1
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Tian P, Yang Z, Qu C, Qi X, Zhu L, Hao G, Zhang Y. Exploration of tissue fixation methods suitable for digital pathological studies of the testis. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:319. [PMID: 38858777 PMCID: PMC11163764 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01921-5] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The way of testicular tissue fixation directly affects the correlation and structural integrity between connective tissue and seminiferous tubules, which is essential for the study of male reproductive development. This study aimed to find the optimal fixative and fixation time to produce high-quality testicular histopathological sections, and provided a suitable foundation for in-depth study of male reproductive development with digital pathology technology. METHODS Testes were removed from both sides of 25 male C57BL/6 mice. Samples were fixed in three different fixatives, 10% neutral buffered formalin (10% NBF), modified Davidson's fluid (mDF), and Bouin's Fluid (BF), for 8, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, periodic acid Schiff-hematoxylin (PAS-h) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to evaluate the testicle morphology, staging of mouse seminiferous tubules, and protein preservation. Aperio ScanScope CS2 panoramic scanning was used to perform quantitative analyses. RESULTS H&E staining showed 10% NBF resulted in an approximately 15-17% reduction in the thickness of seminiferous epithelium. BF and mDF provided excellent results when staining acrosomes with PAS-h. IHC staining of synaptonemal complexes 3 (Sycp3) was superior in mDF compared to BF-fixed samples. Fixation in mDF and BF improved testis tissue morphology compared to 10% NBF. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative analysis showed that BF exhibited a very low IHC staining efficiency and revealed that mouse testes fixed for 12 h with mDF, exhibited morphological details, excellent efficiency of PAS-h staining for seminiferous tubule staging, and IHC results. In addition, the morphological damage of testis was prolonged with the duration of fixation time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxiang Tian
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Zhan Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Changbao Qu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Linlin Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Guimin Hao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
- Department of Urology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Department of Urology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Hebei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Langfang, 065001, Hebei, China.
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2
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Blanes-García M, Marinović Z, Herranz-Jusdado JG, Xie X, Ferrão L, Gallego V, Pérez L, Baloch AR, Horváth Á, Pšenička M, Asturiano JF, Morini M. Characterization of potential spermatogonia biomarker genes in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2024:10.1007/s10695-024-01338-1. [PMID: 38639895 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-024-01338-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Identification of specific molecular markers for spermatogonial stem cells in teleost is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of reproductive biotechnologies in aquaculture, such as transplantation and surrogate production in fishes. Since it is not yet possible to distinguish spermatogonial stem cells of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) using specific molecular markers, we isolated spermatogonial cells from immature European eels to find these potential markers. We attempted this by studying three candidate genes: vasa, nanos2, and dnd1. Two vasa (vasa1 and vasa2) genes, nanos2, and dnd1 were identified, characterized, and studied in the muscle, testis, and isolated spermatogonia. Our results showed that vasa1 and vasa2 had the highest levels of expression when measured by qPCR. In situ hybridization and immunochemistry assays showed that the four genes were localized explicitly in type A spermatogonia. However, vasa1 and vasa2 exhibited stronger signals in the immature testicular tissue than the other two potential markers. According to this, vasa1 and vasa2 were found to be the most effective markers for spermatogonial cells in the European eel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Blanes-García
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Zoran Marinović
- Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly U. 1, 2100, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Juan Germán Herranz-Jusdado
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Xuan Xie
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Leonor Ferrão
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Victor Gallego
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Luz Pérez
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Abdul Rasheed Baloch
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Ákos Horváth
- Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly U. 1, 2100, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Martin Pšenička
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Juan F Asturiano
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Marina Morini
- Grupo de Acuicultura y Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera S/N, 46022, Valencia, Spain
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3
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Özay Güleş, Doğan G, Ercins UH, Eren Ü. Effects of Quercetin against Doxorubicin-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022030086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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4
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Different fixatives influence morphology, antigen preservation, and TUNEL staining in chicken (Gallus gallus) testis. Acta Histochem 2021; 123:151822. [PMID: 34861475 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The optimized fixative for testis is still controversial. This study investigated the effects of Modified Davidson's Fluid (mDF), 4% Paraformaldehyde (4% PFA), and Bouin's Fluid (BF) fixatives on chicken testes in normal/cadmium (Cd) feeding groups using hematoxylin and eosin (HE), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Terminal Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) staining. Compared to the mDF, we established that the testes fixed with 4% PFA and BF in the normal group had severe shrinkage in tubular and interstitial compartments. Moreover, compared with 4% PFA, the number of GATA4-positive Sertoli cells/mm2 reduced by 67.61% in mDF and 80.57% in BF for one seminiferous tubule. The TUNEL assay illustrated that more positive cells/mm2 in mDF group (28.47 ± 11.38) than in 4% PFA (10.49 ± 7.89). In Cd-treated testes, mDF showed more morphological details than 4% PFA and BF. In contrast, the number of GATA4-positive Sertoli cells/mm2 of 4% PFA was higher than that of mDF by 65.78% and BF by 64.80% in a seminiferous tubule. The number of TUNEL positive cells/mm2 in mDF (272.60 ± 34.41) were higher than in 4% PFA (175.91 ± 19.87). These results suggest that mDF fixative is suitable for normal and Cd-treated testis fixation for HE and TUNEL staining in chicken, whereas 4% PFA fixative is better for IHC examination.
