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Liu S, Wu J, Zhao X, Yu M, Taniguchi M, Bao H, Kang K. Recent Progress of Induced Spermatogenesis In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8524. [PMID: 39126092 PMCID: PMC11313507 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158524] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sperm, a crucial gamete for reproduction in sexual reproduction, is generated through the proliferation, differentiation, and morphological transformations of spermatogonial stem cells within the specialized microenvironment of the testes. Replicating this environment artificially presents challenges. However, interdisciplinary advancements in physics, materials science, and cell engineering have facilitated the utilization of innovative materials, technologies, and structures for inducing in vitro sperm production. This article offers a comprehensive overview of research progress on inducing in vitro sperm production by categorizing techniques into two major systems based on matrix-based and non-matrix-based approaches, respectively. Detailed discussions are provided for both types of technology systems through comparisons of their similarities and differences, as well as research advancements. The aim is to provide researchers in this field with a comprehensive panoramic view while presenting our own perspectives and prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Liu
- College of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (S.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Jiang Wu
- College of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (S.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Xin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Meng Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Masayasu Taniguchi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-0841, Japan
| | - Huimingda Bao
- College of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (S.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Kai Kang
- College of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (S.L.); (J.W.)
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Salem M, Khadivi F, Javanbakht P, Mojaverrostami S, Abbasi M, Feizollahi N, Abbasi Y, Heidarian E, Rezaei Yazdi F. Advances of three-dimensional (3D) culture systems for in vitro spermatogenesis. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:262. [PMID: 37735437 PMCID: PMC10512562 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03466-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The loss of germ cells and spermatogenic failure in non-obstructive azoospermia are believed to be the main causes of male infertility. Laboratory studies have used in vitro testicular models and different 3-dimensional (3D) culture systems for preservation, proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in recent decades. The establishment of testis-like structures would facilitate the study of drug and toxicity screening, pathological mechanisms and in vitro differentiation of SSCs which resulted in possible treatment of male infertility. The different culture systems using cellular aggregation with self-assembling capability, the use of different natural and synthetic biomaterials and various methods for scaffold fabrication provided a suitable 3D niche for testicular cells development. Recently, 3D culture models have noticeably used in research for their architectural and functional similarities to native microenvironment. In this review article, we briefly investigated the recent 3D culture systems that provided a suitable platform for male fertility preservation through organ culture of testis fragments, proliferation and differentiation of SSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Salem
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnaz Khadivi
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
| | - Parinaz Javanbakht
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Mojaverrostami
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Abbasi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narjes Feizollahi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Abbasi
- School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Heidarian
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzane Rezaei Yazdi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Bashiri Z, Moghaddaszadeh A, Falak R, Khadivi F, Afzali A, Abbasi M, Sharifi AM, Asgari HR, Ghanbari F, Koruji M. Generation of Haploid Spermatids on Silk Fibroin-Alginate-Laminin-Based Porous 3D Scaffolds. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2200574. [PMID: 37116215 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
In vitro production of sperm is a desirable idea for fertility preservation in azoospermic men and prepubertal boys suffering from cancer. In this study, a biocompatible porous scaffold based on a triad mixture of silk fibroin (SF), alginate (Alg), and laminin (LM) is developed to facilitate the differentiation of mouse spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs). Following SF extraction, the content is analyzed by SDS-PAGE and stable porous 3D scaffolds are successfully prepared by merely Alg, SF, and a combination of Alg-SF, or Alg-SF-LM through freeze-drying. Then, the biomimetic scaffolds are characterized regarding the structural and biological properties, water absorption capacity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical behavior. Neonatal mice testicular cells are seeded on three-dimensional scaffolds and their differentiation efficiency is evaluated using real-time PCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry. Blend matrices showed uniform porous microstructures with interconnected networks, which maintained long-term stability and mechanical properties better than homogenous structures. Molecular analysis of the cells after 21 days of culture showed that the expression of differentiation-related proteins in cells that are developed in composite scaffolds is significantly higher than in other groups. The application of a composite system can lead to the differentiation of SSCs, paving the way for a novel infertility treatment landscape in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Bashiri
- Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
- Omid Fertility & Infertility Clinic, Hamedan, 6516796198, Iran
| | - Ali Moghaddaszadeh
- Departement of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 1477893855, Iran
| | - Reza Falak
- Immunology Research Center (IRC), Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
| | - Farnaz Khadivi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, 8815713471, Iran
| | - Azita Afzali
- Hajar hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, 8816854633, Iran
| | - Mehdi Abbasi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417653761, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Sharifi
- Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
- Tissue Engineering Group (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
| | - Hamid Reza Asgari
- Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
| | - Farid Ghanbari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
| | - Morteza Koruji
- Stem cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614535, Iran
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Hau RK, Wright SH, Cherrington NJ. In Vitro and In Vivo Models for Drug Transport Across the Blood-Testis Barrier. Drug Metab Dispos 2023; 51:1157-1168. [PMID: 37258305 PMCID: PMC10449102 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.123.001288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is a selectively permeable membrane barrier formed by adjacent Sertoli cells (SCs) in the seminiferous tubules of the testes that develops intercellular junctional complexes to protect developing germ cells from external pressures. However, due to this inherent defense mechanism, the seminiferous tubule lumen can act as a pharmacological sanctuary site for latent viruses (e.g., Ebola, Zika) and cancers (e.g., leukemia). Therefore, it is critical to identify and evaluate BTB carrier-mediated drug delivery pathways to successfully treat these viruses and cancers. Many drugs are unable to effectively cross cell membranes without assistance from carrier proteins like transporters because they are large, polar, and often carry a charge at physiologic pH. SCs express transporters that selectively permit endogenous compounds, such as carnitine or nucleosides, across the BTB to support normal physiologic activity, although reproductive toxicants can also use these pathways, thereby circumventing the BTB. Certain xenobiotics, including select cancer therapeutics, antivirals, contraceptives, and environmental toxicants, are known to accumulate within the male genital tract and cause testicular toxicity; however, the transport pathways by which these compounds circumvent the BTB are largely unknown. Consequently, there is a need to identify the clinically relevant BTB transport pathways in in vitro and in vivo BTB models that recapitulate human pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for these xenobiotics. This review summarizes the various in vitro and in vivo models of the BTB reported in the literature and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of certain models for drug disposition studies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Drug disposition to the testes is influenced by the physical, physiological, and immunological components of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). But many compounds are known to cross the BTB by transporters, resulting in pharmacological and/or toxicological effects in the testes. Therefore, models that assess drug transport across the human BTB must adequately account for these confounding factors. This review identifies and discusses the benefits and limitations of various in vitro and in vivo BTB models for preclinical drug disposition studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond K Hau
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, (R.K.H., N.J.C.) and College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (S.H.W.)
| | - Stephen H Wright
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, (R.K.H., N.J.C.) and College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (S.H.W.)
| | - Nathan J Cherrington
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, (R.K.H., N.J.C.) and College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (S.H.W.)
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Matsumura T, Katagiri K, Yao T, Ishikawa-Yamauchi Y, Nagata S, Hashimoto K, Sato T, Kimura H, Shinohara T, Sanbo M, Hirabayashi M, Ogawa T. Generation of rat offspring using spermatids produced through in vitro spermatogenesis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12105. [PMID: 37495678 PMCID: PMC10372019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39304-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
An in vitro spermatogenesis method using mouse testicular tissue to produce fertile sperm was established more than a decade ago. Although this culture method has generally not been effective in other animal species, we recently succeeded in improving the culture condition to induce spermatogenesis of rats up to the round spermatid stage. In the present study, we introduced acrosin-EGFP transgenic rats in order to clearly monitor the production of haploid cells during spermatogenesis in vitro. In addition, a metabolomic analysis of the culture media during cultivation revealed the metabolic dynamics of the testis tissue. By modifying the culture media based on these results, we were able to induce rat spermatogenesis repeatedly up to haploid cell production, including the formation of elongating spermatids, which was confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. Finally, we performed a microinsemination experiment with in vitro produced spermatids, which resulted in the production of healthy and fertile offspring. This is the first demonstration of the in vitro production of functional haploid cells that yielded offspring in animals other than mice. These results are expected to provide a basis for the development of an in vitro spermatogenesis system applicable to many other mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takafumi Matsumura
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kumiko Katagiri
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Tatsuma Yao
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
- Research and Development Center, Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., 2-3-30 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-8523, Japan
| | - Yu Ishikawa-Yamauchi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Shino Nagata
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life Science, Yokohama City University Association of Medical Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hashimoto
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
- Department of Urology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Micro/Nano Technology Center, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292, Japan
| | - Takashi Shinohara
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Makoto Sanbo
- Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Masumi Hirabayashi
- Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
| | - Takehiko Ogawa
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan.
- Department of Urology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan.
