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore 119074, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Chongil Yi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences, and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Douglas T Carrell
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A(∗)STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore 119074, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
| | - Bradley R Cairns
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences, and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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236
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Li W, Wu J, Kim SY, Zhao M, Hearn SA, Zhang MQ, Meistrich ML, Mills AA. Chd5 orchestrates chromatin remodelling during sperm development. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3812. [PMID: 24818823 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most remarkable chromatin remodelling processes occurs during spermiogenesis, the post-meiotic phase of sperm development during which histones are replaced with sperm-specific protamines to repackage the genome into the highly compact chromatin structure of mature sperm. Here we identify Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 5 (Chd5) as a master regulator of the histone-to-protamine chromatin remodelling process. Chd5 deficiency leads to defective sperm chromatin compaction and male infertility in mice, mirroring the observation of low CHD5 expression in testes of infertile men. Chd5 orchestrates a cascade of molecular events required for histone removal and replacement, including histone 4 (H4) hyperacetylation, histone variant expression, nucleosome eviction and DNA damage repair. Chd5 deficiency also perturbs expression of transition proteins (Tnp1/Tnp2) and protamines (Prm1/2). These findings define Chd5 as a multi-faceted mediator of histone-to-protamine replacement and depict the cascade of molecular events underlying this process of extensive chromatin remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangzhi Li
- 1] Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA [2] Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- 1] Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA [2] Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Sang-Yong Kim
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Stephen A Hearn
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
| | - Michael Q Zhang
- 1] Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA [2] MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Division, Center for Synthetic and System Biology, TNLIST/Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Marvin L Meistrich
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Alea A Mills
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
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237
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Pachytene piRNAs instruct massive mRNA elimination during late spermiogenesis. Cell Res 2014; 24:680-700. [PMID: 24787618 PMCID: PMC4042167 DOI: 10.1038/cr.2014.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis in mammals is characterized by two waves of piRNA expression: one corresponds to classic piRNAs responsible for silencing retrotransponsons and the second wave is predominantly derived from nontransposon intergenic regions in pachytene spermatocytes, but the function of these pachytene piRNAs is largely unknown. Here, we report the involvement of pachytene piRNAs in instructing massive mRNA elimination in mouse elongating spermatids (ES). We demonstrate that a piRNA-induced silencing complex (pi-RISC) containing murine PIWI (MIWI) and deadenylase CAF1 is selectively assembled in ES, which is responsible for inducing mRNA deadenylation and decay via a mechanism that resembles the action of miRNAs in somatic cells. Such a highly orchestrated program appears to take full advantage of the enormous repertoire of diversified targeting capacity of pachytene piRNAs derived from nontransposon intergenic regions. These findings suggest that pachytene piRNAs are responsible for inactivating vast cellular programs in preparation for sperm production from ES.
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238
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Abstract
The transport of germ cells across the seminiferous epithelium is composed of a series of cellular events during the epithelial cycle essential to the completion of spermatogenesis. Without the timely transport of spermatids during spermiogenesis, spermatozoa that are transformed from step 19 spermatids in the rat testis fail to reach the luminal edge of the apical compartment and enter the tubule lumen at spermiation, thereby arriving the epididymis for further maturation. Step 19 spermatids and/or sperms that remain in the epithelium beyond stage VIII of the epithelial cycle will be removed by the Sertoli cell via phagocytosis to form phagosomes and be degraded by lysosomes, leading to subfertility and/or infertility. However, the biology of spermatid transport, in particular the final events that lead to spermiation remain elusive. Based on recent data in the field, we critically evaluate the biology of spermiation herein by focusing on the actin binding proteins (ABPs) that regulate the organization of actin microfilaments at the Sertoli-spermatid interface, which is crucial for spermatid transport during this event. The hypothesis we put forth herein also highlights some specific areas of research that can be pursued by investigators in the years to come.
