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Fagbémi MNA, Nivelle R, Muller M, Mélard C, Lalèyè P, Rougeot C. Effect of high temperatures on sex ratio and differential expression analysis (RNA-seq) of sex-determining genes in Oreochromis niloticus from different river basins in Benin. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2024; 9:dvad009. [PMID: 38487307 PMCID: PMC10939319 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The high temperature sex reversal process leading to functional phenotypic masculinization during development has been widely described in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis n iloticus) under laboratory or aquaculture conditions and in the wild. In this study, we selected five wild populations of O. niloticus from different river basins in Benin and produced twenty full-sib families of mixed-sex (XY and XX) by natural reproduction. Progenies were exposed to room temperature or high (36.5°C) temperatures between 10 and 30 days post-fertilization (dpf). In control groups, we observed sex ratios from 40% to 60% males as expected, except for 3 families from the Gobé region which showed a bias towards males. High temperature treatment significantly increased male rates in each family up to 88%. Transcriptome analysis was performed by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) on brains and gonads from control and treated batches of six families at 15 dpf and 40 dpf. Analysis of differentially expressed genes, differentially spliced genes, and correlations with sex reversal was performed. In 40 dpf gonads, genes involved in sex determination such as dmrt1, cyp11c1, amh, cyp19a1b, ara, and dax1 were upregulated. In 15 dpf brains, a negative correlation was found between the expression of cyp19a1b and the reversal rate, while at 40 dpf a negative correlation was found between the expression of foxl2, cyp11c1, and sf1 and positive correlation was found between dmrt1 expression and reversal rate. Ontology analysis of the genes affected by high temperatures revealed that male sex differentiation processes, primary male sexual characteristics, autophagy, and cilium organization were affected. Based on these results, we conclude that sex reversal by high temperature treatment leads to similar modifications of the transcriptomes in the gonads and brains in offspring of different natural populations of Nile tilapia, which thus may activate a common cascade of reactions inducing sex reversal in progenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nambyl A Fagbémi
- Aquaculture Research and Education Centre (CEFRA), Liège University, query author on which is prefered, 10 Chemin de la Justice B-4500, Tihange, Belgium
- Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Aquaculture (LHA), Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP: 526, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Renaud Nivelle
- Aquaculture Research and Education Centre (CEFRA), Liège University, query author on which is prefered, 10 Chemin de la Justice B-4500, Tihange, Belgium
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration (LOR), Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Biomedical Sciences (GIGA-I3), Liège University, Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marc Muller
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration (LOR), Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Biomedical Sciences (GIGA-I3), Liège University, Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium
| | - Charles Mélard
- Aquaculture Research and Education Centre (CEFRA), Liège University, query author on which is prefered, 10 Chemin de la Justice B-4500, Tihange, Belgium
| | - Philippe Lalèyè
- Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Aquaculture (LHA), Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP: 526, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Carole Rougeot
- Aquaculture Research and Education Centre (CEFRA), Liège University, query author on which is prefered, 10 Chemin de la Justice B-4500, Tihange, Belgium
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Pryzhkova MV, Boers R, Jordan PW. Modeling Human Gonad Development in Organoids. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2022; 19:1185-1206. [PMID: 36350469 PMCID: PMC9679106 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-022-00492-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our learning about human reproductive development is greatly hampered due to the absence of an adequate model. Animal studies cannot truthfully recapitulate human developmental processes, and studies of human fetal tissues are limited by their availability and ethical restrictions. Innovative three-dimensional (3D) organoid technology utilizing human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offered a new approach to study tissue and organ development in vitro. However, a system for modeling human gonad development has not been established, thus, limiting our ability to study causes of infertility. METHODS In our study we utilized the 3D hPSC organoid culture in mini-spin bioreactors. Relying on intrinsic self-organizing and differentiation capabilities of stem cells, we explored whether organoids could mimic the development of human embryonic and fetal gonad. RESULTS We have developed a simple, bioreactor-based organoid system for modeling early human gonad development. Male hPSC-derived organoids follow the embryonic gonad developmental trajectory and differentiate into multipotent progenitors, which further specialize into testicular supporting and interstitial cells. We demonstrated functional activity of the generated cell types by analyzing the expression of cell type-specific markers. Furthermore, the specification of gonadal progenitors in organoid culture was accompanied by the characteristic architectural tissue organization. CONCLUSION This organoid system opens the opportunity for detailed studies of human gonad and germ cell development that can advance our understanding of sex development disorders. Implementation of human gonad organoid technology could be extended to modeling causes of infertility and regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Pryzhkova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
