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Li C, Yao Z, Ma L, Song X, Wang W, Wan C, Ren S, Chen D, Zheng Y, Zhu YT, Chang G, Wu S, Miao K, Luo F, Zhao XY. Lovastatin promotes the self-renewal of murine and primate spermatogonial stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:969-984. [PMID: 37044069 PMCID: PMC10147841 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche is critical for SSC maintenance and subsequent spermatogenesis. Numerous reproductive hazards impair the SSC niche, thereby resulting in aberrant SSC self-renewal and male infertility. However, promising agents targeting the impaired SSC niche to promote SSC self-renewal are still limited. Here, we screen out and assess the effects of Lovastatin on the self-renewal of mouse SSCs (mSSCs). Mechanistically, Lovastatin promotes the self-renewal of mSSCs and inhibits its inflammation and apoptosis through the regulation of isoprenoid intermediates. Remarkably, treatment by Lovastatin could promote the proliferation of undifferentiated spermatogonia in the male gonadotoxicity model generated by busulfan injection. Of note, we demonstrate that Lovastatin could enhance the proliferation of primate undifferentiated spermatogonia. Collectively, our findings uncover that lovastatin could promote the self-renewal of both murine and primate SSCs and have implications for the treatment of certain types of male infertility using small compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaohui Li
- Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shunde, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaokai Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linzi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuling Song
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cong Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaofang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dingyao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong-Tong Zhu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Shihao Wu
- Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shunde, Guangdong, China
| | - Kai Miao
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, SAR, China.
| | - Fang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xiao-Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China; Sino-America Joint Research Center for Translational Medicine in Developmental Disabilities, Guangzhou, China; Department of Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; National Clinical Research Canter for Kidney Disease, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.
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Screening of Potential Plasticizer Alternatives for Their Toxic Effects on Male Germline Stem Cells. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123217. [PMID: 36551973 PMCID: PMC9776359 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123217] [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: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasticizers give flexibility to a wide range of consumer and medical plastic products. Among them, phthalate esters are recognized as endocrine disruptors that target male reproductive functions. With this notion, past studies designed and produced alternative plasticizers that could replace phthalates with limited toxicity to the environment and to male reproductive functions. Here, we focused on one reproductive cell type that was not investigated in past studies-spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs)-and examined in vitro the effects on 22 compounds (seven plasticizers currently in use and 15 newly synthesized potential alternative plasticizers) for their effects on SSCs. Our in vitro compound screening analyses showed that a majority of the compounds examined had a limited level of toxicity to SSCs. Yet, some commercial plasticizers and their derivatives, such as DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) and MEHP (mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), were detrimental at 10-5 to 10-4 M. Among new compounds, some of maleate- and fumarate-derivatives showed toxic effects. In contrast, no detrimental effects were detected with two new compounds, BDDB (1,4 butanediol dibenzoate) and DOS (dioctyl succinate). Furthermore, SSCs that were exposed to BDDB and DOS in vitro successfully established spermatogenic colonies in testes of recipient mice after transplantation. These results demonstrate that SSC culture acts as an effective platform for toxicological tests on SSC function and provide novel information that two new compounds, BDDB and DOS, are alternative plasticizers that do not have significant negative impacts on SSC integrity.
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Effects of chemotherapeutic agents on male germ cells and possible ameliorating impact of antioxidants. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:112040. [PMID: 34416630 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of cancer in young adults is associated with several side effects, particularly in the reproductive system. Detrimental effects of chemotherapy on the germ cells depend on many factors including primary semen parameters, the way of drug administration, the kind and dose of chemotherapeutic regimens, and the phase of spermatogenesis during the time of drug administration. Lack of appropriate fertility preservation treatments particularly in the affected children necessitates the introduction of methods to amend the harmful effects of chemotherapeutic agents on male germ cells. Several studies have assessed the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents in rodent models and tested a number of antioxidants to evaluate their possible impact on the preservation of sperm cells. In the present manuscript, we describe the effects of the mostly investigated chemotherapeutic drugs in this regard i.e., cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and cyclophosphamide. As several in vivo and in vitro studies have shown the impact of antioxidants on chemotherapy-induced damage of sperms, we also describe the protective effects of antioxidants in this regard.
