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Norris AC, Yazlovitskaya EM, Yang TS, Mansueto A, Stafford JM, Graham TR. ATP10A deficiency results in male-specific infertility in mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1310593. [PMID: 38415274 PMCID: PMC10896839 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1310593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Over 8% of couples worldwide are affected by infertility and nearly half of these cases are due to male-specific issues where the underlying cause is often unknown. Therefore, discovery of new genetic factors contributing to male-specific infertility in model organisms can enhance our understanding of the etiology of this disorder. Here we show that murine ATP10A, a phospholipid flippase, is highly expressed in male reproductive organs, specifically the testes and vas deferens. Therefore, we tested the influence of ATP10A on reproduction by examining fertility of Atp10A knockout mice. Our findings reveal that Atp10A deficiency leads to male-specific infertility, but does not perturb fertility in the females. The Atp10A deficient male mice exhibit smaller testes, reduced sperm count (oligozoospermia) and lower sperm motility (asthenozoospermia). Additionally, Atp10A deficient mice display testes and vas deferens histopathological abnormalities, as well as altered total and relative amounts of hormones associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Surprisingly, circulating testosterone is elevated 2-fold in the Atp10A knockout mice while luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and inhibin B levels were not significantly different from WT littermates. The knockout mice also exhibit elevated levels of gonadotropin receptors and alterations to ERK, p38 MAPK, Akt, and cPLA2-dependent signaling in the testes. Atp10A was knocked out in the C57BL/6J background, which also carries an inactivating nonsense mutation in the closely related lipid flippase, Atp10D. We have corrected the Atp10D nonsense mutation using CRISPR/Cas9 and determined that loss of Atp10A alone is sufficient to cause infertility in male mice. Collectively, these findings highlight the critical role of ATP10A in male fertility in mice and provide valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana C. Norris
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | | | - Tzushan Sharon Yang
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Alex Mansueto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - John M. Stafford
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Todd R. Graham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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Gautier C, Aurich C. "Fine feathers make fine birds" - The mammalian sperm plasma membrane lipid composition and effects on assisted reproduction. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106884. [PMID: 34776291 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The sperm plasma membrane is important in modulating many sperm functions. The sperm membrane is composed of a complex mixture of lipids including phospholipids, glycolipids and sterols. There are differences of sperm membrane composition among mammalian species with two groups differing in the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), either docosahexaenoic (ω-3 PUFA) or docosapentaenoic acid (ω-6 PUFA). During testicular and epididymal maturation, composition of the sperm plasma membrane evolves with spermatozoa gaining the capacity for fertilization. The importance of fatty acid metabolism for complete spermatogenesis has been elucidated using gene knockout mice. During epididymal transit cholesterol content decreases and PUFA content increases, conferring more fluidity properties to the sperm membrane. The relatively lesser content of antioxidant enzymes and the relatively larger content of PUFA make the spermatozoa particularly susceptible to lipid peroxidation during sperm preservation. In numerous studies, there was adding of PUFA and antioxidants to the diet of animals or to semen extenders with the aim to improve sperm membrane integrity. This review highlights the current knowledge on the sperm membrane composition and effects on sperm function in mammalian domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Gautier
- Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Aurich
- Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
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Changes of phosphatidylcholine and fatty acids in germ cells during testicular maturation in three developmental male morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii revealed by imaging mass spectrometry. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120412. [PMID: 25781176 PMCID: PMC4363669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Testis maturation, germ cell development and function of sperm, are related to lipid composition. Phosphatidylcholines (PCs) play a key role in the structure and function of testes. As well, increases of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), especially arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for male fertility. This study is the first report to show the composition and distribution of PCs and total fatty acids (FAs) in three groups of seminiferous tubules (STs) classified by cellular associations [i.e., A (STs with mostly early germ cells), B (STs with mostly spermatids), and C (STs with spermatozoa)], in three morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, [i.e., small male (SM), orange claw male (OC), and blue claw male (BC)]. Thin layer chromatography exhibited levels of PCs reaching maxima in STs of group B. Imaging mass spectrometry showed remarkably high signals corresponding to PC (16:0/18:1), PC (18:0/18:2), PC (18:2/20:5), and PC (16:0/22:6) in STs of groups A and B. Moreover, most signals were detected in the early developing cells and the intertubular area, but not at the area containing spermatozoa. Finally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that the major FAs present in the testes were composed of 14:0, 16:0, 17:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 20:1, 20:2, 20:4, 20:5, and 22:6. The testes of OC contained the greatest amounts of these FAs while the testes of BC contained the least amounts of these FAs, and there was more EPA (20:5) in the testes of SM and OC than those in the BC. The increasing amounts of FAs in the SM and OC indicate that they are important for spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. This knowledge will be useful in formulating diets containing PUFA and HUFA for prawn broodstocks in order to improve testis development, and lead to increased male fecundity.
