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Meena A, De Nardo AN, Maggu K, Sbilordo SH, Roy J, Snook RR, Lüpold S. Fertility loss and recovery dynamics after repeated heat stress across life stages in male Drosophila melanogaster: patterns and processes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:241082. [PMID: 39359471 PMCID: PMC11444773 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.241082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Frequent and extreme temperatures associated with climate change pose a major threat to biodiversity, particularly for organisms whose metabolism is strictly linked to ambient temperatures. Many studies have explored thermal effects on survival, but heat-induced fertility loss is emerging as a greater threat to population persistence. However, while evidence is accumulating that both juvenile and adult stages heat exposure can impair fertility in their own ways, much less is known about the immediate and longer-term fitness consequences of repeated heat stress across life stages. To address this knowledge gap, we used male Drosophila melanogaster to investigate (i) the cumulative fitness effects of repeated heat stress across life stages, (ii) the potential of recovery from these heat exposures, and (iii) the underlying mechanisms. We found individual and combined effects of chronic juvenile and acute adult heat stress on male fitness traits. These effects tended to exacerbate over several days after brief heat exposure, indicating a substantial fertility loss for these short-lived organisms. Our findings highlight the cumulative and persistent effects of heat stress on fitness. Such combined effects could accelerate population declines, particularly in more vulnerable species, emphasizing the importance of considering reproduction and its recovery for more accurate models of species persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Meena
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessio N. De Nardo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Komal Maggu
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sonja H. Sbilordo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jeannine Roy
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rhonda R. Snook
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Wang C, Meriggiola MC, Amory JK, Barratt CLR, Behre HM, Bremner WJ, Ferlin A, Honig S, Kopa Z, Lo K, Nieschlag E, Page ST, Sandlow J, Sitruk-Ware R, Swerdloff RS, Wu FCW, Goulis DG. Practice and development of male contraception: European Academy of Andrology and American Society of Andrology guidelines. Andrology 2023. [PMID: 37727884 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Despite a wide spectrum of contraceptive methods for women, the unintended pregnancy rate remains high (45% in the US), with 50% resulting in abortion. Currently, 20% of global contraceptive use is male-directed, with a wide variation among countries due to limited availability and lack of efficacy. Worldwide studies indicate that >50% of men would opt to use a reversible method, and 90% of women would rely on their partner to use a contraceptive. Additional reasons for novel male contraceptive methods to be available include the increased life expectancy, sharing the reproductive risks among partners, social issues, the lack of pharma industry involvement and the lack of opinion makers advocating for male contraception. AIM The present guidelines aim to review the status regarding male contraception, the current state of the art to support the clinical practice, recommend minimal requirements for new male contraceptive development and provide and grade updated, evidence-based recommendations from the European Society of Andrology (EAA) and the American Society of Andrology (ASA). METHODS An expert panel of academicians appointed by the EAA and the ASA generated a consensus guideline according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. RESULTS Sixty evidence-based and graded recommendations were produced on couple-centered communication, behaviors, barrier methods, semen analysis and contraceptive efficacy, physical agents, surgical methods, actions before initiating male contraception, hormonal methods, non-hormonal methods, vaccines, and social and ethical considerations. CONCLUSION As gender roles transform and gender equity is established in relationships, the male contribution to family planning must be facilitated. Efficient and safe male-directed methods must be evaluated and introduced into clinical practice, preferably reversible, either hormonal or non-hormonal. From a future perspective, identifying new hormonal combinations, suitable testicular targets, and emerging vas occlusion methods will produce novel molecules and products for male contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Clinical and Translational Science Institute, The Lundquist Insitute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Maria Cristina Meriggiola
- Division of Gynecology and Human Reproduction Physiopathology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - John K Amory
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christopher L R Barratt
- Division of Systems and Cellular Medicine, Medical School, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland
| | - Hermann M Behre
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Medicine Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - William J Bremner
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stanton Honig
- Division of Reproductive and Sexual Medicine, Department of Urology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Zsolt Kopa
- Department of Urology, Andrology Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kirk Lo
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Eberhard Nieschlag
- Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephanie T Page