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Okada FK, Stumpp T, Miraglia SM. Carnitine Diminishes Etoposide Toxic Action on Spermatogonial Self-renewal and Sperm Production in Adult Rats Treated in the Prepubertal Phase. J Histochem Cytochem 2020; 68:327-342. [PMID: 32228279 DOI: 10.1369/0022155420916274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate carnitine action against negative effects of etoposide on stem/progenitor spermatogonia and on sperm production. Carnitine (250 mg/kg body weight/day) and etoposide (5 mg/kg body weight/day) were administered from 25-days postpartum to 32-days postpartum. Testes were collected at 32-days postpartum, 64-days postpartum, and 127-days postpartum, and submitted to the immuno-labeling of UTF1, SOX2, and PLZF proteins to identify undifferentiated spermatogonia populations. At 127-days postpartum, sperm were collected for analysis. Carnitine+etoposide group showed a higher numerical density of spermatogonia labeled for all studied proteins at 64-days postpartum (critical age) compared to the etoposide group. Moreover, there was an improvement of spermatic parameters and sperm DNA integrity in rats of the carnitine+etoposide group in comparison with rats of the etoposide group. The results suggest that carnitine improves the self-renewal of undifferentiated spermatogonia and promotes a partial protection on them, alleviating the etoposide harmful late effects and leading to an enhancement of the sperm parameters in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Kazue Okada
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taiza Stumpp
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra Maria Miraglia
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Allen CM, Lopes F, Mitchell RT, Spears N. Comparative gonadotoxicity of the chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and carboplatin on prepubertal mouse gonads. Mol Hum Reprod 2020; 26:129-140. [PMID: 31953538 PMCID: PMC7103569 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of childhood cancer with chemotherapy drugs can result in infertility in adulthood. Newer generations of drugs are developed to replace parent drugs, with the potential benefits of less toxic side effects. For platinum alkylating-like drugs, in contrast to the parent compound cisplatin, the newer-generation drug carboplatin is reported to have reduced toxicity in some respects, despite being administered at 5-15 times higher than the cisplatin dose. Whether carboplatin is also less toxic than cisplatin to the reproductive system is unknown. Here we compare the gonadotoxic impact of cisplatin and carboplatin on female and male mouse prepubertal gonads. In vitro cultured CD1 mouse ovaries or testis fragments were exposed to either cisplatin or carboplatin for 24 h on Day 2 of culture and analysed by Day 6. A dose response for each drug was determined for the ovary (0.5, 1 & 5 μg/ml cisplatin and 1, 5 & 10 μg/ml carboplatin) and the testis (0.01, 0.05 & 0.1 μg/ml cisplatin and 0.1, 0.5 & 1 μg/ml carboplatin). For the ovary, unhealthy follicles were evident from 1 μg/ml cisplatin (73% unhealthy, P = 0.001) and 5 μg/ml carboplatin (84% unhealthy, P = 0.001), with a concomitant reduction in follicle number (P = 0.001). For the testis, the proliferating germ cell population was significantly reduced from 0.05 μg/ml cisplatin (73% reduction, P = 0.001) and 0.5 μg/ml carboplatin (75% reduction, P = 0.001), with no significant impact on the Sertoli cell population. Overall, results from this in vitro animal model study indicate that, at patient equivalent concentrations, carboplatin is no less gonadotoxic than cisplatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Allen
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Federica Lopes
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Current Address: MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Norah Spears
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
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Beaud H, Tremblay AR, Chan PTK, Delbes G. Sperm DNA Damage in Cancer Patients. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1166:189-203. [PMID: 31301053 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21664-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fertility is a growing healthcare issue for a rising number of cancer survivors. In men, cancer itself and its treatment can negatively affect spermatogenesis by targeting the dividing spermatogonia and their cellular environment, ultimately leading to a reduction of testicular germ cells and sperm count. Experimental data and prospective longitudinal studies have shown that sperm production can recover after cancer treatment. But despite this, yet unpredictable, recovery in sperm production, cancer survivors are more at risk to produce sperm with aneuploidy, DNA damage, abnormal chromatin structure, and epigenetic defects even 2 years post-treatment. Sperm DNA alteration is of clinical concern, as these patients may father children or seek assisted reproduction technologies (ART) using gametes with damaged genome that could result in adverse progeny outcomes. Interestingly, large cohort studies revealed lower birth rate but no significant impact on the health of the children born from male cancer survivors (naturally or using ART). Nevertheless, a better understanding of how cocktail of chemotherapy and new anticancer agents affect spermatogenesis and sperm quality is needed to reduce side effects. Moreover, developing new fertility preservation strategies is essential as sperm cryopreservation before treatment is currently the only option but does not apply for prepubertal/young postpubertal patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermance Beaud
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre INRS - Institut Armand-Frappier, QC, Canada
| | - Amelie R Tremblay
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre INRS - Institut Armand-Frappier, QC, Canada
| | - Peter T K Chan
- Division of Urology, McGill University Health Center, QC, Canada
| | - Geraldine Delbes
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre INRS - Institut Armand-Frappier, QC, Canada.