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de la Iglesia A, Jodar M, Oliva R, Castillo J. Insights into the sperm chromatin and implications for male infertility from a protein perspective. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1588. [PMID: 36181449 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Male germ cells undergo an extreme but fascinating process of chromatin remodeling that begins in the testis during the last phase of spermatogenesis and continues through epididymal sperm maturation. Most of the histones are replaced by small proteins named protamines, whose high basicity leads to a tight genomic compaction. This process is epigenetically regulated at many levels, not only by posttranslational modifications, but also by readers, writers, and erasers, in a context of a highly coordinated postmeiotic gene expression program. Protamines are key proteins for acquiring this highly specialized chromatin conformation, needed for sperm functionality. Interestingly, and contrary to what could be inferred from its very specific DNA-packaging function across protamine-containing species, human sperm chromatin contains a wide spectrum of protamine proteoforms, including truncated and posttranslationally modified proteoforms. The generation of protamine knock-out models revealed not only chromatin compaction defects, but also collateral sperm alterations contributing to infertile phenotypes, evidencing the importance of sperm chromatin protamination toward the generation of a new individual. The unique features of sperm chromatin have motivated its study, applying from conventional to the most ground-breaking techniques to disentangle its peculiarities and the cellular mechanisms governing its successful conferment, especially relevant from the protein point of view due to the important epigenetic role of sperm nuclear proteins. Gathering and contextualizing the most striking discoveries will provide a global understanding of the importance and complexity of achieving a proper chromatin compaction and exploring its implications on postfertilization events and beyond. This article is categorized under: Reproductive System Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Reproductive System Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto de la Iglesia
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Jodar
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.,Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Oliva
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.,Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judit Castillo
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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Patrício D, Santiago J, Mano JF, Fardilha M. Organoids of the male reproductive system: Challenges, opportunities, and their potential use in fertility research. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1590. [PMID: 36442887 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Organoids are units of function of a given organ able to reproduce, in culture, a biological structure similar in architecture and function to its counterpart in vivo. Today, it is possible to develop an organoid from a fragment of tissue, a stem cell located in an adult organ, an embryonic stem cell, or an induced pluripotent stem cell. In the past decade, many organoids have been developed which mimic stomach, pancreas, liver and brain tissues, optic cups, among many others. Additionally, different male reproductive system organs have already been developed as organoids, including the prostate and testis. These 3D cultures may be of great importance for urological cancer research and have the potential to be used in fertility research for the study of spermatozoa production and maturation, germ cells-somatic cells interactions, and mechanisms of disease. They also provide an accurate preclinical pipeline for drug testing and discovery, as well as for the study of drug resistance. In this work, we revise the current knowledge on organoid technology and its use in healthcare and research, describe the male reproductive system organoids and other biomaterials already developed, and discuss their current application. Finally, we highlight the research gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the field and propose strategies to improve the use of organoids for the study of male infertility situations. This article is categorized under: Reproductive System Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Reproductive System Diseases > Biomedical Engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Patrício
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.,Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Santiago
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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Aydos OS, Yukselten Y, Ozkan T, Ozkavukcu S, Tuten Erdogan M, Sunguroglu A, Aydos K. Co-Culture of Cryopreserved Healthy Sertoli Cells with Testicular Tissue of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) Patients in Culture Media Containing Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)/Testosterone Has No Advantage in Germ Cell Maturation. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12031073. [PMID: 36769720 PMCID: PMC9917953 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12031073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Different cell culture conditions and techniques have been used to mature spermatogenic cells to increase the success of in vitro fertilization. Sertoli cells (SCs) are essential in maintaining spermatogenesis and FSH stimulation exerts its effect through direct or indirect actions on SCs. The effectiveness of FSH and testosterone added to the co-culture has been demonstrated in other studies to provide microenvironment conditions of the testicular niche and to contribute to the maturation and meiotic progression of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In the present study, we investigated whether co-culture of healthy SCs with the patient's testicular tissue in the medium supplemented with FSH/testosterone provides an advantage in the differentiation and maturation of germ cells in NOA cases (N = 34). In men with obstructive azoospermia (N = 12), healthy SCs from testicular biopsies were identified and purified, then cryopreserved. The characterization of healthy SCs was done by flow cytometry (FC) and immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for GATA4 and vimentin. FITC-conjugated annexin V/PI staining and the MTT assay were performed to compare the viability and proliferation of SCs before and after freezing. In annexin V staining, no difference was found in percentages of live and apoptotic SCs, and MTT showed that cryopreservation did not inhibit SC proliferation compared to the pre-freezing state. Then, tissue samples from NOA patients were processed in two separate environments containing FSH/testosterone and FSH/testosterone plus co-culture with thawed healthy SCs for 7 days. FC was used to measure 7th-day levels of specific markers expressed in spermatogonia (VASA), meiotic cells (CREM), and post-meiotic cells (protamine-2 and acrosin). VASA and acrosin basal levels were found to be lower in infertile patients compared to the OA group (8.2% vs. 30.6% and 12.8% vs. 30.5%, respectively; p < 0.05). Compared to pre-treatment measurements, on the 7th day in the FSH/testosterone environment, CREM levels increased by 58.8% and acrosin levels increased by 195.5% (p < 0.05). Similarly, in medium co-culture with healthy SCs, by day 7, CREM and acrosin levels increased to 92.2% and 204.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). Although VASA and protamine levels increased in both groups, they did not reach a significant level. No significant difference was found between the day 7 increase rates of CREM, VASA, acrosin and protamine-2 in either FSH/testosterone-containing medium or in medium additionally co-cultured with healthy SCs (58.8% vs. 92.2%, 120.6% vs. 79.4%, 195.5% vs. 204.8%, and 232.3% vs. 198.4%, respectively; p > 0.05). Our results suggest that the presence of the patient's own SCs for maturation of germ cells in the culture medium supplemented with FSH and testosterone is sufficient, and co-culture with healthy SCs does not have an additional advantage. In addition, the freezing-thawing process would not impair the viability and proliferation of SCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Sena Aydos
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
- Correspondence: (O.S.A.); (Y.Y.); Tel.: +90-3125958050 (O.S.A.)
| | - Yunus Yukselten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Correspondence: (O.S.A.); (Y.Y.); Tel.: +90-3125958050 (O.S.A.)
| | - Tulin Ozkan
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
| | - Sinan Ozkavukcu
- Center for Assisted Reproduction, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
- Postgraduate Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Meltem Tuten Erdogan
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
| | - Asuman Sunguroglu
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
| | - Kaan Aydos
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
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Saulnier J, Soirey M, Kébir N, Delessard M, Rives-Feraille A, Moutard L, Dumont L, Rives N, Rondanino C. Complete meiosis in rat prepubertal testicular tissue under in vitro sequential culture conditions. Andrology 2023; 11:167-176. [PMID: 36303516 PMCID: PMC10099474 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Testicular tissue cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatments allows fertility preservation in children suffering from cancer. Fertility restoration strategies, in particular in vitro maturation of prepubertal testicular tissue, are being developed mainly in animal models. The rat, widely used in biomedical research, including in reproductive biology, is a relevant model. OBJECTIVES To determine whether sequential two-step culture protocols can improve the efficiency of rat in vitro spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rat prepubertal testicular tissues were cultured on agarose gels with either a one-step or two-step protocol with or without polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ceiling chips. The progression of spermatogenesis, germ/Sertoli cell ratio, cell proliferation, seminiferous tubule area, and intratubular cell density were assessed by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays and Peanut Agglutinin (PNA) lectin labeling were performed to analyze the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) integrity and differentiation step of in vitro-produced spermatids. RESULTS Sequential two-step protocols allowed the production of spermatids with a higher efficiency compared with the one-step culture protocol. However, the efficiency was low, as less than 1.5% of tubules contained spermatids. Most of the in vitro-produced spermatids contained unfragmented DNA and were at an early step of differentiation. Rare elongating spermatids could be detected in the cultured explants. Although complete in vitro spermatogenesis could not be obtained with PDMS ceiling chips, entry into meiosis was promoted in one-step organotypic cultures. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Complete in vitro meiosis and the beginning of the elongation phase of spermiogenesis were obtained in a rat model using sequential culture methods. Because of their low efficiency, further work will be necessary to identify the culture conditions allowing the completion of spermiogenesis. These optimizations could pave the way for future applications, including the development of an in vitro fertility restoration procedure for childhood cancer survivors, which is still far from being clinically available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Saulnier
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Mathilde Soirey
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Nasreddine Kébir
- Normandie Univ, INSA Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire PBS, Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, France
| | - Marion Delessard
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Aurélie Rives-Feraille
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Laura Moutard
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Ludovic Dumont
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Nathalie Rives
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
| | - Christine Rondanino
- INSERM, U1239, Adrenal and Gonadal Pathophysiology team, Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Endocrine and Germinal Differentiation and Communication, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen Normandy University, Rouen, France
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10
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Kulibin AY, Malolina EA. In vitro spermatogenesis: In search of fully defined conditions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1106111. [PMID: 36910153 PMCID: PMC9998899 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1106111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A complete reconstruction of spermatogenesis in vitro under fully defined conditions still has not been achieved. However, many techniques have been proposed to get closer to that aim. Here we review the current progress in the field. At first, we describe the most successful technique, the organ culture method, which allows to produce functional haploid cells. However, this method is based on the culturing of intact testis tissue with unknown factors acting inside it. Then we discuss different types of 3D-cultures where specific testicular cell populations may be aggregated and the impact of each cell population may be examined. Unfortunately, germ cell development does not proceed further than the pachytene stage of meiosis there, with rare exceptions. Finally, we describe recent studies that focus on germ cells in a conventional adherent cell culture. Such studies thoroughly examine issues with in vitro meiosis and provide insight into the mechanisms of meiotic initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Yu Kulibin
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - E A Malolina
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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11
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Transcriptome Analysis in High Temperature Inhibiting Spermatogonial Stem Cell Differentiation In Vitro. Reprod Sci 2022; 30:1938-1951. [DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-01133-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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12
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Ma Y, Chen J, Li H, Xu F, Chong T, Wang Z, Zhang L. Immature rat testis sustained long-term development using an integrative model. Biol Res 2022; 55:30. [PMID: 36195947 PMCID: PMC9531454 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-022-00398-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xenotransplantation has been primarily performed using fresh donor tissue to study testicular development for about 20 years, and whether the cultured tissue would be a suitable donor is unclear. In this study, we combined testicular culture and xenotransplantation into an integrative model and explored whether immature testicular tissue would survive and continue to develop in this model. METHODS In the new integrative model group, the testes of neonatal rats on postnatal day 8 (PND 8) were cultured for 4 days ex vivo and then were transplanted under the dorsal skin of castrated nude mice. The xenografted testes were resected on the 57th day after xenotransplantation and the testes of rats in the control group were harvested on PND 69. The survival state of testicular tissue was evaluated from morphological and functional perspectives including H&E staining, immunohistochemical staining of 8-OH-dG, immunofluorescence staining, TUNEL assay, ultrastructural study, gene expression and protein analysis. RESULTS (a) We found that complete spermatogenesis was established in the testes in the new integrative model group. Compared with the control in the same stage, the seminiferous epithelium in some tubules was a bit thinner and there were vacuoles in part of the tubules. Immunofluorescence staining revealed some ACROSIN-positive spermatids were present in seminiferous tubule of xenografted testes. TUNEL detection showed apoptotic cells and most of them were germ cells in the new integrative model group. 8-OH-dG immunohistochemistry showed strongly positive-stained in the seminiferous epithelium after xenotransplantation in comparison with the control group; (b) Compared with the control group, the expressions of FOXA3, DAZL, GFRα1, BOLL, SYCP3, CDC25A, LDHC, CREM and MKI67 in the new integrative model group were significantly elevated (P < 0.05), indicating that the testicular tissue was in an active differentiated and proliferative state; (c) Antioxidant gene detection showed that the expression of Nrf2, Keap1, NQO1 and SOD1 in the new integrative model group was significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and DNA methyltransferase gene detection showed that the expression of DNMT3B was significantly elevated as well (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The new integrative model could maintain the viability of immature testicular tissue and sustain the long-term survival in vivo with complete spermatogenesis. However, testicular genes expression was altered, vacuolation and thin seminiferous epithelium were still apparent in this model, manifesting that oxidative damage may contribute to the testicular development lesion and it needs further study in order to optimize this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Hecheng Li
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Fangshi Xu
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Tie Chong
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China
| | - Ziming Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China.
| | - Liandong Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, China.