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jay Sandlow
- Department of Urology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Regine Sitruk-Ware
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ronald S Swerdloff
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Frederick C W Wu
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Dimitrios G Goulis
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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3
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Robinson BR, Netherton JK, Ogle RA, Baker MA. Testicular heat stress, a historical perspective and two postulates for why male germ cells are heat sensitive. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:603-622. [PMID: 36412227 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we compare the different experimental regimes used to induce testicular heat stress and summarise their impact on sperm production and male fertility. Irrespective of the protocol used, scrotal heat stress causes loss of sperm production. This is first seen 1-2 weeks post heat stress, peaking 4-5 weeks thereafter. The higher the temperature, or the longer the duration of heat, the more pronounced germ cell loss becomes, within extreme cases this leads to azoospermia. The second, and often underappreciated impact of testicular hyperthermia is the production of poor-quality spermatozoa. Typically, those cells that survive hyperthermia develop into morphologically abnormal and poorly motile spermatozoa. While both apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways are known to contribute to hyperthermic germ cell loss, the mechanisms leading to formation of poor-quality sperm remain unclear. Mechanistically, it is unlikely that testicular hyperthermia affects messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance, as a comparison of four different mammalian studies shows no consistent single gene changes. Using available evidence, we propose two novel models to explain how testicular hyperthermia impairs sperm formation. Our first model suggests aberrant alternative splicing, while the second model proposes a loss of RNA repression. Importantly, neither model requires consistent changes in RNA species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Robinson
- Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Jacob K Netherton
- Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Rachel A Ogle
- Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Mark A Baker
- Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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4
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Quintero-Pérez RI, Méndez-de la Cruz FR, Miles DB, Vera Chávez MC, López-Ramírez Y, Arenas-Moreno DM, Arenas-Ríos E. Trade-off between thermal preference and sperm maturation in a montane lizard. J Therm Biol 2023; 113:103526. [PMID: 37055130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103526] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is a key abiotic factor that influences performance of several physiological traits in ectotherms. Organisms regulate their body temperature within a range of temperatures to enhance physiological function. The capacity of ectotherms, such as lizards, to maintain their body temperature within their preferred range influences physiological traits such as speed, various reproductive patterns, and critical fitness components, such as growth rates or survival. Here, we evaluate the influence of temperature on locomotor performance, sperm morphology and viability in a high elevation lizard species (Sceloporus aeneus). Whereas maximal values for sprint speed coincides with field active and preferred body temperature, short-term exposure at the same range of temperatures produces abnormalities in sperm morphology, lower sperm concentration and diminishes sperm motility and viability. In conclusion, we confirmed that although locomotor performance is maximized at preferred temperatures, there is a trade-off with male reproductive attributes, which may cause infertility. As a consequence, prolonged exposure to preferred temperatures could threaten the persistence of the species through reduced fertility. Persistence of the species is favored in environments with access to cooler, thermal microhabitats that enhance reproductive parameters.
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5
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Pham S, Schultz JS. Testicular thermoregulation with respect to spermatogenesis and contraception. J Therm Biol 2021; 99:102954. [PMID: 34420611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.102954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
There has been some evidence that a short heating exposure of the testicles can lead to temporary sterility. However, little attention has been paid to analyzing the temperature/time pattern throughout the testicle and how metabolism and blood perfusion affect the temperature profile. We use the Penne bioheat equation that accounts for the elements of conduction, perfusion, and metabolism along with the COMSOL Finite Element Method for the analysis of this thermoregulation problem. Typically, the testicles were modeled as two uniform spheres and exposed to an increase in surface temperature of 42 °C for 30 min. We found that heat produced by tissue metabolism had a minor effect on the temperature pattern. However, blood flow from the core (at 37 °C) could prevent the region where the testicles touch each other from reaching the target temperature of 42 °C. Further, we found that for animals, as rodents and monkeys that are used for contraception studies, the temperature distribution on heating testicles is much more uniform than for humans. Thus, extrapolation results from animal models to humans should be done with caution.