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239
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Li MWM, Cheng CY, Mruk DD. Sertolin mediates blood-testis barrier restructuring. Endocrinology 2014; 155:1520-31. [PMID: 24467744 PMCID: PMC3959606 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Two important events that occur during mammalian spermatogenesis are the release of elongated spermatids at late stage VIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle and the restructuring of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) during stages VIII-XI. Still, it is not completely understood how these cellular events are accomplished within the seminiferous epithelium. In the present study, we investigate how sertolin, a protein that was initially identified, cloned, and partially characterized by our laboratory, functions in these critical events. Sertolin was found at the BTB, as well as at the apical ectoplasmic specialization and apical tubulobulbar complex, where it colocalized with epidermal growth factor receptor kinase substrate 8 and actin-related protein 3, two actin-regulatory proteins. Knockdown of sertolin by RNA interference showed Sertoli cell barrier function to be enhanced when assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance measurements and immunolocalization experiments. By contrast, the integrity of the BTB was disrupted when sertolin was overexpressed in vitro and in vivo. Sertolin overexpression also prompted germ cell loss from the seminiferous epithelium. Taken collectively, these results suggest that sertolin may be involved in coordinating spermatid release and BTB restructuring during spermatogenesis in the rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle W M Li
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
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240
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T-type Ca2+ channels in spermatogenic cells and sperm. Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:819-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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241
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Sertoli cells--immunological sentinels of spermatogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2014; 30:36-44. [PMID: 24603046 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Testicular germ cells, which appear after the establishment of central tolerance, express novel cell surface and intracellular proteins that can be recognized as 'foreign antigens' by the host's immune system. However, normally these germ cells do not evoke an auto-reactive immune response. The focus of this manuscript is to review the evidence that the blood-testis-barrier (BTB)/Sertoli cell (SC) barrier along with the SCs ability to modulate the immune response is vital for protecting auto-antigenic germ cells. In normal testis, the BTB/SC barrier protects the majority of the auto-antigenic germ cells by limiting access by the immune system and sequestering these 'new antigens'. SCs also modulate testis immune cells (induce regulatory immune cells) by expressing several immunoregulatory factors, thereby creating a local tolerogenic environment optimal for survival of nonsequesetred auto-antigenic germ cells. Collectively, the fortress created by the BTB/SC barrier along with modulation of the immune response is pivotal for completion of spermatogenesis and species survival.
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242
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The dynamic of the apical ectoplasmic specialization between spermatids and Sertoli cells: the case of the small GTPase Rap1. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:635979. [PMID: 24719879 PMCID: PMC3955676 DOI: 10.1155/2014/635979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 01/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in assisted reproductive technologies, infertility remains a consistent health problem worldwide. Spermiation is the process through which mature spermatids detach from the supporting Sertoli cells and are released into the tubule lumen. Spermiation failure leads to lack of mature spermatozoa and, if not occasional, could result into azoospermia, major cause of male infertility in human population. Spermatids are led through their differentiation into spermatozoa by the apical ectoplasmic specialization (aES), a testis-specific, actin-based anchoring junction restricted to the Sertoli-spermatid interface. The aES helps spermatid movement across the seminiferous epithelium, promotes spermatid positioning, and prevents the release of immature spermatozoa. To accomplish its functions, aES needs to undergo tightly and timely regulated restructuring. Even if components of aES are partly known, the mechanism/s through which aES is regulated remains still elusive. In this review, we propose a model by which the small GTPase Rap1 could regulate aES assembly/remodelling. The characterization of key players in the dynamic of aES, such as Rap1, could open new possibility to develop prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for male patients under treatment for infertility as well as it could lead to the identification of new target for male contraception.