| | - Romina Boers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, 1117 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip W Jordan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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Imaimatsu K, Uchida A, Hiramatsu R, Kanai Y. Gonadal Sex Differentiation and Ovarian Organogenesis along the Cortical-Medullary Axis in Mammals. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13373. [PMID: 36362161 PMCID: PMC9655463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In most mammals, the sex of the gonads is based on the fate of the supporting cell lineages, which arises from the proliferation of coelomic epithelium (CE) that surfaces on the bipotential genital ridge in both XY and XX embryos. Recent genetic studies and single-cell transcriptome analyses in mice have revealed the cellular and molecular events in the two-wave proliferation of the CE that produce the supporting cells. This proliferation contributes to the formation of the primary sex cords in the medullary region of both the testis and the ovary at the early phase of gonadal sex differentiation, as well as to that of the secondary sex cords in the cortical region of the ovary at the perinatal stage. To support gametogenesis, the testis forms seminiferous tubules in the medullary region, whereas the ovary forms follicles mainly in the cortical region. The medullary region in the ovary exhibits morphological and functional diversity among mammalian species that ranges from ovary-like to testis-like characteristics. This review focuses on the mechanism of gonadal sex differentiation along the cortical-medullary axis and compares the features of the cortical and medullary regions of the ovary in mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya Imaimatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Aya Uchida
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
- RIKEN BioResouce Research Center, Tsukuba 305-0074, Japan
| | - Ryuji Hiramatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Yoshiakira Kanai
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
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Kothandapani A, Larsen MC, Lee J, Jorgensen JS, Jefcoate CR. Distinctive functioning of STARD1 in the fetal Leydig cells compared to adult Leydig and adrenal cells. Impact of Hedgehog signaling via the primary cilium. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 531:111265. [PMID: 33864885 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
STARD1 stimulates cholesterol transfer to mitochondrial CYP11A1 for conversion to pregnenolone. A cholesterol-binding START domain is guided by an N-terminal domain in a cell selective manner. Fetal and adult Leydig cells (FLC, ALC) show distinct Stard1 regulation. sm- FISH microscopy, which resolves individual molecules of Stard1 mRNA, shows uniformly high basal expression in each FLC. In ALC, in vivo, and cultured MA-10 cells, basal Stard1 expression is minimal. PKA activates loci asynchronously, with delayed splicing/export of 3.5 kb mRNA to mitochondria. After 60 min, ALC transition to an integrated mRNA delivery to mitochondria that is seen in FLC. Sertoli cells cooperate in Stard1 stimulation in FLC by delivering DHH to the primary cilium. There PTCH, SMO and cholesterol cooperate to release GLI3 to activate the Stard1 locus, probably by directing histone changes. ALC lack cilia. PKA then primes locus activation. FLC and ALC share similar SIK/CRTC/CREB regulation characterized for adrenal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anbarasi Kothandapani
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Michele Campaigne Larsen
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Jinwoo Lee
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Joan S Jorgensen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Colin R Jefcoate
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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Blake GET, Hall J, Petkovic GE, Watson ED. Analysis of spermatogenesis and fertility in adult mice with a hypomorphic mutation in the Mtrr gene. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 31:1730-1741. [PMID: 31537252 DOI: 10.1071/rd19064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research has focussed on the significance of folate metabolism in male fertility. Knocking down the mouse gene Mtrr impedes the progression of folate and methionine metabolism and results in hyperhomocysteinaemia, dysregulation of DNA methylation and developmental phenotypes (e.g. neural tube, heart and placenta defects). The Mtrrgt mouse line is a model of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), the hypothesised cause of which is the inheritance of a yet-to-be determined epigenetic factor via the germline. We investigated Mtrrgt/gt testes and sperm function compared with control C57Bl/6J testes to explore potential defects that might confound our understanding of TEI in the Mtrrgt model. Histological analysis revealed that adult Mtrrgt/gt testes are more spherical in shape than C57Bl/6J testes, though serum testosterone levels were normal and spermatogenesis progressed in a typical manner. Spermatozoa collected from the cauda epididymis showed normal morphology, counts, and viability in Mtrrgt/gt males. Correspondingly, Mtrrgt spermatozoa contributed to normal pregnancy rates. Similar parameters were assessed in Mtrr+/+ and Mtrr+/gt males, which were normal compared with controls. Overall, our data showed that the Mtrrgt allele is unlikely to alter spermatogenesis or male fertility. Therefore, it is improbable that these factors confound the mechanistic study of TEI in Mtrrgt mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina E T Blake
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK; and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Jessica Hall
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Grace E Petkovic
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Erica D Watson
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK; and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK; and Corresponding author.