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13
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Tissue engineering approaches for the in vitro production of spermatids to treat male infertility: A review. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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14
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Kanbar M, de Michele F, Poels J, Van Loo S, Giudice MG, Gilet T, Wyns C. Microfluidic and Static Organotypic Culture Systems to Support Ex Vivo Spermatogenesis From Prepubertal Porcine Testicular Tissue: A Comparative Study. Front Physiol 2022; 13:884122. [PMID: 35721544 PMCID: PMC9201455 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.884122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:In vitro maturation of immature testicular tissue (ITT) cryopreserved for fertility preservation is a promising fertility restoration strategy. Organotypic tissue culture proved successful in mice, leading to live births. In larger mammals, including humans, efficiently reproducing spermatogenesis ex vivo remains challenging. With advances in biomaterials technology, culture systems are becoming more complex to better mimic in vivo conditions. Along with improving culture media components, optimizing physical culture conditions (e.g., tissue perfusion, oxygen diffusion) also needs to be considered. Recent studies in mice showed that by using silicone-based hybrid culture systems, the efficiency of spermatogenesis can be improved. Such systems have not been reported for ITT of large mammals. Methods: Four different organotypic tissue culture systems were compared: static i.e., polytetrafluoroethylene membrane inserts (OT), agarose gel (AG) and agarose gel with polydimethylsiloxane chamber (AGPC), and dynamic i.e., microfluidic (MF). OT served as control. Porcine ITT fragments were cultured over a 30-day period using a single culture medium. Analyses were performed at days (d) 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30. Seminiferous tubule (ST) integrity, diameters, and tissue core integrity were evaluated on histology. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify germ cells (PGP9.5, VASA, SYCP3, CREM), somatic cells (SOX9, INSL3) and proliferating cells (Ki67), and to assess oxidative stress (MDA) and apoptosis (C-Caspase3). Testosterone was measured in supernatants using ELISA. Results: ITT fragments survived and grew in all systems. ST diameters, and Sertoli cell (SOX9) numbers increased, meiotic (SYCP3) and post-meiotic (CREM) germ cells were generated, and testosterone was secreted. When compared to control (OT), significantly larger STs (d10 through d30), better tissue core integrity (d5 through d20), higher numbers of undifferentiated spermatogonia (d30), meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells (SYCP3: d20 and 30, CREM: d20) were observed in the AGPC system. Apoptosis, lipid peroxidation (MDA), ST integrity, proliferating germ cell (Ki67/VASA) numbers, Leydig cell (INSL3) numbers and testosterone levels were not significantly different between systems. Conclusions: Using a modified culture system (AGPC), germ cell survival and the efficiency of porcine germ cell differentiation were moderately improved ex vivo. We assume that further optimization can be obtained with concomitant modifications in culture media components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Kanbar
- Andrology Lab, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Francesca de Michele
- Andrology Lab, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Poels
- Andrology Lab, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stéphanie Van Loo
- Microfluidics Lab, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Maria Grazia Giudice
- Andrology Lab, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tristan Gilet
- Microfluidics Lab, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Christine Wyns
- Andrology Lab, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Christine Wyns,
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15
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Understanding the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms of Meiotic Arrest during In Vitro Spermatogenesis in Rat Prepubertal Testicular Tissue. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23115893. [PMID: 35682573 PMCID: PMC9180380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23115893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro spermatogenesis appears to be a promising approach to restore the fertility of childhood cancer survivors. The rat model has proven to be challenging, since germ cell maturation is arrested in organotypic cultures. Here, we report that, despite a meiotic entry, abnormal synaptonemal complexes were found in spermatocytes, and in vitro matured rat prepubertal testicular tissues displayed an immature phenotype. RNA-sequencing analyses highlighted up to 600 differentially expressed genes between in vitro and in vivo conditions, including genes involved in blood-testis barrier (BTB) formation and steroidogenesis. BTB integrity, the expression of two steroidogenic enzymes, and androgen receptors were indeed altered in vitro. Moreover, most of the top 10 predicted upstream regulators of deregulated genes were involved in inflammatory processes or immune cell recruitment. However, none of the three anti-inflammatory molecules tested in this study promoted meiotic progression. By analysing for the first time in vitro matured rat prepubertal testicular tissues at the molecular level, we uncovered the deregulation of several genes and revealed that defective BTB function, altered steroidogenic pathway, and probably inflammation, could be at the origin of meiotic arrest.
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16
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Tran KTD, Valli-Pulaski H, Colvin A, Orwig KE. Male fertility preservation and restoration strategies for patients undergoing gonadotoxic therapies†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:382-405. [PMID: 35403667 PMCID: PMC9382377 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Medical treatments for cancers or other conditions can lead to permanent infertility. Infertility is an insidious disease that impacts not only the ability to have a biological child but also the emotional well-being of the infertile individuals, relationships, finances, and overall health. Therefore, all patients should be educated about the effects of their medical treatments on future fertility and about fertility preservation options. The standard fertility preservation option for adolescent and adult men is sperm cryopreservation. Sperms can be frozen and stored for a long period, thawed at a later date, and used to achieve pregnancy with existing assisted reproductive technologies. However, sperm cryopreservation is not applicable for prepubertal patients who do not yet produce sperm. The only fertility preservation option available to prepubertal boys is testicular tissue cryopreservation. Next-generation technologies are being developed to mature those testicular cells or tissues to produce fertilization-competent sperms. When sperm and testicular tissues are not available for fertility preservation, inducing pluripotent stem cells derived from somatic cells, such as blood or skin, may provide an alternative path to produce sperms through a process call in vitro gametogenesis. This review describes standard and experimental options to preserve male fertility as well as the experimental options to produce functional spermatids or sperms from immature cryopreserved testicular tissues or somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kien T D Tran
- Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hanna Valli-Pulaski
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amanda Colvin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kyle E Orwig
- Correspondence: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Tel: 412-641-2460; E-mail:
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17
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Sanou I, van Maaren J, Eliveld J, Lei Q, Meißner A, de Melker AA, Hamer G, van Pelt AMM, Mulder CL. Spermatogonial Stem Cell-Based Therapies: Taking Preclinical Research to the Next Level. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:850219. [PMID: 35444616 PMCID: PMC9013905 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.850219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fertility preservation via biobanking of testicular tissue retrieved from testicular biopsies is now generally recommended for boys who need to undergo gonadotoxic treatment prior to the onset of puberty, as a source of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs have the potential of forming spermatids and may be used for therapeutic fertility approaches later in life. Although in the past 30 years many milestones have been reached to work towards SSC-based fertility restoration therapies, including transplantation of SSCs, grafting of testicular tissue and various in vitro and ex vivo spermatogenesis approaches, unfortunately, all these fertility therapies are still in a preclinical phase and not yet available for patients who have become infertile because of their treatment during childhood. Therefore, it is now time to take the preclinical research towards SSC-based therapy to the next level to resolve major issues that impede clinical implementation. This review gives an outline of the state of the art of the effectiveness and safety of fertility preservation and SSC-based therapies and addresses the hurdles that need to be taken for optimal progression towards actual clinical implementation of safe and effective SSC-based fertility treatments in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Sanou
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jillis van Maaren
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jitske Eliveld
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Qijing Lei
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andreas Meißner
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annemieke A de Melker
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Geert Hamer
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ans M M van Pelt
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Callista L Mulder
- Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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18
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AbuMadighem A, Shuchat S, Lunenfeld E, Yossifon G, Huleihel M. Testis on a chip - a microfluidic 3-dimensional culture system for the development of spermatogenesis in-vitro. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35334473 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac6126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
This research presents a novel Testis-on-a Chip- platform. Testicular cells are enzymatically isolated from the seminiferous tubules of sexually immature mice, seeded in a methylcellulose gel and cultured in a microfluidic chip. The unique design sandwiches the soft methylcellulose between stiffer agar support gels. The cells develop into organoids continuing to proliferate and differentiate. After seven weeks of culture the cells have over 95% viability. Confocal microscopy of the developed organoids reveals a structure containing the various stages of spermatogenesis up to and including meiosis II: premeiotic, meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells. The organoid structure also contains the supporting Sertoli and peritubular cells. The responsiveness of the system to the addition of testosterone and retinoic acid to the culture medium during the experiment are also investigated. As a benchmark, the Testis-on-a-Chip is compared to a conventional three-dimensional methylcellulose cell culture in a well plate. Analysis via FACS (Fluorescence-activated cell sorting) shows more haploid cells in the chip as compared to the plates. Immunofluorescence staining after seven weeks of culture shows more differentiated cells in the chip as compared to the well plate. This demonstrates the feasibility of our platform as well as its advantages. This research opens new horizons for the study and realization of spermatogenesis in-vitro. It can also enable the implementation of microfluidic technologies in future therapeutic strategies for pre pubertal male fertility preservation and adults with maturation arrest. Lastly, it can serve as a platform for drug and toxin testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali AbuMadighem
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Southern, 84105, ISRAEL
| | - Sholom Shuchat
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Haifa, Haifa, 3200003, ISRAEL
| | - Eitan Lunenfeld
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Beer-Sheva, Southern, 84105, ISRAEL
| | - Gilad Yossifon
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Haifa, Haifa, 3200003, ISRAEL
| | - Mahmoud Huleihel
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beer-Sheva, 84105, ISRAEL
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Abstract
Cryptorchidism is one of the most common abnormalities of male sexual development, and is characterized by the failure of the testis to descend into the scrotum. Despite extensive studies of cryptorchidism over the past century, the mechanisms for temperature-induced germ-cell loss are not well understood. All of the main cell types in the testis are believed to be affected by the elevated testis temperature induced by cryptorchidism. The cooler temperature in the special environment of the scrotum is required for maintaining optional conditions for normal spermatogenesis. Many studies reported that experimentally induced cryptorchidism caused germ cell apoptosis and suppressed spermatogenesis. However, other factors including hormones must also be examined for cryptorchidism. To explore the mechanism for cryptorchidism, in vitro cultures of testes have been used, but complete spermatogenesis using in vitro methods was not accomplished until 2011. In 2011, Sato et al. (Nature, 471, 504-507) reported the in vitro production of functional sperm in cultured neonatal mouse testes. Using this in vitro system, for the first time, we report that spermatogenesis was abrogated at 37 °C, in accordance with in vivo surgery-mediated cryptorchidism, while spermatogenesis proceeded at 34 °C in cultured testes. This result clearly showed that temperature is the sole determinant of cryptorchidism. Moreover, we found that spermatogenesis was arrested before early spermatocytes at 37 °C. In conclusion, using our in vitro system, we have demonstrated that (1) temperature is the determining factor for cryptorchidism, and (2) higher temperature (37 °C) suppresses DNA synthesis in spermatogenesis.