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Allen CM, Lopes F, Mitchell RT, Spears N. How does chemotherapy treatment damage the prepubertal testis? Reproduction 2018; 156:R209-R233. [PMID: 30394705 PMCID: PMC6347281 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy treatment is a mainstay of anticancer regimens, significantly contributing to the recent increase in childhood cancer survival rates. Conventional cancer therapy targets not only malignant but also healthy cells resulting in side effects including infertility. For prepubertal boys, there are currently no fertility preservation strategies in use, although several potential methods are under investigation. Most of the current knowledge in relation to prepubertal gonadotoxicity has been deduced from adult studies; however, the prepubertal testis is relatively quiescent in comparison to the adult. This review provides an overview of research to date in humans and animals describing chemotherapy-induced prepubertal gonadotoxicity, focusing on direct gonadal damage. Testicular damage is dependent upon the agent, dosage, administration schedule and age/pubertal status at time of treatment. The chemotherapy agents investigated so far target the germ cell population activating apoptotic pathways and may also impair Sertoli cell function. Due to use of combined chemotherapy agents for patients, the impact of individual drugs is hard to define, however, use of in vivo and in vitro animal models can overcome this problem. Furthering our understanding of how chemotherapy agents target the prepubertal testis will provide clarity to patients on the gonadotoxicity of different drugs and aid in the development of cytoprotective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federica Lopes
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Norah Spears
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Karmakar PC, Cho YJ, Kim YH, Jung SE, Jin JH, Kim BJ, Kwon WS, Kim YH, Pang MG, Ryu BY. Chemotherapeutic Drugs Alter Functional Properties and Proteome of Mouse Testicular Germ Cells In Vitro. Toxicol Sci 2018; 164:465-476. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Polash Chandra Karmakar
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Jin Cho
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hee Kim
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Eun Jung
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hee Jin
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Bang-Jin Kim
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Woo-Sung Kwon
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hyun Kim
- National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Geol Pang
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Buom-Yong Ryu
- Department of Animal Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do 456-756, Republic of Korea
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In vitro study of doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in spermatogonia and immature Sertoli cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018; 348:32-42. [PMID: 29660436 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric chemotherapy treatments can impair long-term male fertility. Unfortunately, no fertility preservation solution is available for pre-pubertal boys. Studies suggest that doxorubicin, used against pediatric cancers, induces oxidative stress in the testis. However, the targeted testicular cell types remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine whether doxorubicin can induce oxidative stress in rat spermatogonia (GC-6Spg) and immature Sertoli (Ser-W3) cell lines, and to assess their protection by antioxidants. Using the MTT assay, we have shown that doxorubicin induces a time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in these two cell lines, Ser-W3 being more sensitive than GC-6Spg. After 3 h of treatment, reactive oxygen species and nuclear 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine increase in Ser-W3, but not in GC-6Spg. Moreover, after 6 h of treatment, intracellular reduced glutathione levels decrease significantly in Ser-W3 cells. These results show that doxorubicin induces oxidative stress in the Ser-W3 cell line. However, a depletion in glutathione does not affect their survival, and supplementation only offers a weak protection after exposure to doxorubicin, suggesting that the glutathione system is not essential for Ser-W3 cell line's defense against doxorubicin. On the other hand, among four antioxidants selected from the literature, none reduces the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in Ser-W3 cells. Together, our data suggest that oxidative stress may not be a major pathway for doxorubicin's cytotoxicity in GC-6Spg and Ser-W3 lines. This study provides new insights in the mechanisms by which chemotherapies affect the pre-pubertal testis, with the long-term goal to help improve the quality of life of pediatric cancer survivors.