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Wang L, Wu Z, Zou C, Liang S, Zou Y, Liu Y, You F. Sex-Dependent RNA Editing and N6-adenosine RNA Methylation Profiling in the Gonads of a Fish, the Olive Flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus). Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:751. [PMID: 32850855 PMCID: PMC7419692 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) are two of the most abundant RNA modifications. Here, we examined the characteristics of the RNA editing and transcriptome-wide m6A modification profile in the gonads of the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, an important maricultured fish in Asia. The gonadal differentiation and development of the flounder are controlled by genetic as well as environmental factors, and the epigenetic mechanism may play an important role. In total, 742 RNA editing events were identified, 459 of which caused A to I conversion. Most A-to-I sites were located in 3′UTRs, while 61 were detected in coding regions (CDs). The number of editing sites in the testis was higher than that in the ovary. Transcriptome-wide analyses showed that more than one-half of the transcribed genes presented an m6A modification in the flounder gonads, and approximately 60% of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the testis and ovary appeared to be negatively correlated with m6A methylation enrichment. Further analyses revealed that the mRNA expression of some sex-related genes (e.g., dmrt1 and amh) in the gonads may be regulated by changes in mRNA m6A enrichment. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the RNA editing and m6A modifications were enriched in several canonical pathways (e.g., Wnt and MAPK signaling pathways) in fish gonads and in some pathways whose roles have not been investigated in relation to fish sex differentiation and gonadal development (e.g., PPAR and RNA degradation pathways). There were 125 genes that were modified by both A-to-I editing and m6A, but the two types of modifications mostly occurred at different sites. Our results suggested that the presence of sex-specific RNA modifications may be involved in the regulation of gonadal development and gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Zhihao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Congcong Zou
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China.,College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoshuai Liang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Yuxia Zou
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
| | - Feng You
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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7
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Villalobos E, Criollo A, Schiattarella GG, Altamirano F, French KM, May HI, Jiang N, Nguyen NUN, Romero D, Roa JC, García L, Diaz-Araya G, Morselli E, Ferdous A, Conway SJ, Sadek HA, Gillette TG, Lavandero S, Hill JA. Fibroblast Primary Cilia Are Required for Cardiac Fibrosis. Circulation 2020; 139:2342-2357. [PMID: 30818997 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.117.028752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The primary cilium is a singular cellular structure that extends from the surface of many cell types and plays crucial roles in vertebrate development, including that of the heart. Whereas ciliated cells have been described in developing heart, a role for primary cilia in adult heart has not been reported. This, coupled with the fact that mutations in genes coding for multiple ciliary proteins underlie polycystic kidney disease, a disorder with numerous cardiovascular manifestations, prompted us to identify cells in adult heart harboring a primary cilium and to determine whether primary cilia play a role in disease-related remodeling. METHODS Histological analysis of cardiac tissues from C57BL/6 mouse embryos, neonatal mice, and adult mice was performed to evaluate for primary cilia. Three injury models (apical resection, ischemia/reperfusion, and myocardial infarction) were used to identify the location and cell type of ciliated cells with the use of antibodies specific for cilia (acetylated tubulin, γ-tubulin, polycystin [PC] 1, PC2, and KIF3A), fibroblasts (vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and fibroblast-specific protein-1), and cardiomyocytes (α-actinin and troponin I). A similar approach was used to assess for primary cilia in infarcted human myocardial tissue. We studied mice silenced exclusively in myofibroblasts for PC1 and evaluated the role of PC1 in fibrogenesis in adult rat fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. RESULTS We identified primary cilia in mouse, rat, and human heart, specifically and exclusively in cardiac fibroblasts. Ciliated fibroblasts are enriched in areas of myocardial injury. Transforming growth factor β-1 signaling and SMAD3 activation were impaired in fibroblasts depleted of the primary cilium. Extracellular matrix protein levels and contractile function were also impaired. In vivo, depletion of PC1 in activated fibroblasts after myocardial infarction impaired the remodeling response. CONCLUSIONS Fibroblasts in the neonatal and adult heart harbor a primary cilium. This organelle and its requisite signaling protein, PC1, are required for critical elements of fibrogenesis, including transforming growth factor β-1-SMAD3 activation, production of extracellular matrix proteins, and cell contractility. Together, these findings point to a pivotal role of this organelle, and PC1, in disease-related pathological cardiac remodeling and suggest that some of the cardiovascular manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease derive directly from myocardium-autonomous abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Villalobos
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.,Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (E.V., A.C., L.G., G.D.-A., S.L.), University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Alfredo Criollo
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.,Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (E.V., A.C., L.G., G.D.-A., S.L.), University of Chile, Santiago.,Research Institute for Odontology Sciences, Faculty of Odontology (A.C.), University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Gabriele G Schiattarella
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Francisco Altamirano
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Kristin M French
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Herman I May
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Nan Jiang
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Ngoc Uyen Nhi Nguyen
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Diego Romero
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine (D.R., J.C.R.), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine (D.R., J.C.R.), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Lorena García
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (E.V., A.C., L.G., G.D.-A., S.L.), University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Guillermo Diaz-Araya
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (E.V., A.C., L.G., G.D.-A., S.L.), University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Eugenia Morselli
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences (E.M.), Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Anwarul Ferdous
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Simon J Conway
- Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (S.J.C.)