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5
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Reis AB, Reis FM, Salles PG, Almeida FRCL, Martello R, Assis WA, Caldeira-Brant AL, Tatsuo ES, Chiarini-Garcia H. A fertility-oriented method for histological processing of testicular biopsies in men with azoospermia. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2021; 67:314-321. [PMID: 33899622 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2021.1892866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate whether tissue preparation by glutaraldehyde and glycol methacrylate (G/GMA) improves the diagnostic assessment of testicular biopsies from azoospermic men when compared to the standard tissue preparation using Bouin's solution and paraffin. We prospectively included a total of 21 testicular biopsies of sexually mature men aged 29-50 years with infertility and azoospermia. One testicular biopsy fragment from each patient was processed by the G/GMA method, whereas another tissue fragment was contemporarily processed by the conventional Bouin/paraffin (B/P) method. The G/GMA method provided better resolution of cytological details of the seminiferous epithelium, changing the final diagnosis in four cases. The medians of Bergmann's spermatogenesis scores were 0.25 (interquartile range 0.04-0.88) for B/P preparations and 0.79 (interquartile range 0.17-0.96) for G/GMA preparations. Both techniques allowed accurate prediction of sperm recovery from the biopsies (B/P, area under the receiver operating characteristics [ROC] curve 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-1.00; G/GMA, area under the ROC curve 0.94, 95% CI 0.86-1.00). We conclude that human testicular biopsy preparation with G/GMA improved image resolution under light microscopy and produced more reliable results for the evaluation of spermatogenesis in comparison with B/P, allowing a more precise fertility-oriented diagnosis in azoospermic men.Abbreviations: B/P: Bouin/paraffin; GMA: glycol methacrylate; G/GMA: glutaraldehyde and glycol methacrylate; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; OA: obstructive azoospermia; NOA: nonobstructive azoospermia; TESE: testicular sperm extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Reginaldo Martello
- Division of Urology, Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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6
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High fat diet impairs spermatogenesis by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in Sertoli cells. Life Sci 2020; 257:118028. [PMID: 32615185 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Sertoli cells (SCs) play an important role in the process of spermatogenesis. SCs provide energy for germ cells (GCs) and themselves through glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) respectively. High fat diet (HFD) impairs spermatogenesis by damaging function of SCs, however whether HFD disrupts energy metabolism in SCs remains unclear. MAIN METHODS To explore this hypothesis, we built male Wistar rat model fed on HFD and cultured rats' primary SCs with palmitic acid (PA). Rats' fertility and sperm quality were evaluated in vivo. Glycolysis, lactate production and mitochondrial respiration were assessed by using extracellular flux analyzer, and the expression of enzymes involved in glucose and FAO was analyzed by Real-Time PCR or Western Blotting. KEY FINDINGS The showed that the sperm concentration and pups per litter significantly decreased in rats fed on HFD compared to those rats fed on normal diet. There was an elevation of lactate levels in testicular tissue of rats fed on HFD and primary SCs exposed to PA. In vitro, PA increased glycolytic flux, and lactate production, and the levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1) and long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) which were two key enzymes for fatty acid β oxidation. Further analysis showed that mitochondrial respiration was impaired by PA, followed by the decrease in ATP turnover, maximal respiration and the increase in proton leak. SIGNIFICANCE Taken together, the elevated lactate level, lipid metabolism disorder and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by HFD lead to SCs dysfunction, which ultimately leads to decreased sperm quality.
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7
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Tang RL, Fan LQ. PLZF posc-KIT pos-delineated A 1-A 4-differentiating spermatogonia by subset and stage detection upon Bouin fixation. Asian J Androl 2020; 21:309-318. [PMID: 30719983 PMCID: PMC6498726 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_103_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While hallmarks of rodent spermatogonia stem cell biomarkers' heterogeneity have recently been identified, their stage and subset distributions remain unclear. Furthermore, it is currently difficult to accurately identify subset-specific SSC marker distributions due to the poor nuclear morphological characteristics associated with fixation in 4% paraformaldehyde. In the present study, testicular cross-sections and whole-mount samples were Bouin fixed to optimize nuclear resolution and visualized by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). The results identified an expression pattern of PLZFhighc-KITpos in A1 spermatogonia, while A2-A4-differentiating spermatogonia were PLZFlowc-KITpos. Additionally, this procedure was used to examine asymmetrically expressing GFRA1 and PLZF clones, asymmetric Apr and false clones were distinguished based on the presence or absence of TEX14, a molecular maker of intercellular bridges, despite having identical nuclear morphology and intercellular distances that were <25 μm. In conclusion, this optimized Bouin fixation procedure facilitates the accurate identification of spermatogonium subsets based on their molecular profiles and is capable of distinguishing asymmetric and false clones. Therefore, the findings presented herein will facilitate further morphological and functional analysis studies and provide further insight into spermatogonium subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Ling Tang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Li-Qing Fan
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