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Alves-Lopes JP, Stukenborg JB. Testicular organoids: a new model to study the testicular microenvironment in vitro? Hum Reprod Update 2017; 24:176-191. [PMID: 29281008 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmx036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent decades, a broad range of strategies have been applied to model the testicular microenvironment in vitro. These models have been utilized to study testicular physiology and development. However, a system that allows investigations into testicular organogenesis and its impact in the spermatogonial stem-cell (SSC) niche in vitro has not been developed yet. Recently, the creation of tissue-specific organ-like structures called organoids has resurged, helping researchers to answer scientific questions that previous in vitro models could not help to elucidate. So far, a small number of publications have concerned the generation of testicular organoids and their application in the field of reproductive medicine and biology. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Here, we aim to elucidate whether testicular organoids might be useful in answering current scientific questions about the regulation and function of the SSC niche as well as germ cell proliferation and differentiation, and whether or not the existing in vitro models are already sufficient to address them. Moreover, we would like to discuss how an organoid system can be a better solution to address these prominent scientific problems in our field, by the creation of a rationale parallel to those in other areas where organoid systems have been successfully utilized. SEARCH METHODS We comprehensively reviewed publications regarding testicular organoids and the methods that most closely led to the formation of these organ-like structures in vitro by searching for the following terms in both PubMed and the Web of Science database: testicular organoid, seminiferous tubule 3D culture, Sertoli cell 3D culture, testicular cord formation in vitro, testicular morphogenesis in vitro, germ cell 3D culture, in vitro spermatogenesis, testicular de novo morphogenesis, seminiferous tubule de novo morphogenesis, seminiferous tubule-like structures, testicular in vitro model and male germ cell niche in vitro, with no restrictions to any publishing year. The inclusion criteria were based on the relation with the main topic (i.e. testicular organoids, testicular- and seminiferous-like structures as in vitro models), methodology applied (i.e. in vitro culture, culture dimensions (2D, 3D), testicular cell suspension or fragments) and outcome of interest (i.e. organization in vitro). Publications about grafting of testicular tissue, germ-cell transplantation and female germ-cell culture were excluded. OUTCOMES The application of organoid systems is making its first steps in the field of reproductive medicine and biology. A restricted number of publications have reported and characterized testicular organoids and even fewer have denominated such structures by this method. However, we detected that a clear improvement in testicular cell reorganization is recognized when 3D culture conditions are utilized instead of 2D conditions. Depending on the scientific question, testicular organoids might offer a more appropriate in vitro model to investigate testicular development and physiology because of the easy manipulation of cell suspensions (inclusion or exclusion of a specific cell population), the fast reorganization of these structures and the controlled in vitro conditions, to the same extent as with other organoid strategies reported in other fields. WIDER IMPLICATIONS By way of appropriate research questions, we might use testicular organoids to deepen our basic understanding of testicular development and the SSC niche, leading to new methodologies for male infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Alves-Lopes
- 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
| | - Jan-Bernd 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
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Tremblay A, Beaud H, Delbès G. [Transgenerational impact of chemotherapy: Would the father exposure impact the health of future progeny?]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 45:609-618. [PMID: 29111290 DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The number of cancer survivors is increasing and their quality of life is becoming a major public health issue. Cancer treatments reduce men's reproductive health by targeting spermatogenesis. Ultimately, DNA, chromatin and the epigenome of spermatozoa can be altered in cancer survivors. Knowing whether the history of cancer and the treatments received can have consequences on the health of their offspring is therefore a fundamental question for these patients. This review gathers the experimental and epidemiological evidences of the effects observed on the direct descendants and on several generations, and draws up the state of knowledge on the mechanisms potentially involved. Experimental data describe inter- and transgenerational effects of paternal exposure depending on the type of treatment, dose and time of exposure. In the human population, the analysis of the effects specifically due to chemotherapy is still limited because they are often combined with irradiation treatments. However, it appears that chemotherapy agents affect the birth rate but do not have a significant impact on the health of the children born. Nevertheless, the demonstration of modifications of the sperm epigenome in cancer survivors, even after a period of remission, as well as changes in the sperm of the progeny in animal models, suggests a possible transgenerational transmission that remains to be studied in the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tremblay
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, centre INRS-institut Armand-Frappier, 531, boulevard des Prairies, H7V 1B7 Laval (Québec), Canada
| | - H Beaud
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, centre INRS-institut Armand-Frappier, 531, boulevard des Prairies, H7V 1B7 Laval (Québec), Canada
| | - G Delbès
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique, centre INRS-institut Armand-Frappier, 531, boulevard des Prairies, H7V 1B7 Laval (Québec), Canada.