| | - Hesham A Sadek
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Thomas G Gillette
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Sergio Lavandero
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.,Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (E.V., A.C., L.G., G.D.-A., S.L.), University of Chile, Santiago
| | - Joseph A Hill
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (E.V., A.C., G.G.S., F.A., K.M.F., H.I.M., N.J., N.U.N.N., A.F., H.A.S., T.G.G., S.L., J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.,Molecular Biology (J.A.H.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
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Girardet L, Augière C, Asselin MP, Belleannée C. Primary cilia: biosensors of the male reproductive tract. Andrology 2019; 7:588-602. [PMID: 31131532 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The primary cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that extends transiently from the apical cell surface to act as a sensory antenna. Initially viewed as a cellular appendage of obscure significance, the primary cilium is now acknowledged as a key coordinator of signaling pathways during development and in tissue homeostasis. OBJECTIVES The aim of this review was to present the structure and function of this overlooked organelle,with an emphasis on its epididymal context and contribution to male infertility issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic review has been performed in order to include main references relevant to the aforementioned topic. RESULTS Increasing evidence demonstrates that primary cilia dysfunctions are associated with impaired male reproductive system development and male infertility issues. DISCUSSION While a large amount of data exists regarding the role of primary cilia in most organs and tissues, few studies investigated the contribution of these organelles to male reproductive tract development and homeostasis. CONCLUSION Functional studies of primary cilia constitute an emergent and exciting new area in reproductive biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Girardet
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Céline Augière
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Pier Asselin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Clémence Belleannée
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Quebec City, QC, Canada
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9
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Yang Y, Workman S, Wilson M. The molecular pathways underlying early gonadal development. J Mol Endocrinol 2018; 62:JME-17-0314. [PMID: 30042122 DOI: 10.1530/jme-17-0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The body of knowledge surrounding reproductive development spans the fields of genetics, anatomy, physiology and biomedicine, to build a comprehensive understanding of the later stages of reproductive development in humans and animal models. Despite this, there remains much to learn about the bi-potential progenitor structure that the ovary and testis arise from, known as the genital ridge (GR). This tissue forms relatively late in embryonic development and has the potential to form either the ovary or testis, which in turn produce hormones required for development of the rest of the reproductive tract. It is imperative that we understand the genetic networks underpinning GR development if we are to begin to understand abnormalities in the adult. This is particularly relevant in the contexts of disorders of sex development (DSDs) and infertility, two conditions that many individuals struggle with worldwide, with often no answers as to their aetiology. Here, we review what is known about the genetics of GR development. Investigating the genetic networks required for GR formation will not only contribute to our understanding of the genetic regulation of reproductive development, it may in turn open new avenues of investigation into reproductive abnormalities and later fertility issues in the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Yang
- Y Yang, Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Megan Wilson
- M Wilson , Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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10
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Laissue P. The molecular complexity of primary ovarian insufficiency aetiology and the use of massively parallel sequencing. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 460:170-180. [PMID: 28743519 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a frequently occurring pathology, leading to infertility. Genetic anomalies have been described in POI and mutations in numerous genes have been definitively related to the pathogenesis of the disease. Some studies based on next generation sequencing (NGS) have been successfully undertaken as they have led to identify new mutations associated with POI aetiology. The purpose of this review is to present the most relevant molecules involved in diverse complex pathways, which may contribute towards POI. The main genes participating in bipotential gonad formation, sex determination, meiosis, folliculogenesis and ovulation are described to enable understanding how they may be considered putative candidates involved in POI. Considerations regarding NGS technical aspects such as design and data interpretation are mentioned. Successful NGS initiatives used for POI studying and future challenges are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Laissue
- Center For Research in Genetics and Genomics-CIGGUR, GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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11