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Jia Y, Swerdloff RS, Lue Y, Dai-Ju J, Surampudi P, Cohen P, Wang C. The IL-27 component EBI-3 and its receptor subunit IL-27Rα are essential for the cytoprotective action of humanin on male germ cells†. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:717-730. [PMID: 33330922 PMCID: PMC8527998 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Humanin (HN) is a mitochondrial-derived peptide that protects many cells/tissues from damage. We previously demonstrated that HN reduces stress-induced male germ cell apoptosis in rodents. HN action in neuronal cells is mediated through its binding to a trimeric cell membrane receptor composed of glycoprotein 130 (gp130), IL-27 receptor subunit (IL-27R, also known as WSX-1/TCCR), and ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor subunit (CNTFR). The mechanisms of HN action in testis remain unclear. We demonstrated in ex-vivo seminiferous tubules culture that HN prevented heat-induced germ cell apoptosis was blocked by specific anti-IL-27R, anti-gp130, and anti-EBI-3, but not by anti-CNTFR antibodies significantly. The cytoprotective action of HN was studied by using groups of il-27r-/- or ebi-3-/- mice administered the following treatment: (1) vehicle; (2) a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of HN peptide; (3) testicular hyperthermia; and (4) testicular hyperthermia plus HN. We demonstrated that HN inhibited heat-induced germ cell apoptosis in wildtype but not in il-27r-/- or ebi-3-/- mice. HN restored heat-suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation in wildtype but not il-27r-/- or ebi-3-/- mice. Dot blot analyses showed the direct interaction of HN with IL-27R or EBI-3 peptide. Immunofluorescence staining showed the co-localization of IL-27R with HN and gp130 in Leydig cells and germ cells. We conclude that the anti-apoptotic effects of HN in mouse testes are mediated through interaction with EBI-3, IL-27R, and activation of gp130, whereas the role of CNTFR needs further studies. This suggests a multicomponent tissue-specific receptor for HN in the testis and links HN action with the IL-12/IL-27 family of cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jia
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Ronald S Swerdloff
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - YanHe Lue
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Jenny Dai-Ju
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Prasanth Surampudi
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Pinchas Cohen
- USC Davis School of Gerontology, Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christina Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
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7
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Chai S, Tian R, Bi J, Xu S, Yang G, Ren W. Rapid evolution and molecular convergence in cryptorchidism-related genes associated with inherently undescended testes in mammals. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:22. [PMID: 33568072 PMCID: PMC7877101 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01753-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian testis is an important male exocrine gland and spermatozoa-producing organ that usually lies in extra-abdominal scrotums to provide a cooler environment for spermatogenesis and sperm storage. Testicles sometimes fail to descend, leading to cryptorchidism. However, certain groups of mammals possess inherently ascrotal testes (i.e. testes that do not descend completely or at all) that have the same physiological functions as completely descended scrotal testes. Although several anatomical and hormonal factors involved in testicular descent have been studied, there is still a paucity of comprehensive research on the genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of testicular descent in mammals and how mammals with ascrotal testes maintain their reproductive health. RESULTS We performed integrative phenotypic and comparative genomic analyses of 380 cryptorchidism-related genes and found that the mammalian ascrotal testes trait is derived from an ancestral scrotal state. Rapidly evolving genes in ascrotal mammals were enriched in the Hedgehog pathway-which regulates Leydig cell differentiation and testosterone secretion-and muscle development. Moreover, some cryptorchidism-related genes in ascrotal mammals had undergone positive selection and contained specific mutations and indels. Genes harboring convergent/parallel amino acid substitutions between ascrotal mammals were enriched in GTPase functions. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the scrotal testis is an ancestral state in mammals, and the ascrotal phenotype was derived multiple times in independent lineages. In addition, the adaptive evolution of genes involved in testicular descent and the development of the gubernaculum contributed to the evolution of ascrotal testes. Accurate DNA replication, the proper segregation of genetic material, and appropriate autophagy are the potential mechanisms for maintaining physiological normality during spermatogenesis in ascrotal mammals. Furthermore, the molecular convergence of GTPases is probably a mechanism in the ascrotal testes of different mammals. This study provides novel insights into the evolution of the testis and scrotum in mammals and contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Chai
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ran Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Juanjuan Bi
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shixia Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guang Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wenhua Ren
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China.