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20
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Sharma S, Klaverkamp RS, Wistuba J, Schlatt S. Limited spermatogenic differentiation of testicular tissue from prepubertal marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in an in vitro organ culture system. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 539:111488. [PMID: 34637880 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE of the research: To achieve male fertility preservation and restoration, experimental strategies for in vitro germ cell differentiation are required. The effects of two different culture conditions on in vitro maintenance and differentiation of non-human primate germ cells was studied. Three testes from three 6-month-old marmosets were cultured using a gas-liquid interphase system for 12 days. Testicular maturation in pre-culture control and samples cultured in gonadotropin and serum supplemented and non-supplemented culture samples was evaluated using Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) and immunohistochemical stainings. PRINCIPLE RESULTS Gonadotropins and serum-supplemented tissues demonstrate up to meiotic differentiation (BOULE + Pachytene spermatocyte) and advanced localization of germ cells (MAGEA4+). Moreover, complex (with gonadotropin and marmoset monkey serum) conditions induced progression in somatic cell maturation with advanced seminiferous epithelial organization, maintenance of encapsulation of cultured fragments with peritubular-myoid cells, preservation of tubular structural integrity and architecture. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS We report stimulation-dependent in vitro meiotic transition in non-human primate testes. This model represents a novel ex vivo approach to obtain crucial developmental progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Sharma
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Reinhild-Sandhowe Klaverkamp
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Wistuba
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Building D11, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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21
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Jung H, Yoon M. Germ Cell Transplantation in Stallion Testes. J Equine Vet Sci 2021; 106:103748. [PMID: 34670702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The production of donor-derived sperm using spermatogonial stem cell transplantation has been studied in various animals including mice, rats, goats, boar, dogs, sheep, and monkeys. However, germ cell transplantation has not been applied in stallions. The objective of this study was to produce donor germ cell-derived sperm using germ cell transplantation in stallions. Donor germ cells were transplanted into the parenchyma of 3 recipient stallions that had been treated with busulfan IV injections of 15 mg/kg body weight. For the preparation of donor single germ cells, tissue (20 g) from each testis was subjected to a 2-enzyme digestion procedure. Donor testicular germ cells in minimum essential medium α supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum were transplanted in the testis of recipient stallions at a rate of 2 ml/min. The semen of each recipient stallion was collected using an artificial vagina at 8 weeks after germ cell transplantation. General sperm evaluation and libido tests were performed. Microsatellite fingerprinting with 17 markers was performed to identify the presence of donor-derived sperm in the semen of the recipient stallions. Sperm were observed to have total and progressive motility exceeding 50% throughout the experimental period. The libido of the recipient stallions was unchanged. No donor-derived sperm could be detected in the semen of the recipient stallions by genotyping. In conclusion, the transplantation of donor germ cells into the testicular parenchyma of stallions was not an optimal transplantation technique for producing donor-derived sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejun Jung
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjung Yoon
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Horse, Companion and Wild Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increased incidence in several of the most common reproductive disorders, including hypospadias and cryptorchidism in newborns, and testicular cancer and lower sperm quality in young adult males. In addition, the timing of puberty has also changed over time. Although the cause of these reproductive effects is a matter of intense debate, a link with the presence of ubiquitous compounds in the environment, or the exposure to specific groups of medications during foetal life, has been suggested. Results from epidemiological and experimental studies, as well as clinical observations in humans indicate that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be associated with those disorders. In this review, we will summarize the results of epidemiological studies and experimental studies utilising human testicular cells or tissue. Due to increasing public interest and the recently published data, the main focus will be on the effects of prenatal exposure to mild analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Bernd Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 17164 Solna, Sweden.
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Olle Söder
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 17164 Solna, Sweden.
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23
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Heckmann L, Langenstroth-Röwer D, Wistuba J, Portela JMD, van Pelt AMM, Redmann K, Stukenborg JB, Schlatt S, Neuhaus N. The initial maturation status of marmoset testicular tissues has an impact on germ cell maintenance and somatic cell response in tissue fragment culture. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:374-388. [PMID: 32236422 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful in vitro spermatogenesis was reported using immature mouse testicular tissues in a fragment culture approach, raising hopes that this method could also be applied for fertility preservation in humans. Although maintaining immature human testicular tissue fragments in culture is feasible for an extended period, it remains unknown whether germ cell survival and the somatic cell response depend on the differentiation status of tissue. Employing the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus), we aimed to assess whether the maturation status of prepubertal and peri-/pubertal testicular tissues influence the outcome of testis fragment culture. Testicular tissue fragments from 4- and 8-month-old (n = 3, each) marmosets were cultured and evaluated after 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42 days. Immunohistochemistry was performed for identification and quantification of germ cells (melanoma-associated antigen 4) and Sertoli cell maturation status (anti-Müllerian hormone: AMH). During testis fragment culture, spermatogonial numbers were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the 4- but not 8-month-old monkeys, at Day 0 versus Day 42 of culture. Moreover, while Sertoli cells from 4-month-old monkeys maintained an immature phenotype (i.e. AMH expression) during culture, AMH expression was regained in two of the 8-month-old monkeys. Interestingly, progression of differentiation to later meiotic stage was solely observed in one 8-month-old marmoset, which was at an intermediate state regarding germ cell content, with gonocytes as well as spermatocytes present, as well as Sertoli cell maturation status. Although species-specific differences might influence the outcome of testis fragment experiments in vitro, our study demonstrated that the developmental status of the testicular tissues needs to be considered as it seems to be decisive for germ cell maintenance, somatic cell response and possibly the differentiation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Heckmann
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - D Langenstroth-Röwer
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J Wistuba
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J M D Portela
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A M M van Pelt
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Redmann
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J B Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, 17164 Solna, Sweden
| | - S Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - N Neuhaus
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
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24
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Wang W, Miao Y, Sui S, Wang Y, Wu S, Cao Q, Duan H, Qi X, Zhou Q, Pan X, Zhang J, Chen X, Han Y, Wang N, Kuehn MH, Zhu W. Xeno- and Feeder-Free Differentiation of Human iPSCs to Trabecular Meshwork-Like Cells by Recombinant Cytokines. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:27. [PMID: 34015102 PMCID: PMC8142710 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.6.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Stem cell-based therapy has the potential to become one approach to regenerate the damaged trabecular meshwork (TM) in glaucoma. Co-culture of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with human TM cells has been a successful approach to generate autologous TM resembling cells. However, the differentiated cells generated using this approach are still problematic for clinical usage. This study aimed to develop a clinically applicable strategy for generating TM-like cells from iPSCs. Methods Highly expressed receptors during iPSC differentiation were identified by AutoSOME, Gene Ontology, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The recombinant cytokines that bind to these receptors were used to generate a new differentiation protocol. The resultant TM-like cells were characterized morphologically, immunohistochemically, and transcriptionally. Results We first determined two stages of iPSC differentiation and identified highly expressed receptors associated with the differentiation at each stage. The expression of these receptors was further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Exposure to the recombinant cytokines that bind to these receptors, including transforming growth factor beta 1, nerve growth factor beta, erythropoietin, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and epidermal growth factor, can efficiently differentiate iPSCs into TM-like cells, which express TM biomarkers and can form dexamethasone-inducible CLANs. Conclusions We successfully generated a xeno- and feeder-free differentiation protocol with recombinant cytokines to generate the TM progenitor and TM-like cells from human iPSCs. Translational Relevance The new approach minimizes the risks from contamination and also improves the differentiation efficiency and consistency, which are particularly crucial for clinical use of stem cells in glaucoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yongzhen Miao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shangru Sui
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shen Wu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qilong Cao
- Qingdao Haier Biotech Co. Ltd., Qingdao, China
| | - Haoyun Duan
- Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Xia Qi
- Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingjun Zhou
- Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaojing Pan
- Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Jingxue Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xuehong Chen
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yantao Han
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ningli Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center, Beijing, China
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics-Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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25
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Abstract
Organoids are 3-dimensional (3D) structures grown in vitro that emulate the cytoarchitecture and functions of true organs. Therefore, testicular organoids arise as an important model for research on male reproductive biology. These organoids can be generated from different sources of testicular cells, but most studies to date have used immature primary cells for this purpose. The complexity of the mammalian testicular cytoarchitecture and regulation poses a challenge for working with testicular organoids, because, ideally, these 3D models should mimic the organization observed in vivo. In this review, we explore the characteristics of the most important cell types present in the testicular organoid models reported to date and discuss how different factors influence the regulation of these cells inside the organoids and their outcomes. Factors such as the developmental or maturational stage of the Sertoli cells, for example, influence organoid generation and structure, which affect the use of these 3D models for research. Spermatogonial stem cells have been a focus recently, especially in regard to male fertility preservation. The regulation of the spermatogonial stem cell niche inside testicular organoids is discussed in the present review, as this research area may be positively affected by recent progress in organoid generation and tissue engineering. Therefore, the testicular organoid approach is a very promising model for male reproductive biology research, but more studies and improvements are necessary to achieve its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia de Lima e Martins Lara
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sadman Sakib
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ina Dobrinski
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Correspondence: Ina Dobrinski, DrMedVet, MVSc, PhD, Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 404 HMRB, 3300 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
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26
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Matsumura T, Sato T, Abe T, Sanjo H, Katagiri K, Kimura H, Fujii T, Tanaka H, Hirabayashi M, Ogawa T. Rat in vitro spermatogenesis promoted by chemical supplementations and oxygen-tension control. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3458. [PMID: 33568686 PMCID: PMC7875995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82792-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) using air-liquid interphase organ culture method is possible with mouse testis tissues. The same method, however, has been hardly applicable to animals other than mice, only producing no or limited progression of spermatogenesis. In the present study, we challenged IVS of rats with modifications of culture medium, by supplementing chemical substances, including hormones, antioxidants, and lysophospholipids. In addition, reducing oxygen tension by placing tissues in an incubator of lower oxygen concentration and/or applying silicone cover ceiling on top of the tissue were effective for improving the spermatogenic efficiency. Through these modifications of the culture condition, rat spermatogenesis up to round spermatids was maintained over 70 days in the cultured tissue. Present results demonstrated a significant progress in rat IVS, revealing conditions commonly favorable for mice and rats as well as finding rat-specific optimizations. This is an important step towards successful IVS in many animal species, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takafumi Matsumura
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life Science, Yokohama City University Association of Medical Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life Science, Yokohama City University Association of Medical Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Takeru Abe
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life Science, Yokohama City University Association of Medical Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sanjo
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Department of Urology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Kumiko Katagiri
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life Science, Yokohama City University Association of Medical Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- grid.265061.60000 0001 1516 6626Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Japan
| | - Teruo Fujii
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XInstitute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Tanaka
- grid.411871.a0000 0004 0647 5488Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Nagasaki Japan
| | - Masumi Hirabayashi
- grid.467811.d0000 0001 2272 1771Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi Japan
| | - Takehiko Ogawa
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life Science, Yokohama City University Association of Medical Science, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan ,grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Department of Urology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
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27
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Sharma S, Venzac B, Burgers T, Le Gac S, Schlatt S. Microfluidics in male reproduction: is ex vivo culture of primate testis tissue a future strategy for ART or toxicology research? Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:179-192. [PMID: 31977028 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The significant rise in male infertility disorders over the years has led to extensive research efforts to recapitulate the process of male gametogenesis in vitro and to identify essential mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis, notably for clinical applications. A promising technology to bridge this research gap is organ-on-chip (OoC) technology, which has gradually transformed the research landscape in ART and offers new opportunities to develop advanced in vitro culture systems. With exquisite control on a cell or tissue microenvironment, customized organ-specific structures can be fabricated in in vitro OoC platforms, which can also simulate the effect of in vivo vascularization. Dynamic cultures using microfluidic devices enable us to create stimulatory effect and non-stimulatory culture conditions. Noteworthy is that recent studies demonstrated the potential of continuous perfusion in OoC systems using ex vivo mouse testis tissues. Here we review the existing literature and potential applications of such OoC systems for male reproduction in combination with novel bio-engineering and analytical tools. We first introduce OoC technology and highlight the opportunities offered in reproductive biology in general. In the subsequent section, we discuss the complex structural and functional organization of the testis and the role of the vasculature-associated testicular niche and fluid dynamics in modulating testis function. Next, we review significant technological breakthroughs in achieving in vitro spermatogenesis in various species and discuss the evidence from microfluidics-based testes culture studies in mouse. Lastly, we discuss a roadmap for the potential applications of the proposed testis-on-chip culture system in the field of primate male infertility, ART and reproductive toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Sharma
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bastien Venzac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Burgers
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Schlatt
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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28
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Kurek M, Åkesson E, Yoshihara M, Oliver E, Cui Y, Becker M, Alves-Lopes JP, Bjarnason R, Romerius P, Sundin M, Norén Nyström U, Langenskiöld C, Vogt H, Henningsohn L, Petersen C, Söder O, Guo J, Mitchell RT, Jahnukainen K, Stukenborg JB. Spermatogonia Loss Correlates with LAMA 1 Expression in Human Prepubertal Testes Stored for Fertility Preservation. Cells 2021; 10:241. [PMID: 33513766 PMCID: PMC7911157 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fertility preservation for male childhood cancer survivors not yet capable of producing mature spermatozoa, relies on experimental approaches such as testicular explant culture. Although the first steps in somatic maturation can be observed in human testicular explant cultures, germ cell depletion is a common obstacle. Hence, understanding the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche environment and in particular, specific components such as the seminiferous basement membrane (BM) will allow progression of testicular explant cultures. Here, we revealed that the seminiferous BM is established from 6 weeks post conception with the expression of laminin alpha 1 (LAMA 1) and type IV collagen, which persist as key components throughout development. With prepubertal testicular explant culture we found that seminiferous LAMA 1 expression is disrupted and depleted with culture time correlating with germ cell loss. These findings highlight the importance of LAMA 1 for the human SSC niche and its sensitivity to culture conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kurek
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
| | - Elisabet Åkesson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology Care Sciences & Society, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden;
- The R & D Unit, Stockholms Sjukhem, 112 19 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Masahito Yoshihara
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden;
| | - Elizabeth Oliver
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
| | - Yanhua Cui
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
| | - Martin Becker
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Region Stockholm and Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden;
| | - João Pedro Alves-Lopes
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
| | - Ragnar Bjarnason
- Children’s Medical Center, Landspítali University Hospital, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland;
- Department of Paediatrics Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Patrik Romerius
- Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Barn-och Ungdomssjukhuset Lund, Skånes Universitetssjukhus, 221 85 Lund, Sweden;
| | - Mikael Sundin
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden;
- Pediatric Blood Disorders, Immunodeficiency and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Norén Nyström
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Clinical Science, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Cecilia Langenskiöld
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, The Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, 416 50 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Hartmut Vogt
- Crown Princess Victoria’s Child and Youth Hospital, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Lars Henningsohn
- Division of Urology, Institution for Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden;
| | - Cecilia Petersen
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
| | - Olle Söder
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
| | - Jingtao Guo
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Rod T. Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK;
- Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh EH9 1LF, UK
| | - Kirsi Jahnukainen
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
- Division of Haematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jan-Bernd Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, 171 64 Solna, Sweden; (E.O.); (Y.C.); (J.P.A.-L.); (C.P.); (O.S.); (K.J.)