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Zhao L, Arsenault M, Ng ET, Longmuss E, Chau TCY, Hartwig S, Koopman P. SOX4 regulates gonad morphogenesis and promotes male germ cell differentiation in mice. Dev Biol 2017; 423:46-56. [PMID: 28118982 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The group C SOX transcription factors SOX4, -11 and -12 play important and mutually overlapping roles in development of a number of organs. Here, we examined the role of SoxC genes during gonadal development in mice. All three genes were expressed in developing gonads of both sexes, predominantly in somatic cells, with Sox4 being most strongly expressed. Sox4 deficiency resulted in elongation of both ovaries and testes, and an increased number of testis cords. While female germ cells entered meiosis normally, male germ cells showed reduced levels of differentiation markers Nanos2 and Dnmt3l and increased levels of pluripotency genes Cripto and Nanog, suggesting that SOX4 may normally act to restrict the pluripotency period of male germ cells and ensure their proper differentiation. Finally, our data reveal that SOX4 (and, to a lesser extent, SOX11 and -12) repressed transcription of the sex-determining gene Sox9 via an upstream testis-specific enhancer core (TESCO) element in fetal gonads, raising the possibility that SOXC proteins may function as transcriptional repressors in a context-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Michel Arsenault
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island,550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3
| | - Ee Ting Ng
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Enya Longmuss
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tevin Chui-Ying Chau
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sunny Hartwig
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island,550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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12
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Abstract
The distinct sex phenotypes of male and female hinge on the development of the fetal gonads as testes or ovaries, in turn, regulated by the molecular genetic machinery of sex determination. Here, I discuss five aspects of mammalian gonadal development that distinguish it from other examples of organogenesis, and continue to surprise and fascinate. Let's face it: males and females are very different animals-so much so, that for any species there are really two developmental biologies, not one. Humans have been intrigued by the differences between men and women since the beginning of recorded history, and presumably long before. As a developmental biologist, it is especially fascinating to ask how the differences between the sexes arise. Finding the answers involves a stimulating mix of molecular genetics, cell biology, and developmental anatomy. Since our sex phenotype depends critically on the formation of testes or ovaries in the embryo, research efforts focus largely on the genetic control of sex determination and the organogenesis of the gonads. After half a lifetime, I am still busy delving into these issues. In this chapter, I attempt to rationalize this enduring fascination by describing five aspects of sex development that continue to captivate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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13
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Yoshino T, Murai H, Saito D. Hedgehog-BMP signalling establishes dorsoventral patterning in lateral plate mesoderm to trigger gonadogenesis in chicken embryos. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12561. [PMID: 27558761 PMCID: PMC5007334 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The gonad appears in the early embryo after several events: cells at the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) undergo ingression, begin gonadal differentiation and then retain primordial germ cells (PGCs). Here we show that in the chicken embryo, these events are triggered on the basis of dorsoventral patterning at the medial LPM. Gonadal progenitor cells (GPCs) at the ventromedial LPM initiate gonadogenesis by undergoing ingression, whereas mesonephric capsule progenitor cells (MCPCs) at the dorsomedial LPM do not. These contrasting behaviours are caused by Hedgehog signalling, which is activated in GPCs but not in MCPCs. Inhibiting Hedgehog signalling prevents GPCs from forming gonadal structures and collecting PGCs. When activated by Hedgehog signalling, MCPCs form an ectopic gonad. This Hedgehog signalling is mediated by BMP4. These findings provide insight into embryonic patterning and gonadal initiation in the chicken embryo. Ingression of cells from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) initiates gonad differentiation but how these events are triggered is unclear. Here, the authors show that gonadal progenitor cells at the ventromedial LPM initiate gonadogenesis, and are activated by Hedgehog and BMP4 signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yoshino
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Murai
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Daisuke Saito
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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14
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Windley SP, Wilhelm D. Signaling Pathways Involved in Mammalian Sex Determination and Gonad Development. Sex Dev 2016; 9:297-315. [PMID: 26905731 DOI: 10.1159/000444065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of any organ system requires a complex interplay of cellular signals to initiate the differentiation and development of the heterogeneous cell and tissue types required to carry out the organs' functions. In this way, an extracellular stimulus is transmitted to an intracellular target through an array of interacting protein intermediaries, ultimately enabling the target cell to elicit a response. Surprisingly, only a small number of signaling pathways are implicated throughout embryogenesis and are used over and over again. Gonadogenesis is a unique process in that 2 morphologically distinct organs, the testes and ovaries, arise from a common precursor, the bipotential genital ridge. Accordingly, most of the signaling pathways observed throughout embryogenesis also have been shown to be important for mammalian sex determination and gonad development. Here, we review the mechanisms of signal transduction within these pathways and the importance of these pathways throughout mammalian gonad development, mainly concentrating on data obtained in mouse but including other species where appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Windley