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243
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Xiao X, Mruk DD, Tang EI, Wong CKC, Lee WM, John CM, Turek PJ, Silvestrini B, Cheng CY. Environmental toxicants perturb human Sertoli cell adhesive function via changes in F-actin organization mediated by actin regulatory proteins. Hum Reprod 2014; 29:1279-91. [PMID: 24532171 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deu011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can human Sertoli cells cultured in vitro and that have formed an epithelium be used as a model to monitor toxicant-induced junction disruption and to better understand the mechanism(s) by which toxicants disrupt cell adhesion at the Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier (BTB)? SUMMARY ANSWER Our findings illustrate that human Sertoli cells cultured in vitro serve as a reliable system to monitor the impact of environmental toxicants on the BTB function. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Suspicions of a declining trend in semen quality and a concomitant increase in exposures to environmental toxicants over the past decades reveal the need of an in vitro system that efficiently and reliably monitors the impact of toxicants on male reproductive function. Furthermore, studies in rodents have confirmed that environmental toxicants impede Sertoli cell BTB function in vitro and in vivo. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION We examined the effects of two environmental toxicants: cadmium chloride (0.5-20 µM) and bisphenol A (0.4-200 µM) on human Sertoli cell function. Cultured Sertoli cells from three men were used in this study, which spanned an 18-month period. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human Sertoli cells from three subjects were cultured in F12/DMEM containing 5% fetal bovine serum. Changes in protein expression were monitored by immunoblotting using specific antibodies. Immunofluorescence analyses were used to assess changes in the distribution of adhesion proteins, F-actin and actin regulatory proteins following exposure to two toxicants: cadmium chloride and bisphenol A (BPA). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Human Sertoli cells were sensitive to cadmium and BPA toxicity. Changes in the localization of cell adhesion proteins were mediated by an alteration of the actin-based cytoskeleton. This alteration of F-actin network in Sertoli cells as manifested by truncation and depolymerization of actin microfilaments at the Sertoli cell BTB was caused by mislocalization of actin filament barbed end capping and bundling protein Eps8, and branched actin polymerization protein Arp3. Besides impeding actin dynamics, endocytic vesicle-mediated trafficking and the proper localization of actin regulatory proteins c-Src and annexin II in Sertoli cells were also affected. Results of statistical analysis demonstrate that these findings were not obtained by chance. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION (i) This study was done in vitro and might not extrapolate to the in vivo state, (ii) conclusions are based on the use of Sertoli cell samples from three men and (iii) it is uncertain if the concentrations of toxicants used in the experiments are reached in vivo. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Human Sertoli cells cultured in vitro provide a robust model to monitor environmental toxicant-mediated disruption of Sertoli cell BTB function and to study the mechanism(s) of toxicant-induced testicular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Xiao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
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244
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TAp73 is required for spermatogenesis and the maintenance of male fertility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:1843-8. [PMID: 24449892 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1323416111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of viable sperm proceeds through a series of coordinated steps, including germ cell self-renewal, meiotic recombination, and terminal differentiation into functional spermatozoa. The p53 family of transcription factors, including p53, p63, and p73, are critical for many physiological processes, including female fertility, but little is known about their functions in spermatogenesis. Here, we report that deficiency of the TAp73 isoform, but not p53 or ΔNp73, results in male infertility because of severe impairment of spermatogenesis. Mice lacking TAp73 exhibited increased DNA damage and cell death in spermatogonia, disorganized apical ectoplasmic specialization, malformed spermatids, and marked hyperspermia. We demonstrated that TAp73 regulates the mRNA levels of crucial genes involved in germ stem/progenitor cells (CDKN2B), spermatid maturation/spermiogenesis (metalloproteinase and serine proteinase inhibitors), and steroidogenesis (CYP21A2 and progesterone receptor). These alterations of testicular histology and gene expression patterns were specific to TAp73 null mice and not features of mice lacking p53. Our work provides previously unidentified in vivo evidence that TAp73 has a unique role in spermatogenesis that ensures the maintenance of mitotic cells and normal spermiogenesis. These results may have implications for the diagnosis and management of human male infertility.