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29
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Nasimi M, Jorsaraei SGA, Fattahi E, Tabari MG, Neyshaburi EZ. SCF Improves In Vitro Differentiation of SSCs Through Transcriptionally Up-regulating PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 Genes. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:963-972. [PMID: 33492648 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00326-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that retinoic acid (RA) and stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit signal transduction pathways are involved in the differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). This study was aimed to investigate the effect of RA and SCF on in vitro differentiation of SSCs via evaluation of the mRNA expression of meiosis-specific genes in cultured testicular tissues. Testicular tissue samples were obtained from bilaterally vasectomized rats and also healthy adult rats and then were cultured for 25, 30, and 35 days on different conditions. The cultured testicular pieces were sectioned and stained with PAS to histological analysis. The total RNA was extracted from cultured testicular samples, and the expression of ACR, PRTM1, SYCP3, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 genes at mRNA level was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) procedure. After 1-month surgery, bilateral testicular weight showed a significant decrease in vasectomized adult rats compared with healthy adult rats (P < 0.05). Reduction in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and depletion of advanced germinal elements in vasectomized rats compared with healthy adult rats were also observed. Our findings also demonstrated that the mRNA expression level of PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 genes in cultured testicular tissues significantly up-regulated in experimental group II compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Our findings lead us to conclude that SCF improves in vitro differentiation of SSCs in the OA rats, at least partially, by transcriptionally upregulating PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Nasimi
- Department of Biology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
| | - Seyed Gholam Ali Jorsaraei
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 4136747176, Babol, Iran.
| | - Esmail Fattahi
- Department of Biology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
| | | | - Ebrahim Zabihi Neyshaburi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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30
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Saulnier J, Oblette A, Delessard M, Dumont L, Rives A, Rives N, Rondanino C. Improving Freezing Protocols and Organotypic Culture: A Histological Study on Rat Prepubertal Testicular Tissue. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:203-218. [PMID: 32440757 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02535-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Testicular tissue freezing before gonadotoxic treatments allows the preservation of fertility for children suffering from cancer. Recently, the testis organ culture method was presented as a relevant method to restore the fertility of these patients. However, the yield of spermatozoa production is low in the mouse model and no gamete has been obtained in vitro in the rat model. Here, we assess different cryopreservation protocols and culture conditions to improve the efficiency of in vitro maturation of rat prepubertal testes. Testes from male rats aged 5 or 8 days post-partum were cultured onto agarose gels of different percentages. After determining the best culture conditions, different cryopreservation protocols were assessed. Finally, testicular tissues were cultured with media of various compositions and analyzed at different time points. Our results show that the cryopreservation protocols allow the preservation of tissue architecture, cell proliferation, with no or moderate increase of cell death. In vitro spermatogenesis did not proceed beyond the pachytene spermatocyte stage. Only 2 of the 6 tested media allowed the survival of differentiated germ cells over the 45-day culture period. In conclusion, this study highlights the necessity to further improve the organ culture method before applying it into the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Saulnier
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Antoine Oblette
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Marion Delessard
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Ludovic Dumont
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Aurélie Rives
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Nathalie Rives
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France
| | - Christine Rondanino
- Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, Rouen University Hospital, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", UNIROUEN, Normandie Univ, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000, Rouen, France.
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Nakamura N, Sloper DT. Comparison of germ cell differentiation of rat testis fragments cultured in knockout serum replacement versus Albumax™ I. Birth Defects Res 2020; 113:359-370. [PMID: 33348473 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1859] [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: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatogenesis complexity makes reliable in vitro testis model development challenging. Previously, we evaluated an in vitro mouse testis organ culture system for assessing testicular toxicity. However, rat models are commonly used for drug/chemical toxicity testing; therefore, we assessed the effects of media on germ cell differentiation in cultured rat testis fragments. METHODS Testes from postnatal day 5 Sprague-Dawley (Hsd:SD) rats were cultured in knockout serum replacement (KSR) or Albumax™ I (Albumax) medium. For testis morphology and germ cell differentiation, rat testis fragments were collected on days 20, 27, 35, 42, 49, and 63 of culture for histology/immunohistochemistry using antibodies to spermatogenesis-specific markers. The fragments collected on days 20, 27, 42, 49, and 63 were used for qPCR. RESULTS Pachytene spermatocyte (PS) differentiation was observed in rat testis fragments cultured in KSR and Albumax. However, there were more seminiferous tubules (STs) with PS in rat testis fragments cultured in Albumax than in KSR. Over 60% of STs with germ cell differentiation were observed in rat testis fragments when cultured in Albumax on days 20, 27, and 35, whereas this figure showed only on day 20 when cultured in KSR. CONCLUSIONS This study found only PS differentiation in rat testis fragments. Compared to KSR, Albumax appears to contribute to increased PS production. This in vitro rat testis organ culture system may be useful for assessing testicular toxicity. However, PS differentiation per ST is lower in rat testis fragments; further studies are required to improve this rat testis organ culture system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Nakamura
- Division of Systems Biology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Daniel T Sloper
- Division of Systems Biology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
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32
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Portela JMD, de Winter-Korver CM, van Daalen SKM, Meißner A, de Melker AA, Repping S, van Pelt AMM. Assessment of fresh and cryopreserved testicular tissues from (pre)pubertal boys during organ culture as a strategy for in vitro spermatogenesis. Hum Reprod 2020; 34:2443-2455. [PMID: 31858131 PMCID: PMC6936721 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can the organ culture method be applied to both fresh and cryopreserved human (pre)pubertal testicular tissue as a strategy for in vitro spermatogenesis? SUMMARY ANSWER Although induction of spermatogenesis was not achieved in vitro, testicular architecture, endocrine function and spermatogonial proliferation were maintained in both fresh and cryopreserved testicular tissues. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Cryopreservation of a testicular biopsy is increasingly offered as a fertility preservation strategy for prepubertal cancer patients. One of the proposed experimental approaches to restore fertility is the organ culture method, which, in the mouse model, successfully allows for in vitro development of spermatozoa from testicular biopsies. However, complete spermatogenesis from human prepubertal testicular tissue in such an organ culture system has not been demonstrated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Testicular tissue was collected from nine (pre)pubertal boys diagnosed with cancer (ranging from 6 to 14 years of age) admitted for fertility preservation before treatment. Testicular biopsies were either immediately processed for culture or first cryopreserved, using a controlled slow freezing protocol, and thawed before culture. Organ culture of testicular fragments was performed in two different media for a maximum period of 5 weeks, targeting early cellular events (viability, meiosis and somatic differentiation) in vitro. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Fresh and cryopreserved-thawed testis fragments (1–2 mm3) were cultured at a gas–liquid interphase (34°C, 5% CO2) in Minimum Essential Medium alpha + 10% knock-out serum replacement medium containing 10−7 M melatonin and 10−6 M retinoic acid, with or without 3 IU/L FSH/LH supplementation. The effect of culture conditions on testicular fragments was weekly assessed by histological evaluation of germ cell development and immunohistochemical identification of spermatogonia (using MAGEA4), proliferative status of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells (using proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]), intratubular cell apoptosis (by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) and Sertoli cells maturation (using Anti-Müllerian Hormone [AMH] versus Androgen Receptor [AR]). Additionally, Leydig cells’ functionality was determined by measuring testosterone concentration in the culture media supernatants. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Neither fresh nor cryopreserved human (pre)pubertal testicular fragments were able to initiate spermatogenesis in our organ culture system. Nonetheless, our data suggest that fresh and cryopreserved testicular fragments have comparable functionality in the described organ culture conditions, as reflected by the absence of significant differences in any of the weekly evaluated functional parameters. Additionally, no significant differences were found between the two tested media when culturing fresh and cryopreserved human testicular fragments. Although spermatogonia survived and remained proliferative in all culture conditions, a significant reduction of the spermatogonial population (P ≤ 0.001) was observed over the culture period, justified by a combined reduction of proliferation activity (P ≤ 0.001) and increased intratubular cell apoptosis (P ≤ 0.001). We observed a transient increase in Sertoli cell proliferative activity, loss of AMH expression (P ≤ 0.001) but no induction of AR expression. Leydig cell endocrine function was successfully stimulated in vitro as indicated by increased testosterone production in all conditions throughout the entire culture period (P ≤ 0.02). LARGE SCALE DATA N/A LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Although not noticeable in this study, we cannot exclude that if an optimized culture method ensuring complete spermatogenesis in human testicular fragments is established, differences in functional or spermatogenic efficiency between fresh and cryopreserved tissue might be found. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The current inability to initiate spermatogenesis in vitro from cryopreserved human testicular fragments should be included in the counselling of patients who are offered testicular tissue cryopreservation to preserve fertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was funded by EU-FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN 603568 `Growsperm’. None of the authors have competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M D Portela
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C M de Winter-Korver
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S K M van Daalen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Meißner
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A A de Melker
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Repping
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A M M van Pelt
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Prasetyaningtyas WE, Karja NWK, Agungpriyono S, Fahrudin M. Characteristics of testicular cell development of 5-day-old mice in culture in vitro. Anim Sci J 2020; 91:e13332. [PMID: 32219935 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The crude testicular cells (CTCs) contain many cell types, such as Sertoli cells, leydig cells, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), spermatocytes, and other somatic testicular cells, that secrete various growth factors needed in spermatogenesis. The objective of this study was to characterize development of 5-day-old mice testicular cells cultured. Crude testicular cells prepared from the testes of 5-day-old male mice were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium and incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere for 6 days. The results demonstrated that the testicular cells developed rapidly with a population doubling time (PDT) of 0.63 days and more than 90% of cells were viable after being cultured for 3 days. The number of Sertoli-like cells increased significantly over days 1, 3, and 6 to 22.1%, 34.6%, and 50.1%, respectively. A significant increase was also observed in fibroblast-like cells (15.5% on day 1 to 28.8% on day 3 and to 26.6% on day 6). In contrast, the number of spermatogonia-like cells decreased significantly (54.3%, 30.4%, and 18.7%, on days 1, 3, and 6, respectively). These data indicated that the developmental pattern of the testicular cell in this study might be affected by the niche provided by the cultured testicular cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahono Esthi Prasetyaningtyas
- Graduate Program in Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Ni Wayan Kurniani Karja
- Department of Veterinary Clinic, Reproduction, and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Srihadi Agungpriyono
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Mokhamad Fahrudin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, Indonesia
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34
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Protective effects of melatonin on male fertility preservation and reproductive system. Cryobiology 2020; 95:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2020.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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35