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Li X, Xu A, Li K, Zhang J, Li Q, Zhao G, Zhang Y, Yuan H, Guo Y, Lin P, Huang L. CXCR4-SF1 bifunctional adipose-derived stem cells benefit for the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:4633-4645. [PMID: 32181567 PMCID: PMC7176872 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell transplantation is a candidate method for the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases. However, there are still many problems that limit its clinical application. Here, we report the establishment of CXCR4-SF1 bifunctional adipose-derived stem cells (CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs) and their reparative effect on Leydig cell dysfunction. CD29+ CD44+ CD34- CD45- ADSCs were isolated from adipose tissue and purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Infection with lentiviruses carrying the CXCR4 and SF1 genes was applied to construct CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs. The CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs exhibited enhanced migration and had the ability to differentiate into Leydig-like cells in vitro. Furthermore, the bifunctional ADSCs were injected into BPA-mediated Leydig cell damage model mice via the tail vein. We found that the CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs were capable of homing to the injured testes, differentiating into Leydig-like cells and repairing the deficiency in reproductive function caused by Leydig cell dysfunction. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism underlying SF1-mediated differentiation and testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, and the B-box and SPRY Domain Containing Protein (BSPRY) gene was proposed to be involved in this process. This study provides insight into the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ao Xu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kai Li
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qin Li
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hang Yuan
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yafei Guo
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping Lin
- Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lugang Huang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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9
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Johnson KJ, Passage J, Lin H, Sriram S, Budinsky RA. Dioxin male rat reproductive toxicity mode of action and relative potency of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran characterized by fetal pituitary and testis transcriptome profiling. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 93:146-162. [PMID: 32109520 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Fetal rat exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) reduces epididymal sperm number involving altered pituitary-testicular hormonal signaling as the proposed mode-of-action (MOA). To evaluate this MOA and compare TCDD to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), an in utero rat exposure and study was conducted. Endpoints included congener tissue levels and transcriptomes of maternal liver and fetal liver, testis, and pituitary. Decreased gonadotropin subunit mRNAs levels (Lhb and Fshb) and enriched signaling pathways including GNRH Signaling and Calcium Signaling were observed in fetal pituitary after TCDD (but not TCDF) exposure. TCDD (but not TCDF) decreased fetal testis cholesterologenic and steroidogenic pathway genes. TCDD tissue concentrations in dam liver, dam adipose, and whole fetus were approximately 3- to 6-fold higher than TCDF. These results support a MOA for dioxin-induced rat male reproductive toxicity involving key events in both the fetal pituitary (e.g., reduced gonadotropin production) and fetal testis (e.g., reduced Leydig cell cholesterologenesis and steroidogenesis).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamin J Johnson
- Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA.
| | - Julie Passage
- Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA.
| | - Hui Lin
- The Dow Chemical Company, Washington Street, 1803 Building, Midland, MI, 48674, USA.
| | - Shreedharan Sriram
- Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA.
| | - Robert A Budinsky
- The Dow Chemical Company, Washington Street, 1803 Building, Midland, MI, 48674, USA.
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10
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Wang WY, Meng LJ, Xu YJ, Gong T, Yang Y. Effects of 4% paraformaldehyde and modified Davidson's fluid on the morphology and immunohistochemistry of Xiang pig testes. J Toxicol Pathol 2020; 33:97-104. [PMID: 32425342 PMCID: PMC7218235 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2019-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Modified Davidson’s fluid (mDF) is a good fixative for morphological and antigen
preservation. However, recent studies have shown that 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) can better
preserve the actin structure in rodent testes. It remains controversial which of these
fixatives is best for testicular tissue. This study investigated the effects of both mDF
and 4% PFA on the morphology and antigen preservation of Xiang pig testes using
hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The stronger testis
penetration of mDF compared with that of 4% PFA was primarily manifested as testicular
color change and decrease in tissue weight loss. Testes fixed with 4% PFA displayed a
severe shrinkage of both the tubular and interstitial compartments and the seminiferous
tubule area decreased by 12.02% compared with that in mDF-fixed tissues. In contrast, IHC
results showed that 4% PFA fixation achieved better IHC-positive performance than mDF
fixation for antigens specifically expressed in germ cells, Leydig cells and Sertoli
cells. Due to this improved antigen preservation by 4% PFA fixation, the relative
immunoreactions intensity significantly increased by 39.8%, 27.8%, and 76.4%,
respectively, compared with that in mDF fixation. In summary, fixation of Xiang pig testes
with mDF was suitable for HE staining, while fixation with 4% PFA was more suitable for
IHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China.,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Li-Jie Meng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China.,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Yong-Jian Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China.,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Ting Gong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China.,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China.,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, No. 515 Jiaxiu South Road, Guiyang, 550025 China
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Güleş Ö, Kum Ş, Yıldız M, Boyacıoğlu M, Ahmad E, Naseer Z, Eren Ü. Protective effect of coenzyme Q10 against bisphenol-A-induced toxicity in the rat testes. Toxicol Ind Health 2020; 35:466-481. [PMID: 31364507 DOI: 10.1177/0748233719862475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant, histomorphometric, histochemical, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and cytological effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) against bisphenol-A (BPA)-induced testicular toxicity in rats. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. The control group remained untreated. The vehicle control group was administered corn oil (2 ml/kg/day), the BPA group was given BPA (100 mg/kg/day), the CoQ10 group was supplemented with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg/day), and the rats in the CoQ10-BPA group received CoQ10 (10 mg/kg/day) followed by BPA (100 mg/kg/day) 1 h later. The treatments were administered by oral gavage for 14 days. Results showed that the seminiferous tubule diameters (STDs) and seminiferous epithelium heights (SEHs) at stages VII-VIII and XII-XIV, number of undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor-1 (UTF-1) positive cells per tubule, UTF-1 positive tubules (%), plasma glutathione (GSH), and serum superoxide dismutase activities, testicular GSH activity and sperm viability (%) decreased whereas the number of terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells per tubule, TUNEL positive tubules (%), testicular and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the rate of mid-piece sperm abnormality increased in the BPA administered group. However, while the STDs at stages VII-VIII and XII-XIV, SEHs at stages VII-VIII, plasma GSH, and serum SOD activities increased, serum MDA level decreased in the CoQ10-BPA group. In conclusion, these results suggest a protective effect of CoQ10 against BPA-induced testicular toxicity in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özay Güleş
