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Bhattacharya I, Dey S, Banerjee A. Revisiting the gonadotropic regulation of mammalian spermatogenesis: evolving lessons during the past decade. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1110572. [PMID: 37124741 PMCID: PMC10140312 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1110572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a multi-step process of male germ cell (Gc) division and differentiation which occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes under the regulation of gonadotropins - Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinising hormone (LH). It is a highly coordinated event regulated by the surrounding somatic testicular cells such as the Sertoli cells (Sc), Leydig cells (Lc), and Peritubular myoid cells (PTc). FSH targets Sc and supports the expansion and differentiation of pre-meiotic Gc, whereas, LH operates via Lc to produce Testosterone (T), the testicular androgen. T acts on all somatic cells e.g.- Lc, PTc and Sc, and promotes the blood-testis barrier (BTB) formation, completion of Gc meiosis, and spermiation. Studies with hypophysectomised or chemically ablated animal models and hypogonadal (hpg) mice supplemented with gonadotropins to genetically manipulated mouse models have revealed the selective and synergistic role(s) of hormones in regulating male fertility. We here have briefly summarized the present concept of hormonal control of spermatogenesis in rodents and primates. We also have highlighted some of the key critical questions yet to be answered in the field of male reproductive health which might have potential implications for infertility and contraceptive research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrashis Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, School of Biological Science, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
- *Correspondence: Arnab Banerjee, ; Indrashis Bhattacharya,
| | - Souvik Dey
- Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Arnab Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Goa, India
- *Correspondence: Arnab Banerjee, ; Indrashis Bhattacharya,
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Liu Z, Wang H, Larsen M, Gunewardana S, Cendali FI, Reisz JA, Akiyama H, Behringer RR, Ma Q, Hammoud SS, Kumar TR. The solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) is regulated by LH/androgen and required for cystine/glutathione homeostasis in mouse Sertoli cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 549:111641. [PMID: 35398053 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2022.111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates testosterone production from Leydig cells. Both LH and testosterone play important roles in spermatogenesis and male fertility. To identify LH - and testosterone - responsive transporter genes that play key roles in spermatogenesis, we performed large-scale gene expression analyses on testes obtained from adult control and Lhb knockout mice. We found a significant reduction in cystine/glutamate transporter encoding Slc7a11 mRNA in testes of Lhb null mice. We observed that Slc7a11/SLC7A11 expression was initiated pre-pubertally and developmentally regulated in mouse testis. Immunolocalization studies confirmed that SLC7A11 was mostly expressed in Sertoli cells in testes of control and germ cell-deficient mice. Western blot analyses indicated that SLC7A11 was significantly reduced in testes of mutant mice lacking either LH or androgen receptor selectively in Sertoli cells. Genetic and pharmacological rescue of Lhb knockout mice restored the testicular expression of Slc7a11 comparable to that observed in controls. Additionally, Slc7a11 mRNA was significantly suppressed upon Sertoli cell/testicular damage induced in mice by cadmium treatment. Knockdown of Slc7a11 in vitro in TM4 Sertoli cells or treatment of mice with sulfasalazine, a SLC7A11 inhibitor caused a significant reduction in intracellular cysteine and glutathione levels but glutamate content remained unchanged as determined by metabolomic analysis. Knockdown of Slc7a11 resulted in compensatory upregulation of other glutamate transporters belonging to the Slc1a family presumably to maintain intracellular glutamate levels. Collectively, our studies identified that SLC7A11 is an LH/testosterone-regulated transporter that is required for cysteine/glutathione but not glutamate homeostasis in mouse Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghui Liu
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Huizen Wang
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Mark Larsen
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sumedha Gunewardana
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Francesca I Cendali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Julie A Reisz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Haruhiko Akiyama
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Richard R Behringer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qianyi Ma
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - S Sue Hammoud
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - T Rajendra Kumar
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Zhou Z, Zhu Y, Zhang Z, Jiang T, Ling Z, Yang B, Li W. Comparative Analysis of Promoters and Enhancers in the Pituitary Glands of the Bama Xiang and Large White Pigs. Front Genet 2021; 12:697994. [PMID: 34367256 PMCID: PMC8343535 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.697994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic regulation of gene expression is implicated in complex diseases in humans and various phenotypes in other species. There has been little exploration of regulatory elements in the pig. Here, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to profile histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) in the pituitary gland of adult Bama Xiang and Large White pigs, which have divergent evolutionary histories and large phenotypic differences. We identified a total of 65,044 non-redundant regulatory regions, including 23,680 H3K4me3 peaks and 61,791 H3K27ac peaks (12,318 proximal and 49,473 distal), augmenting the catalog of pituitary regulatory elements in pigs. We found 793 H3K4me3 and 3,602 H3K27ac peaks that show differential activity between the two breeds, overlapping with genes involved in the Notch signaling pathway, response to growth hormone (GH), thyroid hormone signaling pathway, and immune system, and enriched for binding motifs of transcription factors (TFs), including JunB, ATF3, FRA1, and BATF. We further identified 2,025 non-redundant super enhancers from H3K27ac ChIP-seq data, among which 302 were shared in all samples of cover genes enriched for biological processes related to pituitary function. This study generated a valuable dataset of H3K4me3 and H3K27ac regions in porcine pituitary glands and revealed H3K4me3 and H3K27ac peaks with differential activity between Bama Xiang and Large White pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yaling Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.,Laboratory Animal Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Ziqi Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Bin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wanbo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.,Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
