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Oberska P, Grabowska M, Marynowska M, Murawski M, Gączarzewicz D, Syczewski A, Michałek K. A Step Forward in Understanding the Expression of Classical Aquaporins in the Male Reproductive Tract: Study Findings in Cattle ( Bos taurus). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7653. [PMID: 39062896 PMCID: PMC11276675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs), also known as water channels, appear to be particularly promising in maintaining male reproductive potential. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of classical AQPs in the bovine (Bos taurus) reproductive system and analyze changes in their expression with age using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Of the six classical AQPs, AQP0, AQP1, AQP4, AQP5 and AQP6 were detected, while AQP2 was absent. In the testis, AQP0 was visible in Leydig cells in selected animals, while AQP1 was found in myoid cells surrounding the seminiferous tubules of mature individuals. This characteristic expression patterns of AQP0, limited only to certain bulls, is difficult to explain unequivocally. It is possible that AQP0 expression in cattle is subject to individual variability or changes in response to specific physiological conditions. In the caput and corpus epididymis, AQP0 showed weak expression in epithelial cells of immature animals and stronger expression in basal and principal cells of reproductive bulls. In all animals, AQP1 was present on the apical surface of epithelial cells in the initial segment of the caput epididymis. AQP4, AQP5 and AQP6 were identified in principal and basal cells along the entire epididymis of reproductive bulls. The abundance of AQP4 and AQP6 increased from the caput to the cauda epididymis with the growth and development of the animals. In all males, AQP4, AQP5 and AQP6 were observed in epithelial cells of the vas deferens, and their expression in this section increased with age. In conclusion, the abundance and distribution of the classical AQPs in various cell types and parts of the male reproductive system indicate their crucial role in maintaining water homeostasis, which is essential for normal reproductive function in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Oberska
- Department of Physiology, Cytobiology and Proteomics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland; (P.O.); (M.M.)
| | - Marta Grabowska
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Marta Marynowska
- Department of Physiology, Cytobiology and Proteomics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland; (P.O.); (M.M.)
| | - Maciej Murawski
- Department of Nutrition, Animal Biotechnology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, 24/28 Mickiewicza Avenue, 30-059 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Dariusz Gączarzewicz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland;
| | | | - Katarzyna Michałek
- Department of Physiology, Cytobiology and Proteomics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland; (P.O.); (M.M.)
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Oberska P, Grabowska M, Marynowska M, Murawski M, Gączarzewicz D, Syczewski A, Michałek K. Cellular Distribution of Aquaporin 3, 7 and 9 in the Male Reproductive System: A Lesson from Bovine Study ( Bos taurus). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1567. [PMID: 38338845 PMCID: PMC10855163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing incidence of male infertility in humans and animals creates the need to search for new factors that significantly affect the course of reproductive processes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the temporospatial expression of aquaglyceroporins (AQP3, AQP7 and AQP9) in the bovine (Bos taurus) reproductive system using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The study also included morphological analysis and identification of GATA-4. In brief, in immature individuals, AQP3 and AQP7 were found in gonocytes. In reproductive bulls, AQP3 was observed in spermatocytes and spermatogonia, while AQP7 was visible in all germ cells and the Sertoli cells. AQP7 and AQP9 were detected in the Leydig cells. Along the entire epididymis of reproductive bulls, aquaglyceroporins were visible, among others, in basal cells (AQP3 and AQP7), in epididymal sperm (AQP7) and in the stereocilia of the principal cells (AQP9). In males of all ages, aquaglyceroporins were identified in the principal and basal cells of the vas deferens. An increase in the expression of AQP3 in the testis and cauda epididymis and a decrease in the abundance of AQP7 in the vas deferens with age were found. In conclusion, age-related changes in the expression and/or distribution patterns of AQP3, AQP7 and AQP9 indicate the involvement of these proteins in the normal development and course of male reproductive processes in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Oberska
- Department of Physiology, Cytobiology and Proteomics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland; (P.O.); (M.M.)
| | - Marta Grabowska
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Marta Marynowska
- Department of Physiology, Cytobiology and Proteomics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland; (P.O.); (M.M.)
| | - Maciej Murawski
- Department of Nutrition, Animal Biotechnology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 24/28 Mickiewicza Avenue, 30-059 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Dariusz Gączarzewicz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland;
| | | | - Katarzyna Michałek
- Department of Physiology, Cytobiology and Proteomics, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland; (P.O.); (M.M.)
