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Plyler ZE, Birket SE, Schultz BD, Hong JS, Rowe SM, Petty CF, Crowley MR, Crossman DK, Schoeb TR, Sorscher EJ. Non-obstructive vas deferens and epididymis loss in cystic fibrosis rats. Mech Dev 2018; 155:15-26. [PMID: 30391480 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
This study utilizes morphological and mechanistic endpoints to characterize the onset of bilateral atresia of the vas deferens in a recently derived cystic fibrosis (CF) rat model. Embryonic reproductive structures, including Wolffian (mesonephric) duct, Mullerian (paramesonephric) duct, mesonephric tubules, and gonad, were shown to mature normally through late embryogenesis, with involution of the vas deferens and/or epididymis typically occurring between birth and postnatal day 4 (P4), although timing and degree of atresia varied. No evidence of mucus obstruction, which is associated with pathology in other CF-affected tissues, was observed at any embryological or postnatal time point. Reduced epididymal coiling was noted post-partum and appeared to coincide with, or predate, loss of more distal vas deferens structure. Remarkably, α smooth muscle actin expression in cells surrounding duct epithelia was markedly diminished in CF animals by P2.5 when compared to wild type counterparts, indicating reduced muscle development. RNA-seq and immunohistochemical analysis of affected tissues showed disruption of developmental signaling by Wnt and related pathways. The findings have relevance to vas deferens loss in humans with CF, where timing of ductular damage is not well characterized and underlying mechanisms are not understood. If vas deferens atresia in humans begins in late gestation and continues through early postnatal life, emerging modulator therapies given perinatally might preserve and enhance integrity of the reproductive tract, which is otherwise absent or deficient in 97% of males with cystic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z E Plyler
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - S E Birket
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - B D Schultz
- Department of Anatomy & Physiology, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - J S Hong
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - S M Rowe
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - C F Petty
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - M R Crowley
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - D K Crossman
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - T R Schoeb
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - E J Sorscher
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Khadijah Ramli NS, Giribabu N, Muniandy S, Salleh N. Testosterone up-regulates vacuolar ATPase expression and functional activities in vas deferens of orchidectomized rats. Theriogenology 2017; 108:354-361. [PMID: 29294437 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Precise regulation of vas deferens fluid pH is essential for sperm. However, the mechanisms underlying effect of testosterone on vas deferens fluid pH have never been identified, which could involve changes in expression and functional activity of vacoular (V)-ATPase. METHODS Orchidectomized, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated subcutaneously with 125 μg/kg/day and 250 μg/kg/day testosterone with or without flutamide (androgen receptor blocker) and finasteride (5α-reductase inhibitor) for seven (7) days. Following treatment completion, in vivo perfusion of vas deferens lumen was performed and changes in fluid secretion rate, pH and HCO3- content were measured with and without bafilomycin, a V-ATPase inhibitor. Rats were then sacrificed and vas deferens were harvested and subjected for V-ATPase A1 and B1/2 protein expression and distribution analysis by western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS In sham-operated and testosterone-treated orchidectomized rats, higher fluid secretion rate, which was not antagonized by bafilomycin but lower HCO3- content and pH which were antagonized by bafilomycin were observed when compared to orchidectomized-only and orchidectomized, testosterone-treated rats receiving flutamide or finasteride, respectively. Bafilomycin had no effect on fluid secretion rate, HCO3- content and pH in orchidectomized and testosterone-treated orchidectomized rats receiving flutamide and finasteride. V-ATPase A1 and B1/2 proteins were expressed at high levels in vas deferens and were highly distributed at the apical membrane of luminal epithelium and in muscle layer of this organ, mainly in sham and testosterone-treated orchidectomized rats. CONCLUSIONS V-ATPase is involved in acidification of vas deferens fluid under testosterone influence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nelli Giribabu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sekaran Muniandy
- Department of Biochemistry, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610, Jenjarum, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Naguib Salleh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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3
