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Nezzi L, Davico CE, Schramm H, de Melo MS, Nazari EM. Assessing testicular morphofunctionality under Roundup WG® herbicide exposure in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:36958-36970. [PMID: 38758439 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33626-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Glyphosate-based herbicides, like Roundup WG® (RWG) used for a range of crops, such as corn, soybean, coffee, sugarcane, rice, apple, and citrus, can reach aquatic ecosystems and impact non-target organisms like fish. Thus, the fish were exposed to three RWG concentrations plus one negative control, which represents the concentration allowed for inland Brazilian waters and concentrations found in surface water worldwide (0.0, 0.065, 0.65, and 6.5 mg a.i./L) for 7 and 15 days. Morphological analysis revealed significant alterations in the testicular structure, particularly in Sertoli cell extensions and cytoplasmic bridges between germ cells. Subcellular compartments also displayed alterations, including dilated mitochondria and the loss of electron density and autophagic vesicles. Gene transcript levels related to autophagy and steroidogenic regulation were upregulated in exposed fish. Germ cell quality was also affected, increasing ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and DNA fragmentation. The study highlighted the RWG reproductive toxicity, providing valuable insights into understanding the morphofunctional alterations in somatic and germ cells of Danio rerio. In conclusion, the environmental relevant concentrations used in this study were toxic to male somatic and germ cells, which raises a concern about the concentrations considered safe for human and animal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciane Nezzi
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Carla Eliana Davico
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Schramm
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Madson Silveira de Melo
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Evelise Maria Nazari
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil.
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Li B, Zhao X, Jin T, Wu Z, Yang H. Efficient isolation and purification of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids from mice, piglets, and adult boars using an optimized STA-PUT method. Theriogenology 2024; 213:97-108. [PMID: 37820498 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.09.023] [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: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a delicate and complex biological process in which spermatogonial stem cells continue to proliferate and differentiate into mature spermatozoa, maintaining sperm production in male mammals throughout the lifetime. To study the molecular mechanism of spermatogenesis, researchers had to isolate different germ cell subpopulations for in vitro culture and characterization. However, due to the existence of several stages of germ cells and a variety of populations of somatic cells in the testis of male mammals, it is a challenge for us to obtain high-purity germ cell subpopulations for further research. Here, we optimized the STA-PUT device and successfully applied it to isolate and purify spermatogonia populations in piglets, and multiple germ cell populations at different developmental stages in testes of adult mice and boars. This work provides a simple platform for germ cell fractionation to facilitate the molecular mechanistic study of animal spermatogenesis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Taili Jin
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Huaqiang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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Targeting APLN/APJ restores blood-testis barrier and improves spermatogenesis in murine and human diabetic models. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7335. [PMID: 36443325 PMCID: PMC9705293 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34990-3] [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: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases presenting with systemic pathologies, including reproductive disorders in male diabetic patients. However, the molecular mechanisms that contributing to spermatogenesis dysfunction in diabetic patients have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we perform STRT-seq to examine the transcriptome of diabetic patients' testes at single-cell resolution including all major cell types of the testis. Intriguingly, whereas spermatogenesis appears largely preserved, the gene expression profiles of Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier (BTB) structure are dramatically impaired. Among these deregulate pathways, the Apelin (APLN) peptide/Apelin-receptor (APJ) axis is hyper-activated in diabetic patients' testes. Mechanistically, APLN is produced locally by Sertoli cells upon high glucose treatment, which subsequently suppress the production of carnitine and repress the expression of cell adhesion genes in Sertoli cells. Together, these effects culminate in BTB structural dysfunction. Finally, using the small molecule APLN receptor antagonist, ML221, we show that blocking APLN/APJ significantly ameliorate the BTB damage and, importantly, improve functional spermatogenesis in diabetic db/db mice. We also translate and validate these findings in cultured human testes. Our findings identify the APLN/APJ axis as a promising therapeutic target to improve reproduction capacity in male diabetic patients.