- 1 Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Şadiye Kum
- 1 Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Yıldız
- 2 Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Çan School of Applied Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Murat Boyacıoğlu
- 3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- 4 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Zahid Naseer
- 5 Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Ülker Eren
- 1 Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
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12
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Zalewska A. Developmental milestones in neonatal and juvenile C57Bl/6 mouse - Indications for the design of juvenile toxicity studies. Reprod Toxicol 2019; 88:91-128. [PMID: 31386883 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing demand for wild type mice and mouse models of disease that may be more representative of human conditions but there is little information on neonatal and juvenile mouse anatomy. This project produces sound and comprehensive histology background data on the developing neonatal mouse at different time points from Day 0 until Day 28. The work describes optimal methods for tissue harvesting, fixation and processing from the neonatal and juvenile mice which can be used in routine toxicology studies. A review of the available literature revealed inconsistencies in the developmental milestones reported in the mouse. Although it is true that the sequence of events during the development is virtually the same in mice and rats, important developmental milestones in the mouse often happen earlier than in the rat, and these species should not be used interchangeably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Zalewska
- Sequani Limited, Bromyard Road, Ledbury, HR8 1LH, Herefordshire, United Kingdom.
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13
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Gules O, Yildiz M, Naseer Z, Tatar M. Effects of folic acid on testicular toxicity induced by bisphenol-A in male Wistar rats. Biotech Histochem 2018; 94:26-35. [DOI: 10.1080/10520295.2018.1493222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- O Gules
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - M Yildiz
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Çan School of Applied Sciences, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
| | - Z Naseer
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - M Tatar
- Department of Veterinary, Burdur Food Agriculture and Livestock Vocational School, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey
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14
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Awang-Junaidi AH, Honaramooz A. Optimization of culture conditions for short-term maintenance, proliferation, and colony formation of porcine gonocytes. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2018; 9:8. [PMID: 29372053 PMCID: PMC5771198 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-017-0222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gonocytes give rise to spermatogonial stem cells, and thereby play an essential role in establishing spermatogenesis. Optimized culture conditions for gonocytes provide an opportunity for their study and in vitro manipulation for potential application in reproductive technologies. Using six experiments in a step-wise design, we examined the effects of several culture conditions on the maintenance, proliferation, and colony formation of porcine gonocytes. Testis cells from neonatal piglets were cultured for 7 d in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The examined culture conditions included using different cell seeding densities, gonocyte proportions, incubation temperatures, sampling strategies, and medium changing regimens. Results Confluency of cells was optimal (>90% by ~6 d) when 3.0 × 104 testis cells/cm2 containing ~40% gonocytes were used. Incubating the cells at 35 °C or 37 °C resulted in similar cell number and viability at confluency, but incubation at 35 °C resulted in a delayed confluency. In the first 2 d of culture, gonocytes remained mostly floating in the medium and gradually settled over the next 5 d. Consequently, not changing the medium for 7 d (as opposed to changing it every 2 d) led to a significant increase in the number of gonocyte colonies by reducing the loss of “floating gonocytes”. Conclusion We found that gonocytes require the presence of a critical minimum number of somatic cells for settlement, and can proliferate and form growing colonies even in a basic medium. Large numbers of viable gonocytes remain floating in the medium for several days. The optimized culture conditions in the present study included seeding with 3.0 × 104 testis cells/cm2 containing ~40% gonocytes, incubating at 37 °C, and without changing the medium in the first week, which can result in improved colony formation of porcine gonocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awang Hazmi Awang-Junaidi
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4 Canada
| | - Ali Honaramooz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4 Canada
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15
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Thiebaut C, Chamard-Jovenin C, Chesnel A, Morel C, Djermoune EH, Boukhobza T, Dumond H. Mammary epithelial cell phenotype disruption in vitro and in vivo through ERalpha36 overexpression. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173931. [PMID: 28301550 PMCID: PMC5354400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha 36 (ERα36) is a variant of the canonical estrogen receptor alpha (ERα66), widely expressed in hormone sensitive cancer cells and whose high expression level correlates with a poor survival prognosis for breast cancer patients. While ERα36 activity have been related to breast cancer progression or acquired resistance to treatment, expression level and location of ERα36 are poorly documented in the normal mammary gland. Therefore, we explored the consequences of a ERα36 overexpression in vitro in MCF-10A normal mammary epithelial cells and in vivo in a unique model of MMTV-ERα36 transgenic mouse strain wherein ERα36 mRNA was specifically expressed in the mammary gland. By a combination of bioinformatics and computational analyses of microarray data, we identified hierarchical gene networks, downstream of ERα36 and modulated by the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Concomitantly, ERα36 overexpression lowered proliferation rate but enhanced migration potential and resistance to staurosporin-induced apoptosis of the MCF-10A cell line. In vivo, ERα36 expression led to duct epithelium thinning and disruption in adult but not in prepubescent mouse mammary gland. These phenotypes correlated with a loss of E-cadherin expression. Here, we show that an enhanced expression of ERα36 is sufficient, by itself, to disrupt normal breast epithelial phenotype in vivo and in vitro through a dominant-positive effect on nongenomic estrogen signaling pathways. These results also suggest that, in the presence of adult endogenous steroid levels, ERα36 overexpression in vivo contributes to alter mammary gland architecture which may support pre-neoplastic lesion and augment breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Thiebaut