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Koeberle A, Shindou H, Harayama T, Yuki K, Shimizu T. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are incorporated into maturating male mouse germ cells by lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 3. FASEB J 2011; 26:169-80. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-184879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Koeberle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Hideo Shindou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Takeshi Harayama
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Koichi Yuki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Takao Shimizu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
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Koeberle A, Shindou H, Harayama T, Shimizu T. Role of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 3 for the supply of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids in TM4 Sertoli cells. FASEB J 2010; 24:4929-38. [PMID: 20705908 DOI: 10.1096/fj.10-162818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Sertoli cells supply germ cells with nutrients, including highly polyunsaturated fatty acids (hPUFAs), which are essential for testicular function. We have previously reported high expression of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT)3 in mature mouse testis and suggested an arachidonoyl-transferase activity to LPA. To investigate the role of LPAAT3 in the storage and release of PUFAs, TM4 Sertoli cells were stably transfected with LPAAT3-small hairpin (sh)RNA. Arachidonoyl-, eicosapentaenoyl-, and docosapentaenoyl-containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) and linoleoyl-containing phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylglycerol were significantly decreased as determined by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Expression of murine LPAAT3 in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells had essentially an opposite effect. The level of polyunsaturated PC correlated with cellular levels of free docosapentaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in TM4 and CHO-K1 cells, respectively. Activity assays using microsomal preparations as a source of LPAAT3 revealed an excessive PA synthesis from LPA acceptors for docosahexaenoyl-, arachidonoyl- and less pronounced for linoleoyl-CoA. We propose that the efficient incorporation of hPUFAs into PA-the precursor of several phospholipids, including PC-and the selective increase of the polyunsaturated PC pool in TM4 Sertoli cells might be required for the controlled release of hPUFAs and their supply to germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Koeberle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Koeberle A, Shindou H, Harayama T, Shimizu T. Role of lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase 3 for the supply of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids in TM4 Sertoli cells. FASEB J 2010. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.10.162818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Koeberle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Hideo Shindou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Takeshi Harayama
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Takao Shimizu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyFaculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
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DeMar JC, DiMartino C, Baca AW, Lefkowitz W, Salem N. Effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid from alpha-linolenic acid in young rats. J Lipid Res 2008; 49:1963-80. [PMID: 18469302 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m800117-jlr200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a crucial nervous system n-3 PUFA, may be obtained in the diet or synthesized in vivo from dietary alpha-linolenic acid (LNA). We addressed whether DHA synthesis is regulated by the availability of dietary DHA in artificially reared rat pups, during p8 to p28 development. Over 20 days, one group of rat pups was continuously fed deuterium-labeled LNA (d5-LNA) and no other n-3 PUFA (d5-LNA diet), and a second group of rat pups was fed a d5-LNA diet with unlabeled DHA (d5-LNA + DHA diet). The rat pups were then euthanized, and the total amount of deuterium-labeled docosahexaenoic acid (d5-DHA) (synthesized DHA) as well as other n-3 fatty acids present in various body tissues, was quantified. In the d5-LNA + DHA group, the presence of dietary DHA led to a marked decrease (3- to 5-fold) in the total amount of d5-DHA that accumulated in all tissues that we examined, except in adipose. Overall, DHA accretion from d5-DHA was generally diminished by availability of dietary preformed DHA, inasmuch as this was found to be the predominant source of tissue DHA. When preformed DHA was unavailable, d5-DHA and unlabeled DHA were preferentially accreted in some tissues along with a net loss of unlabeled DHA from other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C DeMar