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8
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Wu YQ, Rao M, Hu SF, Ke DD, Zhu CH, Xia W. Effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on human sperm: an iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2020; 18:83. [PMID: 32787870 PMCID: PMC7422586 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-020-00640-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Through this prospective study, we aimed to explore the change of molecular modification after the transient scrotal hyperthermia on human sperm. METHODS Ten healthy subjects selected with strict screening criteria underwent testicular warming in a 43 °C water bath for 30 min a day for 10 consecutive days. Semen samples were collected 2 weeks before the first heat treatment and 6 weeks after the first heat treatment. Proteins from the samples were labeled with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation and analyzed by two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS In contrast to the control, of the 3446 proteins identified, 61 proteins were deregulated: 28 were up-regulated and 33 were down-regulated. Approximately 95% of the differentially expressed proteins were found to participate in spermatogenesis, fertilization, or other aspects of reproduction. In particular, the expression of sperm motility and energy metabolism-related proteins AKAP4, SPESP1, ODF1, ODF2, GAPDHS, and ACTRT2, validated by western blotting of the proteins obtained from human and mouse samples, tended to be reduced under scrotal hyperthermia. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the proteins AKAP4, ODF1, ODF2, GAPDHS, SPESP1, and ACTRT2, play an important role in the heat-induced reversible reduction in sperm concentration and motility and have the potential to be the biomarkers and clinical targets for scrotal heat treatment induced male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qing Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Rao
- Department of reproduction and genetics, the first affiliated hospital of Kunming medical university, Kunming, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Fu Hu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan-Dan Ke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Ultrasound Imaging, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Hong Zhu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xia
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
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Curcumin-Loaded Iron Particle Improvement of Spermatogenesis in Azoospermic Mouse Induced by Long-Term Scrotal Hyperthermia. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:371-380. [DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Wu Y, Wang Y, Liu Q, Zhu LJ, Gao H, Cui M, Liu J, Zhao P, Liu J, Chen L, Wang J, Zeng W, Woodruff TK, Zeng S. Conserved microRNA mediates heating tolerance in germ cells versus surrounding somatic cells. RNA Biol 2019; 16:1494-1503. [PMID: 31276432 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1639311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fertility is reduced during heat exposure in the summer, but is regained as temperatures decrease in the autumn again. However, the mechanism underlying the phenomenon remains unknown. We investigated heat stress tolerance of germ cells and their surrounding somatic cells, and discovered that microRNA ssc-ca-1 was upregulated after heat stress in cultured porcine granulosa cells (GCs), but not in serum-starved GCs. Ssc-ca-1 inhibited heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression through its 3'- and 5'-UTRs. Although Hsp70 mRNA transcription was induced in GCs by in vivo exposure to heat in the summer, ssc-ca-1 inhibited Hsp70 expression. In ovarian cultures, heat stress-induced Hsp70 expression in primordial but not in growing follicles; ssc-ca-1 expression did not change in primordial follicles, but increased in growing follicles. Consistently, ssc-ca-1 was present in testicular cells and exhibited the same function as in ovarian cells. It modulated the different Hsp70 expression between spermatogonial stem cells and Sertoli cells after scrotal heat stress. This mechanism is of relevance to mammalian fertility in parts of the world dominated by heat stress associated with global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China.,School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.,Laboratory Animal Center, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Yingzheng Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Qiang Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester , MA , USA
| | - Hui Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Maosheng Cui
- Biotechnology Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Tianjin Academy of Animal Science , Tianjin , China
| | - Jinghao Liu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Peking University , Beijing , China
| | - Pengju Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pig Industry Sciences (Ministry of Agriculture), Chongqing Academy of Animal Science , Chongqing , China
| | - Jinyong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pig Industry Sciences (Ministry of Agriculture), Chongqing Academy of Animal Science , Chongqing , China
| | - Wenxian Zeng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University , Shaanxi , China
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Division of Fertility Preservation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Shenming Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
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Jia Y, Lue Y, Swerdloff RS, Lasky JL, Panosyan EH, Dai-Ju J, Wang C. The humanin analogue (HNG) prevents temozolomide-induced male germ cell apoptosis and other adverse effects in severe combined immuno-deficiency (SCID) mice bearing human medulloblastoma. Exp Mol Pathol 2019; 109:42-50. [PMID: 31085184 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2019.104261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Subfertility is a major concern of long-term cancer survivors at the reproductive age. We have previously demonstrated that a potent humanin analogue, HNG, protected chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in germ cells but not cancer cells in a metastatic melanoma allograft model. In this study, we utilized severe combined immuno-deficiency (SCID) mice bearing human medulloblastoma to study the effect of HNG in Temozolomide (TMZ) induced male germ cell apoptosis and white blood cell (WBC) suppression. Human medulloblastoma DAOY cells were injected subcutaneously into the right flank of male SCID mice. Three weeks later, groups of tumor-bearing mice received one of the following treatments: vehicle, HNG, TMZ, or TMZ + HNG. 24 h after last injection, the tumors weights, complete blood counts, liver and spleen weights, male germ cell apoptosis was assessed. HNG did not affect TMZ's significant anti-tumor action. HNG significantly prevented TMZ-induced germ cell apoptosis and attenuated the suppressed total WBC and granulocyte counts in SCID mice with or without TMZ treatment. HNG also attenuated TMZ-induced body weight loss and decrease of spleen and liver weights. In conclusion, HNG ameliorated TMZ-induced germ cell apoptosis; WBC and granulocytes loss; and decreased body/organ weights without compromising the TMZ's anti-cancer action on medulloblastoma xenografts in SCID mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jia
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America
| | - Yanhe Lue
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America
| | - Ronald S Swerdloff
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America
| | - Joseph L Lasky
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America
| | - Eduard H Panosyan
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America
| | - Jenny Dai-Ju
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America
| | - Christina Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States of America.