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
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15
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Chen SR, Liu YX. Testis Cord Maintenance in Mouse Embryos: Genes and Signaling1. Biol Reprod 2016; 94:42. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.137117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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16
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Suzuki H, Kanai-Azuma M, Kanai Y. From Sex Determination to Initial Folliculogenesis in Mammalian Ovaries: Morphogenetic Waves along the Anteroposterior and Dorsoventral Axes. Sex Dev 2015; 9:190-204. [DOI: 10.1159/000440689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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17
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Wainwright EN, Wilhelm D, Combes AN, Little MH, Koopman P. ROBO2 restricts the nephrogenic field and regulates Wolffian duct-nephrogenic cord separation. Dev Biol 2015; 404:88-102. [PMID: 26116176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
ROBO2 plays a key role in regulating ureteric bud (UB) formation in the embryo, with mutations in humans and mice leading to supernumerary kidneys. Previous studies have established that the number and position of UB outgrowths is determined by the domain of metanephric mesenchymal Gdnf expression, which is expanded anteriorly in Robo2 mouse mutants. To clarify how this phenotype arises, we used high-resolution 3D imaging to reveal an increase in the number of nephrogenic cord cells, leading to extension of the metanephric mesenchyme field in Robo2-null mouse embryos. Ex vivo experiments suggested a dependence of this effect on proliferative signals from the Wolffian duct. Loss of Robo2 resulted in a failure of the normal separation of the mesenchyme from the Wolffian duct/ureteric epithelium, suggesting that aberrant juxtaposition of these two compartments in Robo2-null mice exposes the mesenchyme to abnormally high levels of proliferative stimuli. Our data suggest a new model in which SLIT-ROBO signalling acts not by attenuating Gdnf expression or activity, but instead by limiting epithelial/mesenchymal interactions in the nascent metanephros and restricting the extent of the nephrogenic field. These insights illuminate the aetiology of multiplex kidney formation in human individuals with ROBO2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elanor N Wainwright
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Dagmar Wilhelm
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander N Combes
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Melissa H Little
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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18
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Nygaard MB, Almstrup K, Lindbæk L, Christensen ST, Svingen T. Cell context-specific expression of primary cilia in the human testis and ciliary coordination of Hedgehog signalling in mouse Leydig cells. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10364. [PMID: 25992706 PMCID: PMC4438617 DOI: 10.1038/srep10364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary cilia are sensory organelles that coordinate numerous cellular signalling pathways during development and adulthood. Defects in ciliary assembly or function lead to a series of developmental disorders and diseases commonly referred to as ciliopathies. Still, little is known about the formation and function of primary cilia in the mammalian testis. Here, we characterized primary cilia in adult human testis and report a constitutive expression of cilia in peritubular myoid cells and a dynamic expression of cilia in differentiating Leydig cells. Primary cilia are generally absent from cells of mature seminiferous epithelium, but present in Sertoli cell-only tubules in Klinefelter syndrome testis. Peritubular cells in atrophic testis produce overly long cilia. Furthermore cultures of growth-arrested immature mouse Leydig cells express primary cilia that are enriched in components of Hedgehog signalling, including Smoothened, Patched-1, and GLI2, which are involved in regulating Leydig cell differentiation. Stimulation of Hedgehog signalling increases the localization of Smoothened to the cilium, which is followed by transactivation of the Hedgehog target genes, Gli1 and Ptch1. Our findings provide new information on the spatiotemporal formation of primary cilia in the testis and show that primary cilia in immature Leydig cells mediate Hedgehog signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Berg Nygaard
- 1] University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark [2] Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Kristian Almstrup
- University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Louise Lindbæk
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | | | - Terje Svingen
- 1] University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark [2] Department of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Søborg DK-2860, Denmark
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