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McDonald R, Sadler C, Kumar TR. Gain-of-Function Genetic Models to Study FSH Action. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:28. [PMID: 30792692 PMCID: PMC6374295 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary-derived gonadotropin that plays key roles in male and female reproduction. The physiology and biochemistry of FSH have been extensively studied for many years. Beginning in the early 1990s, coincident with advances in the then emerging transgenic animal technology, and continuing till today, several gain-of-function (GOF) models have been developed to understand FSH homeostasis in a physiological context. Our group and others have generated a number of FSH ligand and receptor GOF mouse models. An FSH GOF model when combined with Fshb null mice provides a powerful genetic rescue platform. In this chapter, we discuss different GOF models for FSH synthesis, secretion and action and describe additional novel genetic models that could be developed in the future to further refine the existing models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary McDonald
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, IL, United States
- Integrated Physiology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAurora, IL, United States
| | - Carolyn Sadler
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, IL, United States
| | - T. Rajendra Kumar
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, IL, United States
- Integrated Physiology Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAurora, IL, United States
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAurora, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: T. Rajendra Kumar
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Woodruff TK, Khosla S. New hope for symptom management during natural and iatrogenic menopause transitions. Biol Reprod 2018; 97:177-178. [PMID: 29044424 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone loss is associated with aging and is exacerbated by female transition to menopause. Estrogen has long been associated with bone loss, and replacement therapy is effective at restoring bone health. In the last 10 years, pituitary and gonadal peptide hormones have been implicated in bone biology, and here we update the story on FSH and its potential role as a direct regulator of bone and adipose. If translated to humans, new approaches to ameliorate age related bone demise could be developed. Moreover, young women with hormone responsive cancers who are unable to maintain bone may have new routes to avoid debilitating bone loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa K Woodruff
- Center for Reproductive Science, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sundeep Khosla
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Das N, Kumar TR. Molecular regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis, secretion and action. J Mol Endocrinol 2018; 60:R131-R155. [PMID: 29437880 PMCID: PMC5851872 DOI: 10.1530/jme-17-0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays fundamental roles in male and female fertility. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein expressed by gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary. The hormone-specific FSHβ-subunit is non-covalently associated with the common α-subunit that is also present in the luteinizing hormone (LH), another gonadotrophic hormone secreted by gonadotrophs and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by thyrotrophs. Several decades of research led to the purification, structural characterization and physiological regulation of FSH in a variety of species including humans. With the advent of molecular tools, availability of immortalized gonadotroph cell lines and genetically modified mouse models, our knowledge on molecular mechanisms of FSH regulation has tremendously expanded. Several key players that regulate FSH synthesis, sorting, secretion and action in gonads and extragonadal tissues have been identified in a physiological setting. Novel post-transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms have also been identified that provide additional layers of regulation mediating FSH homeostasis. Recombinant human FSH analogs hold promise for a variety of clinical applications, whereas blocking antibodies against FSH may prove efficacious for preventing age-dependent bone loss and adiposity. It is anticipated that several exciting new discoveries uncovering all aspects of FSH biology will soon be forthcoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandana Das
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
| | - T. Rajendra Kumar
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, U.S.A
- Author for Correspondence: T. Rajendra Kumar, PhD, Edgar L. and Patricia M. Makowski Professor, Associate Vice-Chair of Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8613, Research Complex 2, Room # 15-3000B, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA, Tel: 303-724-8689,
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Stamatiades GA, Kaiser UB. Gonadotropin regulation by pulsatile GnRH: Signaling and gene expression. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 463:131-141. [PMID: 29102564 PMCID: PMC5812824 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The precise orchestration of hormonal regulation at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is essential for normal reproductive function and fertility. The pulsatile secretion of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the synthesis and release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) by pituitary gonadotropes. GnRH acts by binding to its high affinity seven-transmembrane receptor (GnRHR) on the cell surface of anterior pituitary gonadotropes. Different signaling cascades and transcriptional mechanisms are activated, depending on the variation in GnRH pulse frequency, to stimulate the synthesis and release of FSH and LH. While changes in GnRH pulse frequency may explain some of the differential regulation of FSH and LH, other factors, such as activin, inhibin and sex steroids, also contribute to gonadotropin production. In this review, we focus on the transcriptional regulation of the gonadotropin subunit genes and the signaling pathways activated by pulsatile GnRH.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Stamatiades
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Ursula B Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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Jayaraman A, Kumar TR. Extra-pituitary expressed follicle-stimulating hormone: Is it physiologically important? Biol Reprod 2017; 97:622-626. [PMID: 29036567 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary gonadotropes synthesize and secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is a heterodimer that consists of an α- and β-subunit. The α-subunit is common to other pituitary and placental glycoprotein hormones, and the β-subunit is the hormone/receptor-specific subunit. Although the pituitary is the main tissue that accounts for circulating hormone, previous and recent reports indicate extra-pituitary sources of FSH production including mouse gonads, human stomach, prostate, umbilical cord vein endothelial cells, uterine myometrium, placenta, and chicken abdominal adipose tissue. Whether extra-pituitary derived FSH exerts any physiologically significant actions is not known. In this review, we have comprehensively analyzed the expression of mRNAs that encode mouse and human FSH subunits and also their corresponding expressed sequence tags in normal tissues, cancer cell lines, and primary tumors by public database mining. We propose criteria to assess the significance of individual FSH subunit or FSH dimer expression as well as genetic approaches to unambiguously define the physiological relevance of extra-pituitary FSH expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushka Jayaraman
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - T Rajendra Kumar
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Program in Integrated Physiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Program in Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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