- Section of Nutritional Neurosciences, Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Helmy FM, Nosavanh L, Haynes H, Juracka A. Phospholipid profile of rat testis, its unique high level of monolysocardiolipin and its lipolytic capabilitiesin vitro. A chromatographic analysis. Cell Biochem Funct 2008; 26:434-42. [DOI: 10.1002/cbf.1460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Burdge GC, Slater-Jefferies JL, Grant RA, Chung WS, West AL, Lillycrop KA, Hanson MA, Calder PC. Sex, but not maternal protein or folic acid intake, determines the fatty acid composition of hepatic phospholipids, but not of triacylglycerol, in adult rats. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2008; 78:73-9. [PMID: 18093817 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2007.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2007] [Revised: 10/26/2007] [Accepted: 10/31/2007] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate whether the protein and folic acid content of the maternal diet and the sex of the offspring alter the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of hepatic phospholipids and triacylglycerol (TAG). Pregnant rats were fed diets containing 18% or 9% protein with either 1 or 5mg/kg folic acid. Maternal diet did not alter hepatic lipid composition in the adult offspring. Data from each maternal dietary group were combined and reanalysed. The proportion of 18:0, 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 in liver phospholipids was higher in females than in males, while hepatic TAG composition did not differ between sexes. Delta5 Desaturase expression was higher in females than in males. Neither Delta5 nor Delta6 desaturase expression was related to polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations. These results suggest that sex differences in liver phospholipid fatty acid composition may reflect primary differences in the specificity of phospholipid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Burdge
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Institute of Developmental Sciences Building, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK.
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Furland NE, Maldonado EN, Aresti PA, Aveldaño MI. Changes in lipids containing long- and very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in cryptorchid rat testes. Biol Reprod 2007; 77:181-8. [PMID: 17429018 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.106.056556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of experimental cryptorchidism on rat testicular phospholipids and neutral lipids that contain long-chain (C(18)-C(22)) and very long-chain (VLC) (C(24)-C(32)) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The weight of the cryptorchid testis was nearly half that of the contralateral control at postsurgical Days 7-10 owing to the depletion of germ cells. Concomitantly, the amounts of major glycerophospholipids (GPL) and sphingomyelin (SM) per testis decreased. Both these lipids lost their characteristic long-chain and very long-chain PUFA, notably 22:5n-6 and 28:4n-6, respectively, which suggests that these species are linked to the membranes of germ cells. In contrast, the amounts and concentrations of triglycerides (TG; triacylglycerols and 1-O-alkyl-2,3-diacylglycerols) and cholesterol esters (CE) increased several fold in the surviving cells (mainly Sertoli cells) in the cryptorchid testis. All these neutral lipids, but especially CE, accumulated large amounts of the major PUFA of the testis, 22:5n-6, as well as pentaenes with longer carbon chains (i.e., 24:5n-6 in TG and 28:5n-6 in CE). This accretion suggests that neutral lipids may store preformed PUFA coming from dying germ cell GPL and also VLCPUFA no longer needed as a source of PUFA destined to assemble new germ cell GPL. The lipid adjustments observed in cryptorchidism suggest a possible role for Sertoli cell CE in the turnover and conservation of PUFA within seminiferous tubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia E Furland
- Institute for Biochemical Research of Bahía Blanca, National Research Council and University of the South, 8000-Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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