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Yuan H, Sun J, Wang S, Xiang Z, Yang F, Yan Y, Duan Y, Li L, Wu X, Si W. Primary culture of germ cells that portray stem cell characteristics and recipient preparation for autologous transplantation in the rhesus monkey. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:1567-1578. [PMID: 35104031 PMCID: PMC8899175 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertility preservation for prepubertal cancer patients prior to oncologic treatment is an emerging issue, and non‐human primates are considered to constitute suitable models due to the limited availability of human testicular tissues. However, the feasibility of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) propagation in vitro and autologous testicular germ cell transplantation in vivo requires further exploration in monkeys. Herein, we characterized germ cells in macaque testes at 6 months (M), 18 M and 60 M of age, and effectively isolated the spermatogenic cells (including the spermatogonia) from macaque testes with high purity (over 80%) using combined approaches of STA‐PUT separation, Percoll gradients and differential plating. We also generated recipient monkey testes with ablated endogenous spermatogenesis using the alkylating agent busulfan in six macaques, and successfully mimicked autologous cell transplantation in the testes under ultrasonographic guidance. The use of trypan blue led to successful intratubular injection in 4 of 4 testes. Although SSCs in culture showed no significant propagation, we were able to maintain monkey testicular germ cells with stem cell characteristics for up to 3 weeks. Collectively, these data provided meaningful information for future fertility preservation and SSC studies on both non‐human primates and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqin Yuan
- Cancer Center of Nanjing GaoChun People's Hospital, Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiachen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengnan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ziyi Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yaping Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yanchao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lufan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Si
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Wang M, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Chang G, An G, Yang X, Zheng C, Zhao J, Liu Z, Wang D, Miao K, Rao S, Dai M, Wang D, Zhao XY. Deciphering the autophagy regulatory network via single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals a requirement for autophagy homeostasis in spermatogenesis. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5010-5027. [PMID: 33754041 PMCID: PMC7978313 DOI: 10.7150/thno.55645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Autophagy has been implicated as a crucial component in spermatogenesis, and autophagy dysfunction can lead to reproductive disorders in animal models, including yeast, C. elegans and mice. However, the sophisticated transcriptional networks of autophagic genes throughout human spermatogenesis and their biological significance remain largely uncharacterized. Methods: We profiled the transcriptional signatures of autophagy-related genes during human spermatogenesis by assessing specimens from nine fertile controls (including two normal persons and seven obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients) and one nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) patient using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Dysregulation of autophagy was confirmed in two additional NOA patients by immunofluorescence staining. Gene knockdown was used to identify the role of Cst3 in autophagy during spermatogenesis. Results: Our data uncovered a unique, global stage-specific enrichment of autophagy-related genes. Human-mouse comparison analysis revealed that the stage-specific expression pattern of autophagy-related genes was highly conserved in mammals. More importantly, dysregulation of some clusters of autophagy-related genes was observed in NOA patients, suggesting the association of autophagy with male infertility. Cst3, a human-mouse conserved and autophagy-related gene that is actively expressed in spermatogonia and early spermatocytes, was found to regulate spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) maintenance and subsequent male germ cell development. Knockdown of Cst3 increased autophagic activity in mouse SSCs and subsequently suppressed the transcription of SSC core factors such as Oct4, Id1, and Nanos3, which could be efficiently rescued by manipulating autophagic activity. Conclusions: Our study provides comprehensive insights into the global transcriptional signatures of autophagy-related genes and confirms the importance of autophagy homeostasis in SSC maintenance and normal spermatogenesis, opening new avenues for further dissecting the significance of the autophagy regulatory network in spermatogenesis as well as male infertility.