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Shen H, Fan X, Zhang Z, Xi H, Ji R, Liu Y, Yue M, Li Q, He J. Effects of elevated ambient temperature and local testicular heating on the expressions of heat shock protein 70 and androgen receptor in boar testes. Acta Histochem 2019; 121:297-302. [PMID: 30723046 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Heat stress damaged spermatogenesis and semen quality, however, the exact molecular mechanism is not clear. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of elevated ambient temperature and local testicular heating on the expressions of heat shock protein 70 and androgen receptor in boar testes. A growing body of evidence demonstrated that germ cell apoptosis can be aggravated by heat stress and androgen deprivation, and at normal temperature, withdrawal of androgen led to germ cell apoptosis. There were no reports that heat stress damaged spermatogenesis has relationship with androgen. In this study, adult boars (Landrace, n = 9) were used and randomly divided into: control group (CON), 20-27 °C; environmental hyperthermia group (EH), 37-40 °C, 3 h/d 42 d; and local testicular heating group (LTH), 42 °C 1 h. After heat treatments, all boars were castrated and the testes were harvested. qRT-PCR and Western Blot results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of heat shock protein 70 and androgen receptor were significantly increased after heat treatments. Immunohistochemistry results showed that heat stress caused a redistribution of heat shock protein 70 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and androgen receptor was mainly expressed in Sertoli cells. These results indicated that heat stress promoted the inhibition of heat shock protein 70 on the androgen receptor, suggesting that the possible mechanism of heat stress damaged spermatogenesis and semen quality was that heat stress reduced the sensitivity of testicular cells to androgen by up-regulating heat shock proteins.
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Hassani-Bafrani H, Najaran H, Razi M, Rashtbari H. Berberine ameliorates experimental varicocele-induced damages at testis and sperm levels; evidences for oxidative stress and inflammation. Andrologia 2018; 51:e13179. [DOI: 10.1111/and.13179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Hassani-Bafrani
- Gametogenesis Research Center; Kashan University of Medical Sciences; Kashan Iran
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center; Kashan University of Medical Sciences; Kashan Iran
| | - Hamed Najaran
- Gametogenesis Research Center; Kashan University of Medical Sciences; Kashan Iran
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center; Kashan University of Medical Sciences; Kashan Iran
| | - Mazdak Razi
- Department of Basic Science, Comparative Histology and Embryology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Urmia University; Urmia Iran
| | - Hamid Rashtbari
- Gametogenesis Research Center; Kashan University of Medical Sciences; Kashan Iran
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center; Kashan University of Medical Sciences; Kashan Iran
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Zhang MH, Zhai LP, Fang ZY, Li AN, Xiao W, Qiu Y. Effect of scrotal heating on sperm quality, seminal biochemical substances, and reproductive hormones in human fertile men. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:10228-10238. [PMID: 30171730 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
At present, male contraceptive methods are only vasectomy and condoms, so it is necessary to research on male contraceptive techniques. The aim of this study is to observe the effects of scrotal heating (SH) on semen parameters, seminal l-carnitine (LC), epidermal growth factor (EGF), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), reproductive hormones and sperm chromosome numbers of adult healthy men, and to provide the experimental data for male contraception. The scrotums of 30 healthy male volunteers were exposed to the condition of 40 to 43°C SH belt warming 40 minutes each day for successive 2 days per week. The course of SH was continuous for 3 months. Computer-assisted semen analysis and hypo-osmotic swelling test, sperm DNA integrity, l-carnitine, MIF and EGF, and sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed before, during, and after SH. The serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The mean parameters of sperm concentration, vitality, and normal morphological sperm were significantly decreased in groups with sperms being collected during 1, 2, and 3 months of SH when compared with those in groups of pre-SH (P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences of sperm DNA