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Recchia K, Jorge AS, Pessôa LVDF, Botigelli RC, Zugaib VC, de Souza AF, Martins DDS, Ambrósio CE, Bressan FF, Pieri NCG. Actions and Roles of FSH in Germinative Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10110. [PMID: 34576272 PMCID: PMC8470522 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the pituitary gland in a coordinated hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis event, plays important roles in reproduction and germ cell development during different phases of reproductive development (fetal, neonatal, puberty, and adult life), and is consequently essential for fertility. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone of two dissociable subunits, α and β. The FSH β-subunit (FSHβ) function starts upon coupling to its specific receptor: follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR). FSHRs are localized mainly on the surface of target cells on the testis and ovary (granulosa and Sertoli cells) and have recently been found in testicular stem cells and extra-gonadal tissue. Several reproduction disorders are associated with absent or low FSH secretion, with mutation of the FSH β-subunit or the FSH receptor, and/or its signaling pathways. However, the influence of FSH on germ cells is still poorly understood; some studies have suggested that this hormone also plays a determinant role in the self-renewal of germinative cells and acts to increase undifferentiated spermatogonia proliferation. In addition, in vitro, together with other factors, it assists the process of differentiation of primordial germ cells (PGCLCs) into gametes (oocyte-like and SSCLCs). In this review, we describe relevant research on the influence of FSH on spermatogenesis and folliculogenesis, mainly in the germ cell of humans and other species. The possible roles of FSH in germ cell generation in vitro are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiana Recchia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01001-010, Brazil; (K.R.); (F.F.B.)
| | - Amanda Soares Jorge
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
| | - Laís Vicari de Figueiredo Pessôa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
| | - Ramon Cesar Botigelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-970, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Cristiane Zugaib
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
| | - Aline Fernanda de Souza
- Department Biomedical Science, Ontary Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Daniele dos Santos Martins
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
| | - Carlos Eduardo Ambrósio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
| | - Fabiana Fernandes Bressan
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01001-010, Brazil; (K.R.); (F.F.B.)
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
| | - Naira Caroline Godoy Pieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil; (A.S.J.); (L.V.d.F.P.); (R.C.B.); (V.C.Z.); (D.d.S.M.); (C.E.A.)
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Bang AK, Almstrup K, Nordkap L, Priskorn L, Petersen JH, Blomberg Jensen M, Krause M, Holmboe SA, Egeberg Palme DL, Winge SB, Joensen UN, Olesen IA, Hvidman HW, Juul A, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Jørgensen N. FSHB and FSHR gene variants exert mild modulatory effect on reproductive hormone levels and testis size but not on semen quality: A study of 2020 men from the general Danish population. Andrology 2020; 9:618-631. [PMID: 33236519 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatogenesis depends on stimulation by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which binds to FSH receptors (FSHR) on testicular Sertoli cells. Three FSH-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), FSHB -211G>T (rs10835638), FSHR -29G>A (rs1394205) and FSHR 2039A>G (rs6166) affect FSH action, and have been suggested to affect testicular function, but the evidence is uncertain. OBJECTIVE To describe the associations between the three SNPs and testicular function in a large and well-characterised cohort of men from the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study of 2020 Danish men unselected regarding testicular function. Outcome variables were semen parameters, reproductive hormones and testis size. Genotyping was done by competitive allele-specific quantitative PCR. Differences in genotype frequencies were tested by chi-square test and associations between genotypes and outcomes were assessed by multivariate linear regressions. RESULTS The SNPs affected serum FSH; carriers of the variant affecting FSH secretion (FSHB -211G>T) had lower FSH levels while carriers of variants affecting receptor expression (FSHR -29G>A) and receptor sensitivity (FSHR 2039A>G) had higher FSH levels. Carriers of FSHB -211G>T had lower calculated free testosterone/LH ratio. Although both FSHB -211G>T and FSHR 2039A>G were associated with smaller testis size, no clear association was detected in relation to any semen parameters, except a lower total number of morphologically normal spermatozoa in the heterozygous carriers of the FSHB -211G>T DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The studied polymorphisms have only minor modulating influence on testis size and function in healthy men. We detected subtle effects of the three SNPs on FSH levels, but also effects of FSHB -211G>T on calculated free testosterone/LH ratio, compatible with altered Leydig cell function. Thus, the role of these FSH-related polymorphisms is complex and modest in men with normal testicular function, but the possible importance of FSH polymorphisms in men with impaired testicular function should be evaluated in future studies in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kirstine Bang
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Almstrup
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Loa Nordkap
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laerke Priskorn
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Holm Petersen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Blomberg Jensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marianna Krause
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Agergaard Holmboe
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dorte Louise Egeberg Palme
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofia Boeg Winge
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulla Nordström Joensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Urology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inge Ahlmann Olesen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Jørgensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Szymańska K, Kałafut J, Rivero-Müller A. The gonadotropin system, lessons from animal models and clinical cases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 70:561-587. [PMID: 30264954 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4784.18.04307-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review article centers upon family of gonadotropin hormones which consists of two pituitary hormones - follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as one non-pituitary hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secreted by placenta, and their receptors. Gonadotropins play an essential role in proper sexual development, puberty, gametogenesis, maintenance of pregnancy and male sexual differentiation during the fetal development. They belong to the family of glycoprotein hormones thus they constitute heterodimeric proteins built of common α subunit and hormone-specific β-subunit. Hitherto, several mutations in genes encoding both gonadotropins and their receptors have been identified in humans. Their occurrence resulted in a number of different phenotypes including delayed puberty, primary amenorrhea, hermaphroditism, infertility and hypogonadism. In order to understand the effects of mutations on the phenotype observed in affected patients, detailed molecular studies are required to map the relationship between the structure and function of gonadotropins and their receptors. Nonetheless, in vitro assays are often insufficient to understand physiology. Therefore, several animal models have been developed to unravel the physiological roles of gonadotropins and their receptors.