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Goossens E, Jahnukainen K, Mitchell RT, van Pelt A, Pennings G, Rives N, Poels J, Wyns C, Lane S, Rodriguez-Wallberg KA, Rives A, Valli-Pulaski H, Steimer S, Kliesch S, Braye A, Andres MM, Medrano J, Ramos L, Kristensen SG, Andersen CY, Bjarnason R, Orwig KE, Neuhaus N, Stukenborg JB. Fertility preservation in boys: recent developments and new insights †. Hum Reprod Open 2020; 2020:hoaa016. [PMID: 32529047 PMCID: PMC7275639 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility is an important side effect of treatments used for cancer and other non-malignant conditions in males. This may be due to the loss of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and/or altered functionality of testicular somatic cells (e.g. Sertoli cells, Leydig cells). Whereas sperm cryopreservation is the first-line procedure to preserve fertility in post-pubertal males, this option does not exist for prepubertal boys. For patients unable to produce sperm and at high risk of losing their fertility, testicular tissue freezing is now proposed as an alternative experimental option to safeguard their fertility. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE With this review, we aim to provide an update on clinical practices and experimental methods, as well as to describe patient management inclusion strategies used to preserve and restore the fertility of prepubertal boys at high risk of fertility loss. SEARCH METHODS Based on the expertise of the participating centres and a literature search of the progress in clinical practices, patient management strategies and experimental methods used to preserve and restore the fertility of prepubertal boys at high risk of fertility loss were identified. In addition, a survey was conducted amongst European and North American centres/networks that have published papers on their testicular tissue banking activity. OUTCOMES Since the first publication on murine SSC transplantation in 1994, remarkable progress has been made towards clinical application: cryopreservation protocols for testicular tissue have been developed in animal models and are now offered to patients in clinics as a still experimental procedure. Transplantation methods have been adapted for human testis, and the efficiency and safety of the technique are being evaluated in mouse and primate models. However, important practical, medical and ethical issues must be resolved before fertility restoration can be applied in the clinic.Since the previous survey conducted in 2012, the implementation of testicular tissue cryopreservation as a means to preserve the fertility of prepubertal boys has increased. Data have been collected from 24 co-ordinating centres worldwide, which are actively offering testis tissue cryobanking to safeguard the future fertility of boys. More than 1033 young patients (age range 3 months to 18 years) have already undergone testicular tissue retrieval and storage for fertility preservation. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION The review does not include the data of all reproductive centres worldwide. Other centres might be offering testicular tissue cryopreservation. Therefore, the numbers might be not representative for the entire field in reproductive medicine and biology worldwide. The key ethical issue regarding fertility preservation in prepubertal boys remains the experimental nature of the intervention. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The revised procedures can be implemented by the multi-disciplinary teams offering and/or developing treatment strategies to preserve the fertility of prepubertal boys who have a high risk of fertility loss. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS The work was funded by ESHRE. None of the authors has a conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Goossens
- Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Jahnukainen
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.,Division of Haematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - R T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh; and the Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Amm van Pelt
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Pennings
- Bioethics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - N Rives
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", Rouen University Hospital, Biology of Reproduction-CECOS Laboratory, F 76000, Rouen, France
| | - J Poels
- Department of Gynecology and Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Wyns
- Department of Gynecology and Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Lane
- Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, Children's Hospital Oxford, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - K A Rodriguez-Wallberg
- Department of Oncology Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Section of Reproductive Medicine, Division of Gynecology and Reproduction, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Rives
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 "Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality", Rouen University Hospital, Biology of Reproduction-CECOS Laboratory, F 76000, Rouen, France
| | - H Valli-Pulaski
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - S Steimer
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - S Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - A Braye
- Biology of the Testis, Research Laboratory for Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - M M Andres
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Medrano
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - L Ramos
- Departement of Obstetrics and Gynacology, Division Reproductive Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - S G Kristensen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C Y Andersen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R Bjarnason
- Children's Medical Center, Landspítali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland and Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - K E Orwig
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - N Neuhaus
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - J B Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
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Challenging human somatic testicular cell reassembly by protein kinase inhibition -setting up a functional in vitro test system. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8935. [PMID: 32488054 PMCID: PMC7265505 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65924-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Signalling pathways and cellular interactions defining initial processes of testis morphogenesis, i.e. cord formation, are poorly understood. In vitro cell-based systems modelling cord formation can be utilised as platforms to interrogate processes of tubulogenesis. We aimed at testing our established cord formation in vitro model using adult human testicular cells as a quantitative assay that can facilitate future studies on cord morphogenesis. We challenged the responsiveness of our system with a broad-spectrum protein kinase inhibitor, K252a. Cultured testicular cells were treated with various K252a concentrations under constant exposure and compound withdrawal. To quantify cell reaggregation changes, we performed computer-assisted phase-contrast image analysis of aggregate size and number. Cell reaggregation was analysed in detail by categorisation of aggregates into size groups and accounting for changes in aggregate number per size category. We found a dose-related disturbance of testicular cell reaggregation. K252a decreased aggregate size (IC50 of 203.3 nM) and reduced the large aggregate numbers. Video recordings revealed that treatment with K252a at a concentration above IC50 interfered with aggregate coalescence into cords. Short-term exposure and compound wash-out induced irreversible decrease in large aggregates. We propose our in vitro model as a functional platform to quantitatively investigate seminiferous tubulogenesis under pharmacological impact.
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Ziloochi Kashani M, Bagher Z, Asgari HR, Najafi M, Koruji M, Mehraein F. Differentiation of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells on three-dimensional agar/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber scaffold. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2020; 66:202-215. [PMID: 32138551 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2020.1725927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Electrospun nanofiber matrices sufficiently mimic the structural morphology of natural extracellular matrix. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of agar/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber (PVA) scaffold on the proliferation efficiency and differentiation potential of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SCCs). Testicular cells were isolated from testes of 40 mouse pups and were seeded in: 1) 2D cell culture plates in the absence (2D/-GF) or presence (2D/+GF) of growth factors and 2) onto agar/PVA scaffold in the absence (3D/-GF) or presence (3D/+GF) of growth factors. The cells were subsequently cultured for 4 weeks. First 2 weeks were dedicated to proliferative phase, whereas the next 2 weeks emphasized the differentiation phase. The identity of the SCCs was investigated at different time-points by flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses against the germ cell markers, including PLZF, Id-4, Gfrα-1, Tekt-1, and Sycp-3. After 2 weeks of culture, the 3D/+GF group showed the highest percentage of PLZF-positive cells among culture systems (P < 0.05). The expression levels of pre-meiotic markers (Id-4 and Gfrα-1) decreased significantly in all groups, particularly in 3D/+GF group after 28 days of culture. Additionally, the cells in the 3D/+GF group displayed the highest expression of meiotic (Sycp-3) and post-meiotic markers (Tekt-1) 14 days after differentiation induction. Seemingly, the combination of the agar/PVA scaffold and growth factor-supplemented medium synergistically increased the differentiation rate of mouse SSCs into meiotic and post-meiotic cells. Thus, agar/PVA nanofiber scaffolds may have the potential for applications in the restoration of infertility, especially in azoospermic males. ABBREVIATIONS 2D: two dimentional; 3D: three dimentional; bFGF: basic fibroblast growth factor; BMP-4: bone morphogenetic protein 4; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; ECM: extracellular matrix; FCS: fetal calf serum; FTIR: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; GDNF: glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; GF: growth factors; Gfrα-1, GDNF family co-receptor α1; Id-4, Inhibitor of DNA Binding 4; MTT: methylthiazoltetrazolium; PLZF: promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger; PVA: polyvinyl alcohol; qRT-PCR: quantitative reverse transcription PCR; RA: retinoic acid; SACS: soft agar culture system; SD: standard deviation; SEM: scanning electron microscope; SSCs: spermatogonial stem cells; Sycp-3, Synaptonemal complex protein 3; Tekt-1, Tektin 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Ziloochi Kashani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.,Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bagher
- ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department, the Five Senses Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Asgari
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Najafi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Koruji
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.,Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Mehraein
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.,Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
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Yuan Y, Li L, Cheng Q, Diao F, Zeng Q, Yang X, Wu Y, Zhang H, Huang M, Chen J, Zhou Q, Zhu Y, Hua R, Tian J, Wang X, Zhou Z, Hao J, Yu J, Hua D, Liu J, Guo X, Zhou Q, Sha J. In vitro testicular organogenesis from human fetal gonads produces fertilization-competent spermatids. Cell Res 2020; 30:244-255. [PMID: 32086476 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-020-0283-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike most organs that mature during the fetal period, the male reproductive system reaches maturity only at puberty with the commencement of spermatogenesis. Robust modelling of human testicular organogenesis in vitro would facilitate research into mechanisms of and factors affecting human spermatogenic failure and male fertility preservation in prepubertal tumor patients. Here, we report successful recapitulation of human testicular organogenesis in vitro from fetal gonadal ridge. Our model displayed the formation of mature seminiferous epithelium and self-renewing spermatogonia. Remarkably, in vitro-derived haploid spermatids have undergone meiotic recombination, and showed increased genetic diversity as indicated by genetic analysis. Moreover, these spermatids were able to fertilize oocytes and support subsequent blastocyst formation. The in vitro testicular organogenesis system described here will play an important role in elucidating the regulation of human testis development and maintaining male fertility in prepubertal cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yuan
- Human Reproductive and Genetic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 214062, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Laihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feiyang Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yibo Wu
- Human Reproductive and Genetic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 214062, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingqian Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Quan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunfei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianyu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zuomin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Jinjin Yu
- Human Reproductive and Genetic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 214062, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dong Hua
- Human Reproductive and Genetic Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 214062, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiayin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
| | - Jiahao Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, 210029, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Portela JMD, Heckmann L, Wistuba J, Sansone A, van Pelt AMM, Kliesch S, Schlatt S, Neuhaus N. Development and Disease-Dependent Dynamics of Spermatogonial Subpopulations in Human Testicular Tissues. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9010224. [PMID: 31947706 PMCID: PMC7019285 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapy and conditioning treatments of non-malignant diseases affect spermatogonial function and may lead to male infertility. Data on the molecular properties of spermatogonia and the influence of disease and/or treatment on spermatogonial subpopulations remain limited. Here, we assessed if the density and percentage of spermatogonial subpopulation changes during development (n = 13) and due to disease and/or treatment (n = 18) in tissues stored in fertility preservation programs, using markers for spermatogonia (MAGEA4), undifferentiated spermatogonia (UTF1), proliferation (PCNA), and global DNA methylation (5mC). Throughout normal prepubertal testicular development, only the density of 5mC-positive spermatogonia significantly increased with age. In comparison, patients affected by disease and/or treatment showed a reduced density of UTF1-, PCNA- and 5mC-positive spermatogonia, whereas the percentage of spermatogonial subpopulations remained unchanged. As an exception, sickle cell disease patients treated with hydroxyurea displayed a reduction in both density and percentage of 5mC- positive spermatogonia. Our results demonstrate that, in general, a reduction in spermatogonial density does not alter the percentages of undifferentiated and proliferating spermatogonia, nor the establishment of global methylation. However, in sickle cell disease patients’, establishment of spermatogonial DNA methylation is impaired, which may be of importance for the potential use of this tissues in fertility preservation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana M. D. Portela
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.M.D.P.); (L.H.); (J.W.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Laura Heckmann
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.M.D.P.); (L.H.); (J.W.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Joachim Wistuba
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.M.D.P.); (L.H.); (J.W.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Andrea Sansone
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.M.D.P.); (L.H.); (J.W.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ans M. M. van Pelt
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Sabine Kliesch
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Stefan Schlatt
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.M.D.P.); (L.H.); (J.W.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Nina Neuhaus
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.M.D.P.); (L.H.); (J.W.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence:
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40