fragmentation, normal sperm membrane functionality, levels of LC and MIF in semen, and LH, FSH, and T in serum were observed between the groups of before SH and after SH 3 months and the groups of during SH 1, 2, and 3 months (P < 0.001). The total rate of chromosome number for 13, 18, 21, X, and Y in the 3 months of SH was 13.7-fold greater (13.72%/1.69%) than before SH (P < 0.001). The constant SH can impact the semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, sperm chromosome, LC and MIF, and LH, FSH, and T in serum. Transient SH may be a new method for male contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Hua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Family Planning Institute of Science and Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Li-Ping Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Institute of Control of Endemic Disease, Jinan, China
| | - Zhen-Ya Fang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Family Planning Institute of Science and Technology, Jinan, China
| | - An-Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Family Planning Institute of Science and Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yi Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Family Planning Institute of Science and Technology, Jinan, China
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Silymarin and celecoxib ameliorate experimental varicocele-induced pathogenesis: evidences for oxidative stress and inflammation inhibition. Int Urol Nephrol 2018; 50:1039-1052. [DOI: 10.1007/s11255-018-1862-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Tang Q, Hu F, Feng L, Shen J, Huang B. The protective effects of selenium-enriched spirulina on the reproductive system of male zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to beta-cypermethrin. Food Funct 2018; 9:5791-5804. [DOI: 10.1039/c8fo01527a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Beta-cypermethrin (beta-CYP), which is widely used for the control of indoor and field pests, is a highly lipophilic insecticide with environmental estrogenic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- School of Life Science
- Anhui University
- Hefei 230601
- PR China
| | - Yuhang Zhou
- School of Life Science
- Anhui University
- Hefei 230601
- PR China
| | - Qingyang Tang
- School of Life Science
- Anhui University
- Hefei 230601
- PR China
| | - Feng Hu
- School of Life Science
- Anhui University
- Hefei 230601
- PR China
| | - Lixue Feng
- Bozhou Decoction Pieces
- Factory of Tribute Medicine
- Bozhou 236800
- PR China
| | - Jinglian Shen
- Bozhou Decoction Pieces
- Factory of Tribute Medicine
- Bozhou 236800
- PR China
| | - Bei Huang
- School of Life Science
- Anhui University
- Hefei 230601
- PR China
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Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification-based proteomic analysis of testis biopsies in rhesus monkeys treated with transient scrotal hyperthermia. Oncotarget 2017; 8:85909-85925. [PMID: 29156766 PMCID: PMC5689656 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the cellular and molecular events that occur in rhesus monkey testes after scrotal hyperthermia. Eight male adult rhesus monkeys were subjected to scrotal hyperthermia at 43°C for 30 min daily for 6 consecutive days. Sperm concentration, reproductive hormones, and testis histology were examined before hyperthermia (day 0), and at 8, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days after the initiation of hyperthermia. iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis was conducted on testicular tissues collected on days 0, 8, and 60 to identify differentially expressed proteins at the early and recovery stages of testicular damage. The sperm concentration was significantly decreased at days 30 and 45 after treatment (p < 0.01) and recovered to baseline at day 60. When compared with day 0, 101 and 24 differentially expressed proteins were identified at days 8 and 60 after heat treatment, respectively. The molecular functions of the differentially expressed proteins at day 8 were mainly nucleic acid binding, unfolded protein binding, nucleotide binding, and nucleoside phosphate binding. Spliceosome was enriched as the most significant pathway at day 8. CIRBP, PSIP1, Sam68, and Decorin were validated and found to be consistent with the proteomic data, indicating the reliability of the proteomic profiles identified in this study. In summary, we suggest that the proteins identified in this study may play important roles in heat-induced spermatogenic impairment. Some of these proteins, such as CIRBP, PSIP1, Sam68, and Decorin, may be early molecular targets responsible for spermatogenesis suppression induced by heat treatment.