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Martinez-Madrid B, Martínez-Cáceres C, Pequeño B, Castaño C, Toledano-Díaz A, Bóveda P, Prieto P, Alvarez-Rodriguez M, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Santiago-Moreno J. Immunolocalisation of aquaporins 3, 7, 9 and 10 in the epididymis of three wild ruminant species (Iberian ibex, mouflon and chamois) and sperm cryoresistance. Reprod Fertil Dev 2023; 35:708-721. [PMID: 37968880 DOI: 10.1071/rd23091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT In the epididymis, epithelial cells manage changes in the luminal environment for proper sperm maturation. Moreover, aquaglyceroporins, a subgroup of aquaporins (AQP), modulate the transport of water, glycerol and other small molecules in epithelial cells. AIMS We aim to characterise the lining epithelium, quantify its cell composition and immunolocalise the aquaglyceroporins AQP3, AQP7, AQP9 and AQP10 alongside the epididymal ductus of three wild ruminant species, and to determine if species-specific differences could be associated with cauda sperm cryoresistance variations. METHODS Epididymides from Iberian ibex (n =5), mouflon (n =5) and chamois (n =6) were obtained. Cauda spermatozoa were collected and sperm parameters were analysed before and after freezing. Histology and immunohistochemistry of AQP3, 7, 9, 10 and T-CD3 were performed in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymal regions. KEY RESULTS This work first describes the lining epithelium in Iberian ibex, mouflon and chamois epididymis along the three anatomical regions, consisting of principal, basal, apical, clear and halo cells. However, the percentage of each cell type differed in ibex compared to mouflon and chamois. The positive T-CD3 immunolabeling of all the halo cells confirmed their T-lymphocyte nature. Aquaglyceroporin expression patterns were similar among species, except for differences in AQP7 and AQP10 immunolocalisation in ibex. Species-specific differences in epididymal sperm cryoresistance were confirmed. CONCLUSIONS The epididymal epithelium of the three wild ruminants differ in their relative number of cell types and AQP immunolocalisation, which ultimately appears to affect cauda epidydimal spermatozoa cryoresistance. IMPLICATIONS Our study provides information on the relevance of the quantitative composition and AQP pattern expression in epididymal lining epithelium on sperm cryoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Martinez-Madrid
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Carlos Martínez-Cáceres
- Pathology core, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia Pascual Parrilla (IMIB), Ctra. Buenavista s/n, El Palmar, Murcia 30120, Spain
| | - Belén Pequeño
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Cristina Castaño
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Adolfo Toledano-Díaz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Paula Bóveda
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Paloma Prieto
- Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, Junta de Andalucía, Jaén, Spain
| | - Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Julián Santiago-Moreno
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, Madrid 28040, Spain
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Mohamed EA, Im JW, Kim DH, Bae HR. Differential Expressions of Aquaporin Subtypes in the Adult Mouse
Testis. Dev Reprod 2022; 26:59-69. [PMID: 35950167 PMCID: PMC9336216 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2022.26.2.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many efforts have been made to study the expression of aquaporins (AQP) in the
mammalian reproductive system, but there are not enough data available regarding
their localized expression to fully understand their specific roles in male
reproduction. The present study investigated the expression and localization
patterns of different AQP subtypes in the adult mouse testes and testicular
spermatozoa using an immunofluorescence assay. All the studied AQPs were
expressed in the testes and revealed subtype-specific patterns in the intensity
and localization depending on the cell types of the testes. AQP7 was the most
abundant and intensive AQP subtype in the seminiferous tubules, expressing in
Leydig cells and Sertoli cells as well as all stages of germ cells, especially
the spermatids and testicular spermatozoa. The expression pattern of AQP3 was
similar to that of AQP7, but with higher expression in the basal and lower
adluminal compartments rather than the upper adluminalcompartment. AQP8
expression was limited to the spermatogonia and Leydig cells whereas AQP9
expression was exclusive to tails of the testicular spermatozoa and elongated
spermatids. Taken together, the abundance and distribution of the AQPs across
the different cell types in the testes indicating to their relavance in
spermatogenesis, as well as in sperm maturation, transition, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsayed A. Mohamed
- Dept. of Physiology, College of Medicine,
Dong-A University, Busan 49201,
Korea
- Dept. of Genetics, Assiut
University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Ji Woo Im
- Dept. of Physiology, College of Medicine,
Dong-A University, Busan 49201,
Korea
| | - Dong-Hwan Kim
- Human Life Research Center, Dong-A
University, Busan 49315, Korea
| | - Hae-Rahn Bae
- Dept. of Physiology, College of Medicine,
Dong-A University, Busan 49201,
Korea
- Corresponding author Hae-Rahn Bae, Dept. of
Physiology, Dong-A University, College of Medicine, Busan 49201, Korea. Tel:
+82-51-240-2924, Fax:
+82-51-245-3872, E-mail:
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Lima Junior NBD, Garcia JE, Teixeira ÁAC, Silva FRD, Antonio EA, Arandas MJG, Aguiar Júnior FCAD, Santos KRPD. Descrição e variação sazonal na histomorfometria epididimária de Dermanura cinerea (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica no Nordeste do Brasil. IHERINGIA. SERIE ZOOLOGIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4766e2021008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
RESUMO Esse estudo objetivou avaliar sazonalmente a histomorfometria do epidídimo de Dermanura cinerea (Gervais, 1856) em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica no nordeste do Brasil. Foram utilizados 18 espécimes machos adultos capturados por redes de neblina. As coletas ocorreram mensalmente ao longo de dezoito meses, durante duas noites consecutivas e os dados meteorológicos foram fornecidos pelo Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Depois de eutanasiados, os espécimes tiveram os epidídimos coletados e esses órgãos foram fixados e processados. As lâminas histológicas foram coradas por Hematoxilina - Eosina e analisadas em microscopia óptica. Os parâmetros morfométricos analisados foram as áreas do túbulo, do lúmen e do epitélio das regiões do segmento inicial, cabeça, corpo e cauda do epidídimo. Os dados histomorfométricos obtidos foram submetidos às análises no teste U de Mann-Whitney. Os resultados revelaram que D. cinerea apresentou espermatozoides em todas as regiões do epidídimo, exceto no segmento inicial. As maiores médias das áreas tubular, do lúmen e do epitélio nas quatro regiões, foram constatadas durante os meses secos. Portanto, D cinerea apresentou maior sensibilidade na região da cauda do epidídimo, ao longo dos meses com baixos índices pluviométricos. Isso indica que as condições ambientais apresentam considerável influência sobre a morfofisiologia epidídimária dessa espécie, sobretudo, em relação ao armazenamento de espermatozoides na cauda desse órgão, em área de Mata atlântica do nordeste brasileiro.
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Oliveira CFA, Lara NLM, Lacerda SMSN, Resende RR, França LR, Avelar GF. Foxn1 and Prkdc genes are important for testis function: evidence from nude and scid adult mice. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 380:615-625. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03165-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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7
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Campolina-Silva GH, Hess RA, Oliveira CA. Seasonal variation of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the efferent ductules and epididymis of the Neotropical bat Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 273:3-10. [PMID: 29427632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is important for maintenance of male fertility, being influenced by a variety of stimuli including androgens and estrogens. However, studies concerning regulation of these processes along the male reproductive tract under physiological conditions are scarce. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the profile of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the efferent ductules and epididymis of the Neotropical bat Artibeus lituratus, a seasonal breeder that presents natural variation in components of the androgen and estrogen responsive systems along the circannual cycle. Low rates of cell proliferation and apoptosis were found in the efferent ductules and epididymis of A. lituratus during the reproductive period, as few epithelial cells were positive for MCM7 (proliferation marker) and cleaved caspase-3 or TUNEL (apoptosis markers). In contrast, during the regressive period, the rate of both proliferating and apoptotic cells was significantly higher in the epithelium lining the efferent ductules as well as throughout the epididymis. The increased proliferative activity at this phase was positively correlated with the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), whereas the variation in apoptosis appears to be unrelated to the local expression of androgen and estrogen receptors. Together, these data suggest that cell proliferation and apoptosis are differentially modulated in the efferent ductules and epididymis of A. lituratus during the annual reproductive cycle, and support the hypothesis that ERα may be important in preparing the male reproductive tract for sexual recrudescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel H Campolina-Silva
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rex A Hess
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, 2001, S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61802-6199, USA
| | - Cleida A Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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8