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Braye A, Tournaye H, Goossens E. Setting Up a Cryopreservation Programme for Immature Testicular Tissue: Lessons Learned After More Than 15 Years of Experience. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2019; 13:1179558119886342. [PMID: 31798308 PMCID: PMC6868573 DOI: 10.1177/1179558119886342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Young boys undergoing gonadotoxic treatments are at high risk of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) loss and fertility problems later in life. Stem cell loss can also occur in specific genetic conditions, eg, Klinefelter syndrome (KS). Before puberty, these boys do not yet produce sperm. Hence, they cannot benefit from sperm banking. An emerging alternative is the freezing of testicular tissue aiming to preserve the SSCs for eventual autologous transplantation or in vitro maturation at adult age. Many fertility preservation programmes include cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue, although the restoration procedures are still under development. Until the end of 2018, the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel has frozen testicular tissues of 112 patients between 8 months and 18 years of age. Testicular tissue was removed in view of gonadotoxic cancer treatment (35%), gonadotoxic conditioning therapy for bone marrow transplantation (35%) or in boys diagnosed with KS (30%). So far, none of these boys had their testicular tissue transplanted back. This article summarizes our experience with cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue over the past 16 years (2002-2018) and describes the key issues for setting up a cryopreservation programme for immature testicular tissue as a means to safeguard the future fertility of boys at high risk of SSC loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Braye
- Biology of the Testis (BITE), Department of Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine (RGRG), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Herman Tournaye
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine (CRG), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ellen Goossens
- Biology of the Testis (BITE), Department of Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative Medicine (RGRG), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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41
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Oliver E, Stukenborg JB. Rebuilding the human testis in vitro. Andrology 2019; 8:825-834. [PMID: 31539453 PMCID: PMC7496374 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Increasing rates of male infertility have led to a greater need for relevant model systems to gain further insight into male fertility and its failings. Spermatogenesis and hormone production occur within distinct regions of the testis. Defined by specialized architecture and a diverse population of cell types, it is no surprise that disruption of this highly organized microenvironment can lead to infertility. To date, no robust in vitro system has facilitated full spermatogenesis resulting in the production of fertilization‐competent human spermatozoa. Here, we review a selection of current in vitro systems available for modelling the human testis microenvironment with focus on the progression of spermatogenesis and recapitulation of the testis microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Oliver
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - J-B Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
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42
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Vermeulen M, Giudice MG, Del Vento F, Wyns C. Role of stem cells in fertility preservation: current insights. STEM CELLS AND CLONING-ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS 2019; 12:27-48. [PMID: 31496751 PMCID: PMC6689135 DOI: 10.2147/sccaa.s178490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
While improvements made in the field of cancer therapy allow high survival rates, gonadotoxicity of chemo- and radiotherapy can lead to infertility in male and female pre- and postpubertal patients. Clinical options to preserve fertility before starting gonadotoxic therapies by cryopreserving sperm or oocytes for future use with assisted reproductive technology (ART) are now applied worldwide. Cryopreservation of pre- and postpubertal ovarian tissue containing primordial follicles, though still considered experimental, has already led to the birth of healthy babies after autotransplantation and is performed in an increasing number of centers. For prepubertal boys who do not produce gametes ready for fertilization, cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue (ITT) containing spermatogonial stem cells may be proposed as an experimental strategy with the aim of restoring fertility. Based on achievements in nonhuman primates, autotransplantation of ITT or testicular cell suspensions appears promising to restore fertility of young cancer survivors. So far, whether in two- or three-dimensional culture systems, in vitro maturation of immature male and female gonadal cells or tissue has not demonstrated a capacity to produce safe gametes for ART. Recently, primordial germ cells have been generated from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, but further investigations regarding efficiency and safety are needed. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells to improve the vascularization of gonadal tissue grafts, increase the colonization of transplanted cells, and restore the damaged somatic compartment could overcome the current limitations encountered with transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Vermeulen
- Gynecology-Andrology Research Unit, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Maria-Grazia Giudice
- Gynecology-Andrology Research Unit, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, 1200, Belgium.,Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels 1200, Belgium
| | - Federico Del Vento
- Gynecology-Andrology Research Unit, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Christine Wyns
- Gynecology-Andrology Research Unit, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, 1200, Belgium.,Department of Gynecology-Andrology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels 1200, Belgium
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Sakib S, Goldsmith T, Voigt A, Dobrinski I. Testicular organoids to study cell-cell interactions in the mammalian testis. Andrology 2019; 8:835-841. [PMID: 31328437 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the last ten years, three-dimensional organoid culture has garnered renewed interest, as organoids generated from primary cells or stem cells with cell associations and functions similar to organs in vivo can be a powerful tool to study tissue-specific cell-cell interactions in vitro. Very recently, a few interesting approaches have been put forth for generating testicular organoids for studying the germ cell niche microenvironment. AIM To review different model systems that have been employed to study germ cell biology and testicular cell-cell interactions and discuss how the organoid approach can address some of the shortcomings of those systems. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Testicular organoids that bear architectural and functional similarities to their in vivo counterparts are a powerful model system to study cell-cell interactions in the germ cell niche. Organoids enable studying samples in humans and other large animals where in vivo experiments are not possible, allow modeling of testicular disease and malignancies and may provide a platform to design more precise therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sakib
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada.,Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada
| | - T Goldsmith
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada.,Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada
| | - A Voigt
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada
| | - I Dobrinski
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada.,Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada
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44
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Sakib S, Voigt A, Goldsmith T, Dobrinski I. Three-dimensional testicular organoids as novel in vitro models of testicular biology and toxicology. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2019; 5:dvz011. [PMID: 31463083 PMCID: PMC6705190 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvz011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Organoids are three dimensional structures consisting of multiple cell types that recapitulate the cellular architecture and functionality of native organs. Over the last decade, the advent of organoid research has opened up many avenues for basic and translational studies. Following suit of other disciplines, research groups working in the field of male reproductive biology have started establishing and characterizing testicular organoids. The three-dimensional architectural and functional similarities of organoids to their tissue of origin facilitate study of complex cell interactions, tissue development and establishment of representative, scalable models for drug and toxicity screening. In this review, we discuss the current state of testicular organoid research, their advantages over conventional monolayer culture and their potential applications in the field of reproductive biology and toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadman Sakib
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Anna Voigt
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Taylor Goldsmith
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Ina Dobrinski
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
- Correspondence address. Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 404, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3300 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada. Tel: 4032106523; Fax: 4032108821; E-mail:
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45
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Shetty G, Mitchell JM, Lam TNA, Wu Z, Zhang J, Hill L, Tailor RC, Peters KA, Penedo MC, Orwig KE, Meistrich ML. Donor spermatogenesis in de novo formed seminiferous tubules from transplanted testicular cells in rhesus monkey testis. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:2249-2255. [PMID: 30358843 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can transplanted primate testicular cells form seminiferous tubules de novo, supporting complete spermatogenesis? SUMMARY ANSWER Cryopreserved testicular cells from a prepubertal monkey can reorganize in an adult monkey recipient testis forming de novo seminiferous tubular cords supporting complete spermatogenesis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY De novo morphogenesis of testicular tissue using aggregated cells from non-primate species grafted either subcutaneously or in the testis can support spermatogenesis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Two postpubertal rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were given testicular irradiation. One monkey was given GnRH-antagonist treatment from 8 to 16 weeks after irradiation, while the other received sham injections. At 16 weeks, cryopreserved testicular cells from two different prepubertal monkeys [43 × 106 viable (Trypan-blue excluding) cells in 260 μl, and 80 × 106 viable cells in 400 μl] were transplanted via ultrasound-guided injections to one of the rete testis in each recipient, and immune suppression was given. The contralateral testis was sham transplanted. Testes were analyzed 9 months after transplantation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Spermatogenic recovery was assessed by testicular volume, weight, histology and immunofluorescence. Microsatellite genotyping of regions of testicular sections obtained by LCM determined whether the cells were derived from the host or transplanted cells. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Transplanted testis of the GnRH-antagonist-treated recipient, but not the sham-treated recipient, contained numerous irregularly shaped seminiferous tubular cords, 89% of which had differentiating germ cells, including sperm in a few of them. The percentages of donor genotype in different regions of this testis were as follows: normal tubule, 0%; inflammatory, 0%; abnormal tubule region, 67%; whole interior of abnormal tubules, >99%; adluminal region of the abnormal tubules, 92%. Thus, these abnormal tubules, including the enclosed germ cells, were derived de novo from the donor testicular cells. LARGE SCALE DATA Not applicable. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The de novo tubules were observed in only one out of the two monkeys transplanted with prepubertal donor testicular cells. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS These findings may represent a promising strategy for restoration of fertility in male childhood cancer survivors. The approach could be particularly useful in those exposed to therapeutic agents that are detrimental to the normal development of the tubule somatic cells affecting the ability of the endogenous tubules to support spermatogenesis, even from transplanted spermatogonial stem cells. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by research grants P01 HD075795 from Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD/NIH) to K.E.O and Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016672 from NCI/NIH to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunapala Shetty
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer M Mitchell
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Truong Nguyen Anh Lam
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhuang Wu
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lorraine Hill
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ramesh C Tailor
- Department of Radiation Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karen A Peters
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Kyle E Orwig
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Marvin L Meistrich
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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46
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Singh RP, Escobar E, Wildt D, Patel S, Costa GMJ, Pukazhenthi B. Effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate on cryopreserved sheep testicular explants cultured in vitro. Theriogenology 2019; 128:184-192. [PMID: 30772662 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Complete spermatogenesis has been achieved in vitro in mouse testicular explants with resulting sperm used to produce pups after Intra Cytoplasm Sperm Injection and Embryo Transfer. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on spermatogenesis of frozen-thawed lamb testis explants in vitro. Thawed testicular pieces were cultured for 12 d on agarose blocks in serum-free growth medium containing 0, 2, 5 or 10 μM S1P. At the end of D6 and D12, some pieces were fixed and processed for histology. Other pieces were processed for RNA isolation and quantitation of proliferation (PCNA, Ki67) and differentiation (PLZF) markers and genes involved in S1P signaling (S1PR1, SGPL1, SGPP1, AKT1 and NFKBIA) by qPCR. Histology revealed an increase (P < 0.05) in seminiferous cord (SC) diameter under all culture conditions, except 5 and 10 μM S1P by D6. In the presence of 5 μM S1P, percentage of gonocytes decreased (P < 0.05) by D6 (control, 24.9% vs. S1P, 10.3%) with a concomitant increase (P < 0.05) in spermatogonia formation (control, 74.4% vs. S1P, 88.1%). S1P induced PCNA or Ki67 expression by D6, whereas PLZF was up-regulated (P < 0.05) by D6 in 2 μM S1P and D12 in 5 & 10 μM S1P. Expression of SGPL1 and SGPP1 increased 4-12-fold in tissues cultured in 10 μM S1P by D12 compared to D12 control. AKT1 and NFKBIA mRNA expression was low (P < 0.05) in 5 and or 10 μM S1P treatments on D6. These results demonstrate that S1P promotes germ cell proliferation during first week of culture and may exert an anti-apoptotic influence on the seminiferous cord in sheep testicular explants in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Pratap Singh
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, USA; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore, India.