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Beaud H, van Pelt A, Delbes G. Doxorubicin and vincristine affect undifferentiated rat spermatogonia. Reproduction 2017; 153:725-735. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Anticancer drugs, such as alkylating agents, can affect male fertility by targeting the DNA of proliferative spermatogonial stem cells (SSC). Therefore, to reduce such side effects, other chemotherapeutics are used. However, less is known about their potential genotoxicity on SSC. Moreover, DNA repair mechanisms in SSC are poorly understood. To model treatments deprived of alkylating agents that are commonly used in cancer treatment, we tested the impact of exposure to doxorubicin and vincristine, alone or in combination (MIX), on a rat spermatogonial cell line with SSC characteristics (GC-6spg). Vincristine alone induced a cell cycle arrest and cell death without genotoxic impact. On the other hand, doxorubicin and the MIX induced a dose-dependent cell death. More importantly, doxorubicin and the MIX induced DNA breaks, measured by the COMET assay, at a non-cytotoxic dose. To elucidate which DNA repair pathway is activated in spermatogonia after exposure to doxorubicin, we screened the expression of 75 genes implicated in DNA repair. Interestingly, all were expressed constitutively in GC-6spg, suggesting great potential to respond to genotoxic stress. Doxorubicin treatments affected the expression of 16 genes (>1.5 fold change;P < 0.05) involved in cell cycle, base/nucleotide excision repair, homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). The significant increase in CDKN1A and XRCC1 suggest a cell cycle arrest and implies an alternative NHEJ pathway in response to doxorubicin-induced DNA breaks. Together, our results support the idea that undifferentiated spermatogonia have the ability to respond to DNA injury from chemotherapeutic compounds and escape DNA break accumulation.
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Mahaldashtian M, Naghdi M, Ghorbanian MT, Makoolati Z, Movahedin M, Mohamadi SM. In vitro effects of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen on colonization of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 186:362-368. [PMID: 27084457 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen (DPP) is widely used as a folk remedy for male infertility treatment, and has well known medicinal effects. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to determine the in vitro effects of DPP on the efficiency of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) proliferation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sertoli and SSCs were isolated from 6 to 10-days-old mouse testes, and their identity was confirmed using immunocytochemistry against cytokeratin for sertoli cells and PLZF, Oct-4 and CDH-1 for SSCs. Isolated testicular cells were cultured in the absence or presence of 0.06, 0.25 and 0.62mg/ml concentrations of DPP aqueous extract for 2 weeks. The number and diameter of SSC colonies were assessed during third, 7th, 9th and 14th day of culture, and the expression of the Mvh, GFRα-1 and Oct-4 was evaluated using quantitative PCR at the end of the culture period. The significance of the data was analyzed using ANOVA and paired samples t-test and Tukey and Bonferroni test as post hoc tests at the level of p≤0.05. RESULTS Pattern assay of colony formation showed that SSCs numbers increased in the present of 0.62mg/ml concentration of DPP extract with higher slop relative to other groups (P <0.05). Colony diameters had no significant difference between groups in 3th, 7th, 9th and 14th days after culture. The Mvh and Oct-4 genes expression had no significant difference between groups, while GFRα1 expression was increased significantly in cells treated with 0.06mg/ml concentration relative to other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION It seems that co-culture of SSCs with sertoli sells in the presence of low doses of DPP can increase SSCs proliferation and keep their stemness state, while higher concentrations can differentiate the treated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Mahaldashtian
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Damghan University, Semnan, Iran.
| | - Majid Naghdi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
| | - Mohamad Taghi Ghorbanian
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Damghan University, Semnan, Iran.
| | - Zohreh Makoolati
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.