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Moretti E, Sutera G, Collodel G. The importance of transmission electron microscopy analysis of spermatozoa: Diagnostic applications and basic research. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2016; 62:171-83. [PMID: 26980361 DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2016.1155242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED This review is aimed at discussing the role of ultrastructural studies on human spermatozoa and evaluating transmission electron microscopy as a diagnostic tool that can complete andrology protocols. It is clear that morphological sperm defects may explain decreased fertilizing potential and acquire particular value in the field of male infertility. Electron microscopy is the best method to identify systematic or monomorphic and non-systematic or polymorphic sperm defects. The systematic defects are characterized by a particular anomaly that affects the vast majority of spermatozoa in a semen sample, whereas a heterogeneous combination of head and tail defects found in variable percentages are typically non-systematic or polymorphic sperm defects. A correct diagnosis of these specific sperm alterations is important for choosing the male infertility's therapy and for deciding to turn to assisted reproduction techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) also represents a valuable method to explore the in vitro effects of different compounds (for example drugs with potential spermicidal activity) on the morphology of human spermatozoa. Finally, TEM used in combination with immunohistochemical techniques, integrates structural and functional aspects that provide a wide horizon in the understanding of sperm physiology and pathology. ABBREVIATIONS transmission electron microscopy: TEM; World Health Organization: WHO; light microscopy: LM; motile sperm organelle morphology examination: MSOME; intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection: IMSI; intracytoplasmic sperm injection: ICSI; dysplasia of fibrous sheath: DFS; primary ciliary dyskinesia: PCD; outer dense fibers: ODF; assisted reproduction technologies: ART; scanning electron microscopy: SEM; polyvinylpirrolidone: PVP; tert-butylhydroperoxide: TBHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Moretti
- a Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Gaetano Sutera
- a Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Giulia Collodel
- a Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy
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Li D, Cheng J, Li W, Ma W, Zhou X, Zheng L, Li C. Association between male infertility and either the +331G/A or the progins polymorphism of the progesterone receptor gene in a Chinese population. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE 2015; 13:35-40. [PMID: 25653674 PMCID: PMC4306983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 08/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progesterone has been suggested to contribute to the regulation of spermatogenesis and to facilitate the production of viable sperm. Investigations have showed that polymorphism of progesterone receptor (PGR) is associated with some diseases. OBJECTIVE To analyze the potential relationship between male infertility and the +331G/A and progins polymorphisms of PGR gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Male Reproduction, Reproductive Medical Center, the Second Hospital of Jilin University. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique was used to detect gene point mutations. Of the 145 semen samples analyzed, 35 were asthenozoospermic, 50 were oligoasthenozoospermic, 21 were azoospermic, 11 were teratozoospermic and 28 were from fertile male subjects. RESULTS Statistical analyses revealed that the genotypes of the +331G/A polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the fertile ((2)=0, p=0.534) and oligospermic groups ((2)=0.021, p=0.537). Similarly, the genotypes of the progins polymorphisms were also in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the fertile ((2)=0, p=1) and oligospermic groups ((2)=0.005, p=1). CONCLUSION Our results indicated that polymorphisms of the +331G/A and progins of the PGR gene are unrelated to male infertility, at least in a Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Reproductive Medical Center, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130062, China.
| | - Junjie Cheng
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Reproductive Medical Center, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130062, China.
| | - Wanghong Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 5333 Xi’an Avenue, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130062, China.
| | - Wei Ma
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xu Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 5333 Xi’an Avenue, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130062, China.
| | - Lianwen Zheng
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Reproductive Medical Center, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130062, China.
| | - Chunjin Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, 5333 Xi’an Avenue, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130062, China.
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