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Clémence Chamard-Jovenin
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Amand Chesnel
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Chloé Morel
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - El-Hadi Djermoune
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Taha Boukhobza
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Hélène Dumond
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- * E-mail:
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16
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Abstract
To clarify the contribution of spontaneous or autolytic post-mortem changes to testis histopathology, the testes of adult rats were examined after animals were left at room temperature for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postmortem (n = 2 for all time points except 0 hours postmortem, where n = 3). A progressive decrease in testis weight and seminiferous tubule diameter was observed, as well as detachment of the seminiferous epithelium from the basement membrane. As early as 12 hours postmortem, there was observable clumping and margination of chromatin in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and step 7–10 spermatids; extensive disintegration of Sertoli cells and residual bodies by 24 hours postmortem; and TUNEL positivity of Leydig cells (by 36 hours postmortem) and step 19 spermatids (at 48 hours postmortem). These findings will aid in ensuring proficient histopathological analysis of testes in toxicity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn H Bryant
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
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17
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Chamard-Jovenin C, Thiebaut C, Chesnel A, Bresso E, Morel C, Smail-Tabbone M, Devignes MD, Boukhobza T, Dumond H. Low-Dose Alkylphenol Exposure Promotes Mammary Epithelium Alterations and Transgenerational Developmental Defects, But Does Not Enhance Tumorigenic Behavior of Breast Cancer Cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:272. [PMID: 29109696 PMCID: PMC5660105 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal and neonatal exposure to long-chain alkylphenols has been suspected to promote breast developmental disorders and consequently to increase breast cancer risk. However, disease predisposition from developmental exposures remains unclear. In this work, human MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells were exposed in vitro to a low dose of a realistic (4-nonylphenol + 4-tert-octylphenol) mixture. Transcriptome and cell-phenotype analyses combined to functional and signaling network modeling indicated that long-chain alkylphenols triggered enhanced proliferation, migration ability, and apoptosis resistance and shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms which involved the human estrogen receptor alpha 36 (ERα36) variant. A male mouse-inherited transgenerational model of exposure to three environmentally relevant doses of the alkylphenol mix was set up in order to determine whether and how it would impact on mammary gland architecture. Mammary glands from F3 progeny obtained after intrabuccal chronic exposure of C57BL/6J P0 pregnant mice followed by F1-F3 male inheritance displayed an altered histology which correlated with the phenotypes observed in vitro in human mammary epithelial cells. Since cellular phenotypes are similar in vivo and in vitro and involve the unique ERα36 human variant, such consequences of alkylphenol exposure could be extrapolated from mouse model to human. However, transient alkylphenol treatments combined to ERα36 overexpression in mammary epithelial cells were not sufficient to trigger tumorigenesis in xenografted Nude mice. Therefore, it remains to be determined if low-dose alkylphenol transgenerational exposure and subsequent abnormal mammary gland development could account for an increased breast cancer susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Chamard-Jovenin
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Charlène Thiebaut
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Amand Chesnel
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Emmanuel Bresso
- Université de Lorraine, LORIA, UMR 7503, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Inria, Villers-lès-Nancy, France
- CNRS, LORIA, UMR 7503, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Chloé Morel
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Malika Smail-Tabbone
- Université de Lorraine, LORIA, UMR 7503, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Inria, Villers-lès-Nancy, France
- CNRS, LORIA, UMR 7503, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Marie-Dominique Devignes
- Université de Lorraine, LORIA, UMR 7503, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- Inria, Villers-lès-Nancy, France
- CNRS, LORIA, UMR 7503, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Taha Boukhobza
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Hélène Dumond
- CNRS-Université de Lorraine, UMR 7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, BP70239, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- *Correspondence: Hélène Dumond,
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18
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Different fixative methods influence histological morphology and TUNEL staining in mouse testes. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 60:53-61. [PMID: 26820454 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Society of Toxicologic Pathology has recommended mDF to fix testes since 2002. However, subsequent studies showed that false TUNEL-positive cells were observed in mDF-fixed testes. This study compared the effects of different fixation methods on histology and TUNEL staining in mouse testes. Results showed that fixation for 24 or 36h in mDF provided better morphologic details in untreated testes, but markedly enhanced false TUNEL-positive staining. To optimize the fixation, testes were fixed using mDF for 6h and then PFA for 18h. Interestingly, fixation using mDF/PFA manifested better morphologic details, and rarely caused false TUNEL-positive cells in testes. Finally, we examined germ cell apoptosis in testes using mDF/PFA fixation in cadmium-treated mice. As expected, cadmium triggered germ cell apoptosis which was well visualized in the mDF/PFA fixed testes. Taken together, mDF plus PFA fixation not only minimizes false TUNEL-positive cells, but also provides integrated morphologic details in testes.