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245
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Zhuang T, Hess RA, Kolla V, Higashi M, Raabe TD, Brodeur GM. CHD5 is required for spermiogenesis and chromatin condensation. Mech Dev 2013; 131:35-46. [PMID: 24252660 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2013.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/31/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Haploid spermatids undergo extensive cellular, molecular and morphological changes to form spermatozoa during spermiogenesis. Abnormalities in these steps can lead to serious male fertility problems, from oligospermia to complete azoospermia. CHD5 is a chromatin-remodeling nuclear protein expressed almost exclusively in the brain and testis. Male Chd5 knockout (KO) mice have deregulated spermatogenesis, characterized by immature sloughing of spermatids, spermiation failure, disorganization of the spermatogenic cycle and abnormal head morphology in elongating spermatids. This results in the inappropriate placement and juxtaposition of germ cell types within the epithelium. Sperm that did enter the epididymis displayed irregular shaped sperm heads, and retained cytoplasmic components. These sperm also stained positively for acidic aniline, indicating improper removal of histones and lack of proper chromatin condensation. Electron microscopy showed that spermatids in the seminiferous tubules of Chd5 KO mice have extensive nuclear deformation, with irregular shaped heads of elongated spermatids, and lack the progression of chromatin condensation in an anterior-to-posterior direction. However, the mRNA expression levels of other important genes controlling spermatogenesis were not affected. Chd5 KO mice also showed decreased H4 hyperacetylation beginning at stage IX, step 9, which is vital for the histone-transition protein replacement in spermiogenesis. Our data indicate that CHD5 is required for normal spermiogenesis, especially for spermatid chromatin condensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiangang Zhuang
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Rex A Hess
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, United States
| | - Venkatadri Kolla
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Mayumi Higashi
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Tobias D Raabe
- Penn Gene Targeting Service, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Garrett M Brodeur
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; The Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
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246
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Duan W, Liu C, Wu H, Chen C, Zhang T, Gao P, Luo X, Yu Z, Zhou Z. Effects of exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on spermatogenesis in adult rats. Bioelectromagnetics 2013; 35:58-69. [PMID: 24122970 DOI: 10.1002/bem.21816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The constant exposure of modern society to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) has raised considerable concerns about the potential risks to male reproduction. However, the epidemiological and experimental data remain contradictory and inconclusive. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 50 Hz ELF-MF of 500 µT applied 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 4 and 8 weeks on male reproduction, focusing on changes in spermatogenesis. Several biological endpoints related to testicular function and spermatogenesis were measured, including the following: body mass, masses of testes and epididymis, sperm count and abnormal sperm ratio in the caudal epididymis, serum testosterone level, testicular histology, frequency of 14 stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and of four stages of meiosis I, germ cell apoptosis and testicular oxidative status. No significant differences were found in the biological endpoints between the sham control and the exposed rats in either the 4- or 8-week exposure period. These negative results may result from the lack of change in serum testosterone. In conclusion, our study indicates that exposure to low intensity ELF-MF may have no adverse effects on spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixia Duan
- Department of Occupational Health, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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247
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Liu C, Duan W, Zhang L, Xu S, Li R, Chen C, He M, Lu Y, Wu H, Yu Z, Zhou Z. Bisphenol A exposure at an environmentally relevant dose induces meiotic abnormalities in adult male rats. Cell Tissue Res 2013; 355:223-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-013-1723-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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248
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Hu JR, Liu M, Wang DH, Hu YJ, Tan FQ, Yang WX. Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a KIFC1-like kinesin gene in the testis of Eumeces chinensis. Mol Biol Rep 2013; 40:6645-6655. [PMID: 24078165 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-013-2779-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The member of the kinesin-14 subfamily, KIFC1, is a carboxyl-terminal motor protein that plays an important role in the elongation of nucleus and acrosome biogenesis during the spermiogenesis of mammals. Here, we had cloned and sequenced the cDNA of a mammalian KIFC1 homologue (termed ec-KIFC1) from the total RNA of the testis of the reptile Eumeces chinensis. The full-length sequence was 2,339 bp that contained a 216 bp 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR), a 194 bp 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) and a 1,929 bp open reading frame that encoded a special protein of 643 amino acids (aa). The calculated molecular weight of the putative ec-KIFC1 was 71 kDa and its estimated isoelectric point was 9.47. The putative ec-KIFC1 protein owns a tail domain from 1 to 116 aa, a stalk domain from 