| | - Mansoureh Movahedin
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Momeneh Mohamadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Shabani R, Ashtari K, Behnam B, Izadyar F, Asgari H, Asghari Jafarabadi M, Ashjari M, Asadi E, Koruji M. In vitro toxicity assay of cisplatin on mouse acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and spermatogonial stem cells. Andrologia 2015; 48:584-94. [PMID: 26428408 DOI: 10.1111/and.12490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in reproductive age, and cisplatin is one of the major helpful chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of this cancer. In addition, exposure of testes cancer cells to cisplatin could potentially eliminate tumour cells from germ cells in patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cisplatin on viability of mouse acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cell line (EL-4) and neonatal mouse spermatogonial cells in vitro. In this study, the isolated spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) and EL-4 were divided into six groups including control (received medium), sham (received DMSO in medium) and experimental groups which received different doses of cisplatin (0.5, 5, 10 and 15 μg ml(-1) ). Cells viability was evaluated with MTT assay. The identity of the cultured cells was confirmed by the expression of specific markers. Our finding showed that viability of both SSC and EL-4 cells was reduced with the dose of 15 μg/ml when compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Also, the differences between the IC50 in doses 10 and 15 μg/ml at different time were significant (P ≤ 0.05). The number of TUNEL-positive cells was increased, and the BAX and caspase-3 expressions were upregulated in EL4 cells for group that received an effective dose of cisplatin). In conclusion, despite the dramatic effects of cisplatin on both cells, spermatogonial stem cells could form colony in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Shabani
- 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
| | - K Ashtari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Nanotechnology and Faculty of Advanced Technology in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - B Behnam
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - F Izadyar
- Primegen Biotech LLC, Santa Ana, CA, USA
| | - H Asgari
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - M Asghari Jafarabadi
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - M Ashjari
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
| | - E Asadi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - M 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
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15
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O'Flaherty C. Iatrogenic genetic damage of spermatozoa. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 791:117-35. [PMID: 23955676 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-7783-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Various factors that negatively influence male fertility can affect sperm morphology and physiology. Many studies on humans and animals suggest that both radiation and chemotherapy alter the sperm chromatin, inducing significant damage to sperm DNA, and decrease the level of protamination, thereby altering DNA compaction. Spermatozoa from cancer survivors are affected by chemotherapy even years after the end of treatment. We are exposed to various toxicants present in the environment (e.g., products of air pollution, pesticides, and plasticizers) whose impact on human male reproduction has not yet been established.This chapter aims to update our knowledge on how the sperm chromatin structure is modified by external agents and to describe the different strategies available to better study this complex structure in infertile men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian O'Flaherty
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, McGill University and the Research Institute- McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, room H6.46, 687 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1A1, Canada,
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16
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Kilarkaje N, Mousa AM, Al-Bader MM, Khan KM. Antioxidants enhance the recovery of three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin–induced testicular dysfunction, pituitary-testicular axis, and fertility in rats. Fertil Steril 2013; 100:1151-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Revised: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Kucuksayan E, Cort A, Timur M, Ozdemir E, Yucel SG, Ozben T. N-acetyl-L-cysteine inhibits bleomycin induced apoptosis in malignant testicular germ cell tumors. J Cell Biochem 2013; 114:1685-94. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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18
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GABA exists as a negative regulator of cell proliferation in spermatogonial stem cells. [corrected]. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2013; 18:149-62. [PMID: 23430456 PMCID: PMC6275874 DOI: 10.2478/s11658-013-0081-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. GABA is also found in many peripheral tissues, where it has important functions during development. Here, we identified the existence of the GABA system in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and found that GABA negatively regulates SSC proliferation. First, we demonstrated that GABA and its synthesizing enzymes were abundant in the testes 6 days postpartum (dpp), suggesting that GABA signaling regulates SSCs function in vivo. In order to directly examine the effect of GABA on SSC proliferation, we then established an in vitro culture system for long-term expansion of SSCs. We showed that GABAA receptor subunits, including α1, α5, β1, β2, β3 and γ3, the synthesizing enzyme GAD67, and the transporter GAT-1, are expressed in SSCs. Using phosphorylated histone H3 (pH3) staining, we demonstrated that GABA or the GABAAR-specific agonist muscimol reduced the proliferation of SSCs. This GABA regulation of SSC proliferation was shown to be independent of apoptosis using the TUNEL assay. These results suggest that GABA acts as a negative regulator of SSC proliferation to maintain the homeostasis of spermatogenesis in the testes.