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Gong T, Wei Q, Mao D, Shi F. Expression patterns of taste receptor type 1 subunit 3 and α-gustducin in the mouse testis during development. Acta Histochem 2016; 118:20-30. [PMID: 26589384 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Taste receptor type 1 subunit 3 (T1R3) and its associated heterotrimeric G protein α-gustducin (Gα) are involved in sweet and umami sensing in taste cells. They are also strongly expressed in the testis and sperm, but their expression patterns and potential roles involved were previously unknown. In present study, we investigated the expression patterns of T1R3 and Gα in the mouse testis at critical stages of postnatal life, and throughout the spermatogenic cycle. Our results indicated that T1R3 and Gα exhibited a stage-dependent expression pattern during mouse development, and a cell-specific pattern during the spermatogenic cycle. Their expressions have been increased significantly from prepubertal to pubertal periods (P<005), and decreased significantly in aged mice (P<005). The changes were mainly attributed to the differential expression of T1R3 or Gα in elongated spermatids and Leydig cells at different stages of the spermatogenic cycle. In addition, the expression of T1R3 and Gα were first observed in residual bodies of spermatozoa and endothelial cells of blood vessels at post-pubertal mice, while Gα was located in apoptotic spermatogonia of postnatal mice. These novel expression patterns suggest a role of T1R3 and Gα in the onset of spermatogenesis, pace of spermatogenic cycle, and aging of the testis.
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20
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Pintus E, Ros-Santaella JL, Garde JJ. Beyond Testis Size: Links between Spermatogenesis and Sperm Traits in a Seasonal Breeding Mammal. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139240. [PMID: 26430740 PMCID: PMC4592251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a costly process that is expected to be under selection to maximise sperm quantity and quality. Testis size is often regarded as a proxy measure of sperm investment, implicitly overlooking the quantitative assessment of spermatogenesis. An enhanced understanding of testicular function, beyond testis size, may reveal further sexual traits involved in sperm quantity and quality. Here, we first estimated the inter-male variation in testicular function and sperm traits in red deer across the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Then, we analysed the relationships between the testis mass, eight parameters of spermatogenic function, and seven parameters of sperm quality. Our findings revealed that the Sertoli cell number and function parameters vary greatly between red deer males, and that spermatogenic activity co-varies with testis mass and sperm quality across the breeding and non-breeding seasons. For the first time in a seasonal breeder, we found that not only is the Sertoli cell number important in determining testis mass (r = 0.619, p = 0.007 and r = 0.248, p = 0.047 for the Sertoli cell number assessed by histology and cytology, respectively), but also sperm function (r = 0.703, p = 0.002 and r = 0.328, p = 0.012 for the Sertoli cell number assessed by histology and cytology, respectively). Testicular histology also revealed that a high Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section is associated with high sperm production (r = 0.600, p = 0.009). Sperm production and function were also positively correlated (r = 0.384, p = 0.004), suggesting that these traits co-vary to maximise sperm fertilisation ability in red deer. In conclusion, our findings contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of spermatogenesis, and reveal new insights into the role of testicular function and the Sertoli cell number on testis size and sperm quality in red deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Pintus
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - José Luis Ros-Santaella
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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21
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Pintus E, Ros-Santaella JL, Garde JJ. Variation of spermatogenic and Sertoli cell number detected by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in Iberian red deer during and out of the breeding season. Reprod Fertil Dev 2015; 27:812-22. [DOI: 10.1071/rd13419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate spermatogenesis in Iberian red deer, a short-day seasonal breeder, using the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) technique. Reports on spermatogenesis in deer are limited and here, for the first time, FNAC has been used to evaluate changes in such physiological process during and out of the breeding season. Testes were collected from 51 stags from November 2010 to February 2011. The Sertoli index and spermatic index were significantly higher during the breeding season than out of the breeding season (P = 0.0477 and P = 0.0125, respectively). A similar pattern was described by histological analysis, in which both Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section and Johnsen score decreased significantly from the breeding season to the non-breeding season (P = 0.0131 and P = 0.0010, respectively). Data provided by FNAC were correlated with histology: the Sertoli index was positively correlated with Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section (P = 0.0015), whereas the spermatic index was correlated with the Johnsen score (P = 0.0497). The results of the present study indicate that FNAC is a reliable technique to evaluate spermatogenesis in Iberian red deer and suggest that Sertoli cell number is not stable in these species, reaching highest values during the breeding season.