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Chauvigné F, Parhi J, Ducat C, Ollé J, Finn RN, Cerdà J. The cellular localization and redistribution of multiple aquaporin paralogs in the spermatic duct epithelium of a maturing marine teleost. J Anat 2018; 233:177-192. [PMID: 29806093 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquaporin-mediated fluid transport in the mammalian efferent duct and epididymis is believed to play a role in sperm maturation and concentration. In fish, such as the marine teleost gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), the control of fluid homeostasis in the spermatic duct seems also to be crucial for male fertility, but no information exists on the expression and distribution of aquaporins. In this study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses, employing available and newly raised paralog-specific antibodies for seabream aquaporins, indicate that up to nine functional aquaporins, Aqp0a, -1aa, -1ab, -3a, -4a, -7, -8bb, -9b and -10b, are expressed in the spermatic duct. Immunolocalization of the channels in the resting spermatic duct reveals that Aqp0a, -1aa, -4a, -7 and -10b are expressed in the monolayered luminal epithelium, Aqp8b and -9b in smooth muscle fibers, and Aqp1ab and -3a in different interstitial lamina cells. In the epithelial cells, Aqp0a and -1aa are localized in the short apical microvilli, and Aqp4a and -10b show apical and basolateral staining, whereas Aqp7 is solely detected in vesicular compartments. Upon spermiation, an elongation of the epithelial cells sterocilia, as well as the folding of the epithelium, is observed. At this stage, single- and double-immunostaining, using two aquaporin paralogs or the Na+ /K+ -ATPase membrane marker, indicate that Aqp1ab, -3a, -7, -8bb and -9b staining remains unchanged, whereas in epithelial cells Aqp1aa translation is supressed, Aqp4a internalizes, and Aqp0a and -10b accumulate in the apical, lateral and basal plasma membrane. These findings uncover a cell type- and region-specific distribution of multiple aquaporins in the piscine spermatic duct, which shares conserved features of the mammalian system. The data therefore suggest that aquaporins may play different roles in the regulation of fluid homeostasis and sperm maturation in the male reproductive tract of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Chauvigné
- Group of Comparative Molecular Physiology, IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janmejay Parhi
- Fish Genetics and Reproduction Department, College of Fisheries, Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra, Tripura, India
| | - Carla Ducat
- Group of Comparative Molecular Physiology, IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judith Ollé
- Group of Comparative Molecular Physiology, IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roderick Nigel Finn
- Group of Comparative Molecular Physiology, IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Biological Sciences, Bergen High Technology Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Joan Cerdà
- Group of Comparative Molecular Physiology, IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
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Martins-Santos E, Pimenta CG, Campos PRN, Oliveira AG, Mahecha GAB, Oliveira CA. Atrazine affects the morphophysiology, tissue homeostasis and aromatase expression in the efferent ductules of adult rats with mild alterations in the ventral prostate. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 193:958-967. [PMID: 29874772 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The widely used herbicide atrazine is a potent endocrine disruptor known to cause increased aromatase expression and transient increase in testicular weight followed by remarkable testis atrophy. However, whether the effects of atrazine on the testes are primary or secondary to dysfunctions in other components of male reproductive tract remains unknown. Given the high sensitivity of the efferent ductules to estrogen imbalance and the similarity to alterations previously described for other disruptors of these ductules function, and the testicular alterations observed after atrazine exposure, we hypothesized that the efferent ductules could be a target for atrazine. Herein we characterized the efferent ductules and the ventral prostate of adult Wistar rats treated with 200 mg/kg/day of atrazine for 7, 15, and 40 days. Additionally, we evaluated if the effects of atrazine in these organs could be reduced after discontinuation of the treatment. Atrazine exposure resulted in mild effects on the ventral prostate, but remarkable alterations on the efferent ductules, including luminal dilation, reduced epithelial height, and disruption of the epithelial homeostasis, which coincides with increased aromatase expression. Together with our previous data, these results suggest that at least part of the testicular effects of atrazine may be secondary to the alterations in the efferent ductules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisângela Martins-Santos
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Cristiano Guimarães Pimenta
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Pollyana Rabelo Nunes Campos
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - André Gustavo Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Cleida Aparecida Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Cx. Postal 486, CEP 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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10