117 to 291 aa and a conserved carboxyl motor domain from 292 to 642 aa. Protein alignment demonstrated that ec-KIFC1 had 45.6, 42.8, 44.6, 36.9, 43.7, 46.4, 45.1, 55.6 and 49.8 % identity with its homologues in Mus musculus, Salmo salar, Danio rerio, Eriocheir sinensis, Rattus norvegicus, Homo sapiens, Bos taurus, Gallus gallus and Xenopus laevis, respectively. Tissue expression analysis showed the presence of ovary, heart, liver, intestine, oviduct, testis and muscle. The phylogenetic tree revealed that ec-KIFC1 was more closely related to vertebrate KIFC1 than to invertebrate KIFC1. In situ hybridization showed that the ec-KIFC1 mRNA was localized in the periphery of the nuclear membrane and the center of the nucleus in early spermatids. In mid spermatids, the ec-KIFC1 had abundant expression in the center of nucleus, and was expressed in the tail and the anterior part of spermatids. In the late spermatid, the nucleus gradually became elongated, and the ec-KIFC1 mRNA signal was still centralized in the nucleus. In mature spermatids, the signal of the ec-KIFC1 gradually became weak, and was mainly located at the tail of spermatids. Therefore, the ec-KIFC1 probably plays a critical role in the spermatogenesis of E. chinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Rao Hu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, People's Republic of China
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249
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Wan HT, Mruk DD, Li SYT, Mok KW, Lee WM, Wong CKC, Cheng CY. p-FAK-Tyr(397) regulates spermatid adhesion in the rat testis via its effects on F-actin organization at the ectoplasmic specialization. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2013; 305:E687-99. [PMID: 23880313 PMCID: PMC4073987 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00254.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, the molecular mechanism that confers spermatid adhesion to the Sertoli cell at the apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES), a testis-specific F-actin-rich adherens junction, in the rat testis remains elusive. Herein, the activated form of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), p-FAK-Tyr(397), a component of the apical ES that was expressed predominantly and stage specifically in stage VII-early stage VIII tubules, was found to be a crucial apical ES regulator. Using an FAK-Y397E phosphomimetic mutant cloned in a mammalian expression vector for its transfection vs. FAK and vector alone in adult rat testes in vivo, its overexpression was found to cause defects in spermiation. These defects in spermiation were manifested by entrapment of spermatids in the seminiferous epithelium in late stage VIII-X tubules and were mediated by a disruption on the spatiotemporal expression and/or mislocalization of actin regulatory protein actin-related protein 3, which induces branched actin polymerization, epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (an actin barbed end capping and bundling protein), and palladin (an actin cross-linking and bundling protein). This thus perturbed changes of F-actin organization at the apical ES to facilitate spermiation, which also led to a concomitant alteration in the distribution and upregulation of adhesion proteins nectin-2 and nectin-3 at the apical ES. As such, nectin-2 and -3 remained at the apical ES to anchor step 19 spermatids on to the epithelium, delaying spermiation. These findings illustrate a mechanistic pathway mediated by p-FAK-Tyr(397) that regulates spermatid adhesion at the apical ES in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hin-Ting Wan
- 1The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York;
| | - Dolores D. Mruk
- 1The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York;
| | - Stephen Y. T. Li
- 1The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York;
| | - Ka-Wai Mok
- 1The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York;
| | - Will M. Lee
- 2School of Biological of Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and
| | - Chris K. C. Wong
- 3Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - C. Yan Cheng
- 1The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York;
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250
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Murta D, Batista M, Silva E, Trindade A, Henrique D, Duarte A, Lopes-da-Costa L. Dynamics of Notch pathway expression during mouse testis post-natal development and along the spermatogenic cycle. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72767. [PMID: 24015274 PMCID: PMC3755970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription and expression patterns of Notch pathway components (Notch 1–3, Delta1 and 4, Jagged1) and effectors (Hes1, Hes2, Hes5 and Nrarp) were evaluated (through RT-PCR and IHC) in the mouse testis at key moments of post-natal development, and along the adult spermatogenic cycle. Notch pathway components and effectors are transcribed in the testis and expressed in germ, Sertoli and Leydig cells, and each Notch component shows a specific cell-type and time-window expression pattern. This expression at key testis developmental events prompt for a role of Notch signaling in pre-pubertal spermatogonia quiescence, onset of spermatogenesis, and regulation of the spermatogenic cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Murta
- Reproduction and Obstetrics, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Batista
- Reproduction and Obstetrics, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Silva
- Reproduction and Obstetrics, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Trindade
- Reproduction and Obstetrics, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Domingos Henrique
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - António Duarte
- Reproduction and Obstetrics, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Luís Lopes-da-Costa
- Reproduction and Obstetrics, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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