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Kumar A, Nagar M. Histomorphometric study of testis in deltamethrin treated albino rats. Toxicol Rep 2014; 1:401-410. [PMID: 28962256 PMCID: PMC5598161 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Revised: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Deltamethrin, a type II synthetic pyrethroid, has lead to a widespread concern over the potential adverse effects on human health. Adult Wistar albino rats, weighing 150-200 g, were divided into two groups of ten animals each. The group II rats were injected with deltamethrin (1 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally, for five days/week for a month. The group I were controls. Animals were sacrificed within 24 h of the last injection by perfusion under anesthesia. Paraffin sections (8 μm) were cut, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histomorphometry was done. There was a decrease in the body weight but increase in the weight of the testis of rat. The mean vertical, antero-posterior and transverse diameter of the testis is reduced. The basement membrane enclosing the seminiferous tubules appeared thickened at sites. The number of seminiferous tubules per unit area is statistically significantly reduced. There was a generalized significant decrease in the diameter and the epithelium thickness (height) of the seminiferous tubules, associated collapse and distortion at sites of the tubules predominantly in the central region. The data obtained in the present work suggest that gonadal (testis) changes could seriously affect the reproductive potential of the rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar
- Department of Human Structure and Neurobiology, Oman Medical College Affiliated with West Virginia University (USA), Sohar, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Mahindra Nagar
- Department of Anatomy, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi 110095, India
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Ball GL, McLellan CJ, Bhat VS. Toxicological review and oral risk assessment of terephthalic acid (TPA) and its esters: A category approach. Crit Rev Toxicol 2011; 42:28-67. [PMID: 22050403 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2011.623149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate, a copolymer of terephthalic acid (TPA) or dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) with ethylene glycol, has food, beverage, and drinking water contact applications. Di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT) is a plasticizer in food and drinking water contact materials. Oral reference doses (RfDs) and total allowable concentrations (TACs) in drinking water were derived for TPA, DMT, and DEHT. Category RfD and TAC levels were also established for nine C(1)-C(8) terephthalate esters. The mode of action of TPA, and of DMT, which is metabolized to TPA, involves urinary acidosis, altered electrolyte elimination and hypercalciuria, urinary supersaturation with calcium terephthalate or calcium hydrogen terephthalate, and crystallization into bladder calculi. Weanling rats were more sensitive to calculus formation than dams. Calculi-induced irritation led to bladder hyperplasia and tumors in rats fed 1000 mg/kg-day TPA. The lack of effects at 142 mg/kg-day supports a threshold for urine saturation with calcium terephthalate, a key event for calculus formation. Chronic dietary DMT exposure in rodents caused kidney inflammation, but not calculi. Chronic dietary DEHT exposure caused general toxicity unrelated to calculi, although urine pH was reduced suggesting the TPA metabolite was biologically-active, but of insufficient concentration to induce calculi. Respective oral reference doses of 0.5, 0.5, and 0.2 mg/kg-day and total allowable drinking water concentrations of 3, 3, and 1 mg/L were derived for TPA, DMT, and DEHT. An oral RfD of 0.2 mg/kg-day for the terephthalate category chemicals corresponded to a drinking water TAC of 1 mg/L.
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Morphology of rat testis preserved in three different fixatives. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 31:178-180. [PMID: 21505980 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-011-0247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Histopathological examination of testes is important in assessing spermatogenesis and testicular function. Modified Davidson's fluid (mDF) has been proposed as a superior substitute for Bouin's fluid (BF) for fixation of adult animal testes. Besides, 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) has been commonly used to fix testes with convenience. We compared the morphology of the rat testis fixed in 4% PFA, mDF, or BF using hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections. Fixation in 4% PFA resulted in obvious tissue shrinkage artifacts, especially between seminiferous epithelium cells. Shrinkage artifacts were also observed in the central area of the testes fixed in BF. Use of mDF did not cause shrinkage artifacts between seminiferous tubules, though a small amount can be observed in seminiferous tubules between germ cells. Clarity of nuclear detail in testes fixed in mDF and BF is better compared to 4% PFA. Our study demonstrated that fixation in mDF provided better morphologic details in the rat testis as compared with 4% PFA and BF.
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Zhang H, Wang H, Ji YL, Zhang Y, Yu T, Ning H, Zhang C, Zhao XF, Wang Q, Liu P, Xu DX. Maternal fenvalerate exposure during pregnancy persistently impairs testicular development and spermatogenesis in male offspring. Food Chem Toxicol 2010; 48:1160-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Revised: 01/06/2010] [Accepted: 02/01/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Boekelheide K, Kleymenova E, Liu K, Swanson C, Gaido KW. Dose-dependent effects on cell proliferation, seminiferous tubules, and male germ cells in the fetal rat testis following exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate. Microsc Res Tech 2009; 72:629-38. [PMID: 19165735 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Adult male rats gestationally exposed to di(n-butyl)phthalate (DBP) have dysgenetic testes characterized by seminiferous epithelial degeneration, clustering of Leydig cells, and decreased spermatogenesis. Cell proliferation and apoptosis are key processes regulating development of the testis, and alterations in these processes may underlie testicular dysgenesis. OBJECTIVE To determine whether gestational exposure to DBP affects cell proliferation and apoptosis in the developing rat testis. DESIGN Pregnant dams were exposed to different dose levels of DBP in mid-gestation and cellular outcomes in fetal and early postnatal testes were assayed by histological and morphometric approaches. RESULTS Gestational exposure to high dose DBP inhibited proliferation of fetal testicular somatic cells but did not affect apoptosis. Exposed fetal testes had a smaller volume and decreased cell numbers, with decreases in both the tubular and interstitial cell populations. A reduction was observed in the testis volume and altered seminiferous tubule morphometry at > or =50 mg/kg/d, and a decreased testicular cell number at > or =30 mg/kg/d DBP. The number of multinucleated gonocytes in DBP-exposed fetal testes increased after exposure to > or =100 mg/kg/d. The number of proliferating cells in the DBP-exposed testis rapidly rose after birth (when exposure stopped), and the testis volume and the total cell number was comparable to control by postnatal day 2. CONCLUSION DBP reversibly inhibits proliferation of somatic cells in the fetal rat testis. Decreased proliferation, rather than increased apoptosis, is the underlying mechanism of altered fetal development of DBP-exposed seminiferous tubules contributing to testicular dysgenesis.