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Menezes TP, Hill E, de Alencar Moura A, Lobo MDP, Monteiro-Moreira ACO, Breton S, Machado-Neves M. Pattern of protein expression in the epididymis of Oligoryzomys nigripes (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae). Cell Tissue Res 2017; 372:135-147. [PMID: 29119327 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2714-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the epididymis, epithelial cells work in a concerted manner to create a luminal environment for sperm maturation, transport, and storage. However, the cell functions may be affected by anthropogenic factors, causing negative impacts on male fertility. In our study, we describe the pattern of protein expression in the epithelium and luminal fluid from epididymis of Oligoryzomys nigripes, a South American sigmodontine rodent whose reproductive biology has been little studied. Nine animals were captured from a preserved area of Atlantic Forest, where the exposure to anthropogenic influences is minimal. Epididymides were processed for histological analysis under light and epifluorescence microscopy, in which we used cell-specific markers aquaporin 9 (AQP9), vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase), and cytokeratin 5 (KRT5). Other samples were assessed for protein expression using shotgun proteomics. Similar to laboratory rodents, principal cells expressed AQP9 in their stereocilia. Basal cells, identified by KRT5 labeling, presented lateral body projections and a few axiopodia going toward the lumen. Clear cells expressed V-ATPase in their sub-apical vesicles and microplicae, and showed different shapes along the duct. Shotgun proteomics detected 51 proteins from epididymal supernatant. Most of them have been previously described in other species, indicating that they are well conserved. Twenty-three proteins detected in O. nigripes have not been described in epididymis from other South American sigmodontine rodents, confirming that the secretion pattern is species-specific. Our findings in O. nigripes from a protected area may help to create a baseline for studies investigating the effects of anthropogenic factors on functionality of the epididymal epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Prata Menezes
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Eric Hill
- Center for Systems Biology/Program in Membrane Biology/Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Micro Video Instruments, Inc, Avon, MA, 02322, USA
| | | | - Marina D P Lobo
- Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Pharmacy, University of Fortaleza, Ceará, CE, 60811-905, Brazil
| | | | - Sylvie Breton
- Center for Systems Biology/Program in Membrane Biology/Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Mariana Machado-Neves
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil.
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Yeste M, Morató R, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Bonet S, Prieto-Martínez N. Aquaporins in the male reproductive tract and sperm: Functional implications and cryobiology. Reprod Domest Anim 2017; 52 Suppl 4:12-27. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm); Unit of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology; Faculty of Sciences; University of Girona; Girona Spain
| | - R Morató
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm); Unit of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology; Faculty of Sciences; University of Girona; Girona Spain
- Unit of Animal Reproduction; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Autonomous University of Barcelona; Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Barcelona Spain
| | - JE Rodríguez-Gil
- Unit of Animal Reproduction; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Autonomous University of Barcelona; Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Barcelona Spain
| | - S Bonet
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm); Unit of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology; Faculty of Sciences; University of Girona; Girona Spain
| | - N Prieto-Martínez
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm); Unit of Cell Biology; Department of Biology; Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology; Faculty of Sciences; University of Girona; Girona Spain
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Castro MMD, Gonçalves WG, Teixeira SAMV, Fialho MDCQ, Santos FC, Oliveira JM, Serrão JE, Machado-Neves M. Ultrastructure and morphometric features of epididymal epithelium in Desmodus rotundus. Micron 2017; 102:35-43. [PMID: 28869875 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2017.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The blood-feeding behavior of Desmodus rotundus made this bat a potential vector of rabies virus and a public health issue. Consequently, the better understanding of its reproductive biology becomes valuable for the development of methods to control its population. In this study, we described morphological aspects of epithelial cells in D. rotundus' epididymis using light and transmission electron microscopy methods. The duct compartment was the main component of initial segment (83%), caput (90%), corpus (88%) and cauda (80%) regions. The epithelium lining the duct presented a progressive decrease in its height from initial segment to cauda regions. Moreover, the morphology of each cell type was the same along the entire duct. Similarly to rodents, columnar-shaped principal cells were the most abundant cell type throughout the epididymis, followed by basal and clear cells. Differently in rat and mice, the frequency of clear cells did not increase in the epididymis cauda, whereas the proportion of principal and basal cells was greater in this region. Furthermore, D. rotundus presented goblet-shaped clear cells with the nucleus located in the apical portion of the epididymal epithelium. This cellular portion also presented electron-lucid vesicles of different sizes that may correspond to vesicles enriched with proteins related to proton secretion. In addition to the findings regarding clear cells' structural organization, basal cells presented scarce cytoplasm and no axiopodia. Taken these findings together, we suggest that the mechanism of luminal acidification may have other pathways in D. rotundus than those described in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Felipe Couto Santos