| | - Enrique Escobar
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, USA
| | - David Wildt
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Seema Patel
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Guilherme M J Costa
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Budhan Pukazhenthi
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, USA
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47
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Albalushi H, Sahlin L, Åkesson E, Kurek M, Kjartansdóttir KR, Lindh R, Söder O, Rotstein E, Hovatta O, Stukenborg JB. Hormone Production by Human First-Trimester Gonads in a Functional In Vitro System. Endocrinology 2019; 160:133-142. [PMID: 30418555 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In the past, explant tissue-culture methodologies have been used to grow gonads and study their development. Results from in vitro cultures of human gonads showed limited progress toward gonadal cell differentiation and were focused mainly on germ-cell differentiation. Thus, detailed studies focusing on human first-trimester gonadal tissue functionality in vitro are still missing. In this study we investigated the endocrine function of human first-trimester gonads in vitro. We included 27 female and 28 male gonadal samples, derived from a total of 55 cases, at postconceptional ages of 4.5 to 10.5 weeks. Tissues were cultured using an explant tissue-culture system for 14 days. Assays for testosterone (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH; ELISA), and inhibin B (ELISA) were performed using media collected after 7 and 14 days of culture. We demonstrated sex- and age-dependent secretion profiles of testosterone, AMH, and inhibin B in the culture media, which resemble the pattern of hormone production in human gonads in vivo, from the few available studies at the same age range. Our study shows that explant tissue-culture conditions are robust for culture of human first-trimester gonadal somatic cells. Thus, it can be used to study human gonadal development and related diseases as well as the effect of potentially hormone-disturbing substances in human gonads during development. However, detailed molecular studies are needed for better understanding of the mechanistic control of the endocrine function of human first-trimester gonads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halima Albalushi
- NORDFERTIL Research Laboratory Stockholm, Solna, Sweden
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Sultan Qaboos University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman
| | - Lena Sahlin
- NORDFERTIL Research Laboratory Stockholm, Solna, Sweden
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Åkesson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- R&D Unit, Stockholms Sjukhem, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magdalena Kurek
- NORDFERTIL Research Laboratory Stockholm, Solna, Sweden
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristín Rós Kjartansdóttir
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rika Lindh
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olle Söder
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emilia Rotstein
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Outi Hovatta
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan-Bernd Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Laboratory Stockholm, Solna, Sweden
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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48
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Kamińska A, Pardyak L, Marek S, Górowska-Wójtowicz E, Kotula-Balak M, Bilińska B, Hejmej A. Bisphenol A and dibutyl phthalate affect the expression of juxtacrine signaling factors in rat testis. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 199:182-190. [PMID: 29438945 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The study was designed to examine the effects of model plastic derived compounds, bisphenol A (BPA) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), on juxtacrine communication in adult rat testis, by evaluating the expression of Notch pathway components. Testicular explant were exposed in vitro to BPA (5 × 10-6 M, 2.5 × 10-5 M, 5 × 10-5 M) or DBP (10-6 M, 10-5 M, 10-4 M) for 24 h. To determine the expression of Notch1, Dll4, Hey1, Hes1 and Hey5 real-time RT-PCR was used. Protein levels and localization of NOTCH1 receptor, its ligand DLL4 as well as HEY1, HES1 and HEY5 factors were detected by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Upregulation of Notch1, Dll4 and Hey1 at the mRNA and protein level was demonstrated in testis explants after BPA and DBP treatment (p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.001). Hes5 expression decreased after BPA (p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.001), whereas Hes1 expression was not altered by either BPA or DBP. Tested chemicals altered immunoexpression of activated NOTCH1, DLL4, HEY1 and HES5 both in seminiferous epithelium and interstitial tissue, exerting differential effects on particular cell types. In conclusion, BPA and DBP affect Notch signaling pathway in rat testis, which indicates that juxtacrine communication is a potential target for the action of plastic derived compounds in male gonad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Kamińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Laura Pardyak
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Sylwia Marek
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewelina Górowska-Wójtowicz
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kotula-Balak
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Barbara Bilińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Hejmej
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
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Rondanino C, Maouche A, Dumont L, Oblette A, Rives N. Establishment, maintenance and functional integrity of the blood-testis barrier in organotypic cultures of fresh and frozen/thawed prepubertal mouse testes. Mol Hum Reprod 2018; 23:304-320. [PMID: 28333312 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can the spatio-temporal formation of an intact blood-testis barrier (BTB), which is essential for the progression of spermatogenesis, be reproduced in cultures of fresh or frozen/thawed prepubertal mouse testes? SUMMARY ANSWER Organotypic cultures allow the establishment and maintenance of major BTB components and the formation of a functional BTB in mouse testicular tissues. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In vitro maturation of prepubertal testicular tissues is a promising approach to restore fertility in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Although gametes can be successfully obtained from prepubertal mouse testes in organotypic cultures, the spermatogenic yield remains low compared to in vivo controls. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Mouse testicular tissues were frozen using controlled slow freezing (CSF) or solid surface vitrification (SSV) procedures. A total of 158 testes (fresh n = 58, CSF n = 58 or SSV n = 42) from 6 to 7 days postpartum (dpp) mice were cultured at 34°C in basal medium (α-MEM, 10% KnockOut Serum Replacement, 5 μg/ml gentamicin) at a gas-liquid interphase (under 20% O2), with or without 10-6 M retinol, for 9, 16 and 30 days. In addition, 32 testes from 6-7, 15-16, 22-23 and 36-37 dpp mice were used as in vivo controls. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The mRNA levels of BTB genes (Claudin 3, Claudin 11, Zonula occludens 1 and Connexin-43), germ cell-specific genes (Sal-like protein 4, Kit oncogene, Stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8, Synaptonemal complex protein 3, Transition protein 1 and Protamine 2), markers of Sertoli cell immaturity/maturity (anti-Mullerian hormone, androgen receptor, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1b) and the androgen-regulated gene Reproductive homeobox 5 (Rhox5) were measured by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). The localization of BTB proteins in seminiferous tubules was studied by immunohistochemistry and spermatogenic progression was evaluated histologically. The integrity of the BTB was assessed using a biotin tracer. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Modest differences in Claudin 11 (Cldn11), Zonula occludens 1 (Zo-1), Connexin-43 (Cx43) transcript levels and in the localization of the corresponding proteins were found between in vitro cultures of fresh or frozen/thawed testes and in vivo controls (P < 0.05). However, a 32-77-fold decrease in Claudin 3 (Cldn3) mRNA levels and a lack of CLDN3 immunolabelling in 36-44% of seminiferous tubules were observed in 30-day organotypic cultures (P < 0.05). Although Sertoli cell maturation and the completion of a full spermatogenic cycle were achieved after 30 days of culture, meiotic and postmeiotic progression was altered in cultured testicular tissues (P < 0.05). Moreover, an increased BTB permeability and a decreased expression of Rhox5 were observed at the end of the culture period in comparison with in vivo controls (P < 0.05). Completion of spermatogenesis occurred in vitro in seminiferous tubules with an intact BTB, and in those expressing or lacking CLDN3. LARGE SCALE DATA None. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Further studies will be needed to determine whether the expression of other BTB components is altered and to decipher the reason for lower Cldn3 and Rhox5 mRNA levels in organotypic cultures. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This work contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms occurring in in vitro matured prepubertal testes. The organotypic culture system will have to be developed further and optimized for human tissue, before potential clinical applications can be envisaged. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by Rouen University Hospital, Ligue contre le Cancer (to L.D.), and co-supported by European Union and Région Normandie (to A.O.). Europe gets involved in Normandie with European Régional Development Fund (ERDF). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rondanino
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 'Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality', Rouen University Hospital, Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - A Maouche
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 'Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality', Rouen University Hospital, Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - L Dumont
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 'Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality', Rouen University Hospital, Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - A Oblette
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 'Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality', Rouen University Hospital, Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - N Rives
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 'Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality', Rouen University Hospital, Department of Reproductive Biology-CECOS, F 76000 Rouen, France
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Heckmann L, Langenstroth-Röwer D, Pock T, Wistuba J, Stukenborg JB, Zitzmann M, Kliesch S, Schlatt S, Neuhaus N. A diagnostic germ cell score for immature testicular tissue at risk of germ cell loss. Hum Reprod 2018; 33:636-645. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- L Heckmann
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - D Langenstroth-Röwer
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - T Pock
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J Wistuba
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J -B Stukenborg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, Q2:08, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Zitzmann
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - S Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - S Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - N Neuhaus
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
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