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Johnson KJ, McCahan SM, Si X, Campion L, Herrmann R, Barthold JS. The orl rat with inherited cryptorchidism has increased susceptibility to the testicular effects of in utero dibutyl phthalate exposure. Toxicol Sci 2008; 105:360-7. [PMID: 18621746 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfn140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotype results from interactions between genetics and environment, but for most environmental chemical exposures, such interactions are theoretical. The phenotypic response of the testis to in utero dibutyl phthalate (DBP) exposure was compared between two strains of Long-Evans (LE) rats, the orl substrain with inherited cryptorchidism and an outbred (wt) strain. orl and wt LE rats were exposed daily between gestational day (GD) 12 and GD21 to DBP dose levels ranging from 50 to 200 mg/kg by oral gavage and sensitive phthalate testicular end points examined at either GD19, GD21, or postnatal day (PND) 21. At 50 mg/kg DBP, GD19 expression of Cyp17a1, Insl3, and Scarb1 was significantly reduced in orl but not wt testis. At GD21, statistically significant differential strain effects (orl more sensitive than wt) were observed for testicular expression of Scarb1 at 50 and 200 mg/kg DBP and Star at 200 mg/kg DBP. Similarly, DBP exposure disproportionately increased GD21 seminiferous cord diameters and numbers of multinucleated germ cells in the orl strain. At PND21, body weight-corrected testis weights were lowered significantly by DBP exposure at all dose levels in the orl strain but not in wt rats. While the frequency of undescended testes after 200 mg/kg DBP exposure in the orl strain appeared increased, these data were not statistically significant. These results demonstrated enhanced sensitivity of the orl rat to phthalate exposure as compared to its parent strain, a potentially important model of the effects of gene-environment interaction on development of male reproductive malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamin J Johnson
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, USA.
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Mu X, Liu K, Kleymenova E, Sar M, Young SS, Gaido KW. Gene expression profiling of androgen receptor antagonists in the rat fetal testis reveals few common gene targets. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2006; 20:7-17. [PMID: 16498641 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.20110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in the fetal testis; however, the role of AR in fetal testicular development is poorly understood. Disrupted AR activity and subsequent gene expression alterations may disturb developmental programming of the fetal testis and result in testicular abnormalities later in life. The present study was performed to examine global gene expression patterns in rat fetal testis following in utero exposure to various AR antagonists. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with flutamide (50 mg/kg/day), linuron (50 mg/kg/day), vinclozolin (200 mg/kg/day), p,p'-DDE (100 mg/kg/day) or corn oil vehicle by gavage daily from gestation day (GD) 12-19. Testes were isolated on GD 19, and AR immunostaining, histology, and global changes in gene expression were determined. There were no alterations in the pattern or expression level of AR and no apparent histological changes in the fetal testes in any treatment group. Microarray analysis using Dunnett's test with multiple testing correction revealed no significant gene expression alterations following exposure to flutamide, linuron, vinclozolin, and p,p'-DDE. A less stringent analysis yielded some chemical specific effects on gene expression, and these effects were further evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Vinclozolin treatment reduced the expression of several genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, though the testosterone levels were unchanged in the fetal testes in any treatment group. In flutamide, linuron, and p,p'-DDE treatment groups, the expression of hemoglobin Y, beta-like embryonic chain (Hbb-y) was reduced. Myomesin 2 (Myom2) expression was increased following linuron treatment. Given the lack of a common set of genes and the absence of overt histopathology, we conclude that the fetal testis is not a major target for AR activity at this stage of development although some cell-type specific gene expression changes cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyan Mu
- CIIT Centers for Health Research, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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Kleymenova E, Swanson C, Boekelheide K, Gaido KW. Exposure In Utero to Di(n-Butyl) Phthalate Alters the Vimentin Cytoskeleton of Fetal Rat Sertoli Cells and Disrupts Sertoli Cell-Gonocyte Contact1. Biol Reprod 2005; 73:482-90. [PMID: 15901642 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.037184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) is commonly used in personal care products and as a plasticizer to soften consumer plastic products. Male rats exposed to DBP in utero have malformations of the male reproductive tract and testicular atrophy characterized by degeneration of seminiferous epithelium and decreased sperm production. In the fetal testis, in utero exposure to DBP reportedly resulted in reduced testosterone levels, Leydig cell aggregates, and multinucleated gonocytes (MNG). We investigated whether exposure in utero to DBP affects rat fetal Sertoli cells and compromises interactions between Sertoli and germ cells in the developing testis. Histological examination showed that MNG occurred at low frequency in the normal fetal rat testis. Exposure in utero at the dose level of DBP above estimated environmental or occupational human exposure levels significantly increased the number of these abnormal germ cells. Postnatally, MNG exhibited aberrant mitoses and were detected at the basal lamina. MNG were not apoptotic in the fetal and postnatal rat testes, as indicated by TUNEL. Sertoli cells in DBP-exposed fetal testis had retracted apical processes, altered organization of the vimentin cytoskeleton, and abnormal cell-cell contacts with gonocytes. The effect of DBP on Sertoli cell morphology at the level of light microscopy was reversed after birth and cessation of exposure. Our data indicate that fetal Sertoli cells are targeted by exposure in utero to DBP and suggest that abnormal interactions between Sertoli and germ cells during fetal life play a role in the development of MNG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kleymenova
- CIIT Centers for Health Research, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
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