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19
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Heim CN, Fanslow DA, Dann CT. Development of quantitative microscopy-based assays for evaluating dynamics of living cultures of mouse spermatogonial stem/progenitor cells. Biol Reprod 2012; 87:90. [PMID: 22933516 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.101717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and differentiation are required for continuous production of spermatozoa and long-term fertility. Studying SSCs in vivo remains challenging because SSCs are rare cells and definitive molecular markers for their identification are lacking. The development of a method for propagating SSCs in vitro greatly facilitated analysis of SSCs. The cultured cells grow as clusters of a dynamic mixture of "true" stem cells and differentiating progenitor cells. Cells in the stem/progenitor culture system share many properties with spermatogonia in vivo; however, to fully exploit it as a model for spermatogonial development, new assays are needed that account for the dynamic heterogeneity inherent in the culture system. Here, assays were developed for quantifying dynamics of cultures of stem/progenitor cells that expressed histone-green fluorescent protein (GFP). First, we built on published results showing that cluster formation in vitro reliably predicts the relative number of SSCs. The GFP-based in vitro cluster assay allows quantification of SSCs with significantly fewer resources than a transplantation assay. Second, we compared the dynamics of differentiation in two experimental paradigms by imaging over a 17-day time frame. Finally, we performed short-term live imaging and observed cell migration, coordinated cell proliferation, and cell death resembling that of spermatogonia in the testes. The methods that we present provide a foundation for the use of fluorescent reporters in future microscopy-based high-throughput screens by using living spermatogonial stem/progenitor cultures applicable to toxicology, contraceptive discovery, and identification of regulators of self-renewal and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal N Heim
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
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20
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Yeh JR, Zhang X, Nagano MC. Indirect effects of Wnt3a/β-catenin signalling support mouse spermatogonial stem cells in vitro. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40002. [PMID: 22761943 PMCID: PMC3386240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper regulation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) is crucial for sustaining steady-state spermatogenesis. Previous work has identified several paracrine factors involved in this regulation, in particular, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and fibroblast growth factor 2, which promote long-term SSC self-renewal. Using a SSC culture system, we have recently reported that Wnt5a promotes SSC self-renewal through a β-catenin-independent Wnt mechanism whereas the β-catenin-dependent Wnt pathway is not active in SSCs. In contrast, another study has reported that Wnt3a promotes SSC self-renewal through the β-catenin-dependent pathway, as it can stimulate the proliferation of a spermatogonia cell line. To reconcile these two contradictory reports, we assessed Wnt3a effects on SSCs and progenitor cells, rather than a cell line, in vitro. We observed that Wnt3a induced β-catenin-dependent signalling in a large subset of germ cells and increased SSC numbers. However, further investigation revealed that cell populations with greater β-catenin-signalling activity contained fewer SSCs. The increased maintenance of SSCs by Wnt3a coincided with more active cell cycling and the formation of germ cell aggregates, or communities, under feeder-free conditions. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that Wnt3a selectively stimulates proliferation of progenitors that are committed to differentiation or are in the process of exiting the SSC state, leading to enhanced formation of germ cell communities, which indirectly support SSCs and act as an in vitro niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. Yeh
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xiangfan Zhang
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Makoto C. Nagano
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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21
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Heim C, Minniear K, Dann CT. Imatinib has deleterious effects on differentiating spermatogonia while sparing spermatogonial stem cell self renewal. Reprod Toxicol 2011; 31:454-63. [PMID: 21295132 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2010.12.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2010] [Revised: 12/13/2010] [Accepted: 12/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Imatinib mesylate is among a growing number of effective cancer drugs that provide molecularly targeted therapy; however, imatinib causes reproductive defects in rodents. The availability of an in vitro system for screening the effect of drugs on spermatogenesis would be beneficial. The imatinib targets, KIT and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB), were shown here to be expressed in "germline stem" (GS) cell cultures that contain spermatogonia, including spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). GS cell cultures were utilized to determine whether imatinib affects SSC self renewal or differentiation. GS cells grown in imatinib retained self renewal based on multiple assays, including transplantation. However, growth in imatinib led to decreased numbers of differentiated spermatogonia and reduced culture growth consistent with the known requirement for KIT in survival and proliferation of spermatogonia. These results build upon the in vivo studies and support the possibility of utilizing GS cell cultures for preclinical drug tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Heim
- Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA
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