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Xiao B, Li X, Feng XY, Gong S, Li ZB, Zhang J, Yuan HJ, Tan JH. Restraint stress of male mice induces apoptosis in spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells: role of the FasL/Fas system†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:235-247. [PMID: 31066896 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which psychological stress impairs semen quality are largely unknown. By using a restraint-stressed mouse model, we studied the role of the FasL/Fas system in psychological stress-induced apoptosis of spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells. Male mice were restrained for 48 h before examination for sperm fertilizing potential and for apoptosis and FasL/Fas expression in spermatozoa, spermatogenetic cells/seminiferous tubules, and caudae epididymides. The results showed that the male restraint reduced motility, fertilization rates, and mitochondrial membrane potential while increasing apoptosis and Fas expression in spermatozoa. Restraint also facilitated apoptosis and FasL/Fas expression in spermatogenic cells/seminiferous tubules and caudae epididymides. The restraint-induced apoptosis in spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells was significantly ameliorated in gld mice that harbor a loss-of-function mutation in FasL. However, incubation with FasL did not affect sperm motility and apoptosis, while incubation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α did. The epididymis of the gld mice produced significantly less TNF-α and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) than that of wild-type mice did after male restraint. Thus, the results confirmed that the FasL/Fas system played an important role in the psychological stress-induced apoptosis of spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells and that FasL triggered sperm apoptosis in epididymis dependently through promoting TNF-α and TRAIL secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xiao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Xiu-Yun Feng
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Gong
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Bin Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Hong-Jie Yuan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
| | - Jing-He Tan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an City, P. R. China
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Lee AS, Rusch J, Lima AC, Usmani A, Huang N, Lepamets M, Vigh-Conrad KA, Worthington RE, Mägi R, Wu X, Aston KI, Atkinson JP, Carrell DT, Hess RA, O'Bryan MK, Conrad DF. Rare mutations in the complement regulatory gene CSMD1 are associated with male and female infertility. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4626. [PMID: 31604923 PMCID: PMC6789153 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12522-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility in men and women is a complex genetic trait with shared biological bases between the sexes. Here, we perform a series of rare variant analyses across 73,185 women and men to identify genes that contribute to primary gonadal dysfunction. We report CSMD1, a complement regulatory protein on chromosome 8p23, as a strong candidate locus in both sexes. We show that CSMD1 is enriched at the germ-cell/somatic-cell interface in both male and female gonads. Csmd1-knockout males show increased rates of infertility with significantly increased complement C3 protein deposition in the testes, accompanied by severe histological degeneration. Knockout females show significant reduction in ovarian quality and breeding success, as well as mammary branching impairment. Double knockout of Csmd1 and C3 causes non-additive reduction in breeding success, suggesting that CSMD1 and the complement pathway play an important role in the normal postnatal development of the gonads in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur S Lee
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jannette Rusch
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ana C Lima
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Abul Usmani
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ni Huang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Maarja Lepamets
- Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, 51010, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Katinka A Vigh-Conrad
- Oregon National Primate Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Ronald E Worthington
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, USA
| | - Reedik Mägi
- Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, 51010, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Xiaobo Wu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Kenneth I Aston
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - John P Atkinson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Douglas T Carrell
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Rex A Hess
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- The School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Donald F Conrad
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Oregon National Primate Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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Lima AC, Jung M, Rusch J, Usmani A, Lopes AM, Conrad DF. A Standardized Approach for Multispecies Purification of Mammalian Male Germ Cells by Mechanical Tissue Dissociation and Flow Cytometry. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28745623 DOI: 10.3791/55913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) has been one of the methods of choice to isolate enriched populations of mammalian testicular germ cells. Currently, it allows the discrimination of up to 9 murine germ cell populations with high yield and purity. This high-resolution in discrimination and purification is possible due to unique changes in chromatin structure and quantity throughout spermatogenesis. These patterns can be captured by flow cytometry of male germ cells stained with fluorescent DNA-binding dyes such as Hoechst-33342 (Hoechst). Herein is a detailed description of a recently developed protocol to isolate mammalian testicular germ cells. Briefly, single cell suspensions are generated from testicular tissue by mechanical dissociation, double stained with Hoechst and propidium iodide (PI) and processed by flow cytometry. A serial gating strategy, including the selection of live cells (PI negative) with different DNA content (Hoechst intensity), is used during FACS sorting to discriminate up to 5 germ cell types. These include, with corresponding average purities (determined by microscopy evaluation): spermatogonia (66%), primary (71%) and secondary (85%) spermatocytes, and spermatids (90%), further separated into round (93%) and elongating (87%) subpopulations. Execution of the entire workflow is straightforward, allows the isolation of 4 cell types simultaneously with the appropriate FACS machine, and can be performed in less than 2 h. As reduced processing time is crucial to preserve the physiology of ex vivo cells, this method is ideal for downstream high-throughput studies of male germ cell biology. Moreover, a standardized protocol for multispecies purification of mammalian germ cells eliminates methodological sources of variables and allows a single set of reagents to be used for different animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Lima
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine; Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology (GABBA), Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto; IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto
| | - Min Jung
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Jannette Rusch
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Abul Usmani
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Alexandra M Lopes
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto; IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto
| | - Donald F Conrad
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine;
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