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Muzi-Filho H, Souza AM, Bezerra CGP, Boldrini LC, Takiya CM, Oliveira FL, Nesi RT, Valença SS, Silva AMS, Zapata-Sudo G, Sudo RT, Einicker-Lamas M, Vieyra A, Lara LS, Cunha VMN. Rats undernourished in utero have altered Ca2+ signaling and reduced fertility in adulthood. Physiol Rep 2015; 3:3/10/e12587. [PMID: 26508737 PMCID: PMC4632956 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological and animal studies have shown that placental undernutrition impairs reproduction in adult offspring, but the underlying molecular mechanisms within the male genital tract remain unknown. Due to its special physiological characteristics in transport and the modulation of the environment to which its luminal content is exposed, we hypothesized that the vas deferens would be a highly sensitive target. The goals were to investigate whether intrauterine malnutrition affects molecular mechanisms related to Ca(2+)- and oxidative stress-modulated processes and causes structural alterations in the adult rat vas deferens that could attenuate fecundity and fertility. Male adult rats malnourished in utero had increased vas deferens weight associated with thickening of the muscular coat, a decrease in the total and haploid germ cells, a marked increase in the immature cells, and a decline in the numbers of pregnant females and total offspring per male rat. The ex vivo response of vas deferens from malnourished rats demonstrated an accentuated decrease in the contractile response to phenylephrine. The vas deferens had a marked decrease in Ca(2+) transport due to the uncoupling of Ca(2+)-stimulated ATP hydrolysis and ATP-driven Ca(2+) flux, and the downregulation of both sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 and the coupling factor 12-kDa FK506-binding protein. An increase in protein carbonylation (a marker of oxidative damage) and an imbalance between protein kinases C and A were observed as a legacy of undernutrition in early life. These results provide the structural and molecular basis to explain at least in part how maternal undernutrition affects fecundity and fertility in adult male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Muzi-Filho
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alessandro M Souza
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila G P Bezerra
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo C Boldrini
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Directorate of Metrology Applied Life Sciences, National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology, Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Christina M Takiya
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Felipe L Oliveira
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renata T Nesi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Samuel S Valença
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ananssa M S Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gisele Zapata-Sudo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto T Sudo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Einicker-Lamas
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Vieyra
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucienne S Lara
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valeria M N Cunha
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Pierucci-Alves F, Akoyev V, Stewart JC, Wang LH, Janardhan KS, Schultz BD. Swine models of cystic fibrosis reveal male reproductive tract phenotype at birth. Biol Reprod 2011; 85:442-51. [PMID: 21593481 PMCID: PMC3159534 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.090860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2011] [Revised: 02/03/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly all male cystic fibrosis (CF) patients exhibit tissue abnormalities in the reproductive tract, a condition that renders them azoospermic and infertile. Two swine CF models have been reported recently that include respiratory and digestive manifestations that are comparable to human CF. The goal of this study was to determine the phenotypic changes that may be present in the vas deferens of these swine CF models. Tracts from CFTR(-/-) and CFTR(ΔF508/ΔF508) neonates revealed partial or total vas deferens and/or epididymis atresia at birth, while wild-type littermates were normal. Histopathological analysis revealed a range of tissue abnormalities and disruptions in tubular organization. Vas deferens epithelial cells were isolated and electrophysiological results support that CFTR(-/-) monolayers can exhibit Na(+) reabsorption but reveal no anion secretion following exposure to cAMP-generating compounds, suggesting that CFTR-dependent Cl(-) and/or HCO(3)(-) transport is completely impaired. SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 immunoreactivities were detected in all experimental groups, indicating that these two chloride-bicarbonate exchangers were present, but were either unable to function or their activity is electroneutral. In addition, no signs of increased mucus synthesis and/or secretion were present in the male excurrent ducts of these CF models. Results demonstrate a causal link between CFTR mutations and duct abnormalities that are manifested at birth.
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