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Jerusa Maria Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Serrão
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Mariana Machado-Neves
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
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Castro MM, Kim B, Hill E, Fialho MCQ, Puga LCHP, Freitas MB, Breton S, Machado-Neves M. The expression patterns of aquaporin 9, vacuolar H+-ATPase, and cytokeratin 5 in the epididymis of the common vampire bat. Histochem Cell Biol 2016; 147:39-48. [DOI: 10.1007/s00418-016-1477-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Boj M, Chauvigné F, Cerdà J. Aquaporin biology of spermatogenesis and sperm physiology in mammals and teleosts. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2015; 229:93-108. [PMID: 26338872 DOI: 10.1086/bblv229n1p93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Fluid homeostasis is recognized as a critical factor during the development, maturation, and function of vertebrate male germ cells. These processes have been associated with the presence of multiple members of the aquaporin superfamily of water and solute channels in different cell types along the reproductive tract as well as in spermatozoa. We present a comparative analysis of the existing knowledge of aquaporin biology in the male reproductive tissues of mammals and teleosts. Current data suggest that in both vertebrate groups, aquaporins may have similar functions during differentiation of spermatozoa in the germinal epithelium, in the concentration and maturation of sperm in the testicular ducts, and in the regulation of osmotically induced volume changes in ejaculated spermatozoa. Recent studies have also provided insight into the possible function of aquaporins beyond water transport, such as in signaling pathways during spermatogenesis or the sensing of cell swelling and mitochondrial peroxide transport in activated sperm. However, an understanding of the specific physiological functions of the various aquaporins during germ cell development and sperm motility, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved, remains elusive. Novel experimental approaches need to be developed to elucidate these processes and to dissect the regulatory intracellular pathways implicated, which will greatly help to uncover the molecular basis of sperm physiology and male fertility in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Boj
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; and
| | - François Chauvigné
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; and Department of Biology, Bergen High Technology Centre, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Joan Cerdà
- Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; and
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15
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Schimming BC, Pinheiro PFF, de Matteis R, Machado CM, Domeniconi RF. Immunolocalization of Aquaporins 1 and 9 in the Ram Efferent Ducts and Epididymis. Reprod Domest Anim 2015; 50:617-24. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- BC Schimming
- Department of Anatomy; Biosciences Institute of Botucatu; UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista; Botucatu São Paulo Brazil
| | - PFF Pinheiro
- Department of Anatomy; Biosciences Institute of Botucatu; UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista; Botucatu São Paulo Brazil
| | - R de Matteis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista; Botucatu São Paulo Brazil
| | - CM Machado
- Department of Anatomy; Biosciences Institute of Botucatu; UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista; Botucatu São Paulo Brazil
| | - RF Domeniconi
- Department of Anatomy; Biosciences Institute of Botucatu; UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista; Botucatu São Paulo Brazil
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Arrighi S. Are the basal cells of the mammalian epididymis still an enigma? Reprod Fertil Dev 2014; 26:1061-71. [DOI: 10.1071/rd13301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Basal cells are present in the columnar pseudostratified epithelium covering the epididymis of all mammalian species, which regulates the microenvironment where the functionally incompetent germ cells produced by the testis are matured and stored. Striking novelties have come from investigations on epididymal basal cells in the past 30–40 years. In addition to an earlier hypothesised scavenger role for basal cells, linked to their proven extratubular origin and the expression of macrophage antigens, basal cells have been shown to be involved in cell–cell cross-talk, as well as functioning as luminal sensors to regulate the activity of principal and clear cells. Involvement of basal cells in the regulation of electrolyte and water transport by principal cells was hypothesised. This control is suggested to be mediated by the local formation of prostaglandins. Members of the aquaporin (AQP) and/or aquaglyceroporin family (AQP3, AQP7 and AQP8) are also specifically expressed in the rat epididymal basal cells. Transport of glycerol and glycerylphosphorylcholine from the epithelium of the epididymis to the lumen in relation to sperm maturation may be mediated by AQP. Most probably basal cells collaborate to the building up of the blood–epididymis barrier through cell adhesion molecules, implying an involvement in immune control exerted towards sperm cells, which are foreigners in the environment in which they were produced.
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