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The effects of humanin and its analogues on male germ cell apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. Apoptosis 2016; 20:551-61. [PMID: 25666707 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-015-1105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Human (HN) prevents stress-induced apoptosis in many cells/tissues. In this study we showed that HN ameliorated chemotherapy [cyclophosphamide (CP) and Doxorubicin (DOX)]-induced male germ cell apoptosis both ex vivo in seminiferous tubule cultures and in vivo in the testis. HN acts by several putative mechanisms via binding to: an IL-12 like trimeric membrane receptor; BAX; or insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3, a proapoptotic factor). To understand the mechanisms of HN on male germ cell apoptosis, we studied five HN analogues including: HNG (HN-S14G, a potent agonist), HNG-F6A (no binding to IGFBP-3), HN-S7A (no self-dimerization), HN-C8P (no binding to BAX), and HN-L12A (a HN antagonist) on CP-induced male germ cell apoptosis in mice. CP-induced germ cell apoptosis was inhibited by HN, HNG, HNG-F6A, HN-S7A, and HN-C8P (less effective); but not by HN-L12A. HN-L12A, but not HN-S7A or HN-C8P, blocked the protective effect of HN against CP-induced male germ cell apoptosis. HN, HN-S7A, and HN-C8P restored CP-suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation. These results suggest that HN: (1) decreases DOX (ex vivo) and CP (in vivo) induced male germ cell apoptosis; (2) action is mediated by the membrane receptor/STAT3 with minor contribution by BAX-binding pathway; (3) self-dimerization or binding to IGFBP-3 may not be involved in HN's effect in testis. HN is an important molecule in the regulation of germ cell homeostasis after injury and agonistic analogues may be developed for treating male infertility or protection against chemotherapy side effects.
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Changes in Levels of Seminal Nitric Oxide Synthase, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor, Sperm DNA Integrity and Caspase-3 in Fertile Men after Scrotal Heat Stress. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141320. [PMID: 26512992 PMCID: PMC4626044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study observes changes in levels of seminal nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and Caspase-3in adult healthy men after scrotal heat stress (SHS). Methods Exposure of the scrotum of 25 healthy male volunteers locally at 40–43°C SHS belt warming 40 min each day for successive 2 d per week. The course of SHS was continuously 3 months. Routine semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, Aniline blue (AB) staining, HOS/AB and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UDP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) were carried out before, during and after SHS. Seminal NO and NOS contents were determined by nitrate reduction method. The activated Caspase-3 levels of spermatozoa and MIF in seminal plasma were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Statistical significance between mean values was determined using statistical ANOVA tests. Results The mean parameters of sperm concentration, motile and progressive motile sperm and normal morphological sperm were significantly decreased in groups during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months compared with those in groups of pre-SHS (P<0.001). Statistically significant differences of sperm DNA fragmentation, normal sperm membrane, and Caspase-3 activity as well as the level of NO, NOS and MIF in semen were observed between the groups before SHS and after SHS 3 months and the groups during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months (P<0.001). After three months of the SHS, various parameters recovered to the level before SHS. WBC in semen showed a positively significant correlation with the levels of NO, NOS, MIF and Caspase-3 activity. The percentage of abnormal sperm by using the test of HOS showed a positively significant correlation with that of HOS/AB. Conclusions The continuously constant SHS can impact the semen quality and sperm DNA and chromatin, which may be contributed to the high level of NO, NOS, MIF and Caspase-3 by SHS.
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Rao M, Zhao XL, Yang J, Hu SF, Lei H, Xia W, Zhu CH. Effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on sperm parameters, seminal plasma biochemical markers, and oxidative stress in men. Asian J Androl 2015; 17:668-75. [PMID: 25652627 PMCID: PMC4492061 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.146967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this experimental prospective study, we aimed to analyze the effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on the male reproductive organs, from the perspective of sperm parameters, semen plasma biochemical markers, and oxidative stress, to evaluate whether different frequencies of heat exposure cause different degrees of damage to spermatogenesis. Two groups of volunteers (10 per group) received testicular warming in a 43°C water bath 10 times, for 30 min each time: group 1: 10 consecutive days; group 2: once every 3 days. Sperm parameters, epididymis and accessory sex gland function, semen plasma oxidative stress and serum sex hormones were tested before treatment and in the 16-week recovery period after treatment. At last, we found an obvious reversible decrease in sperm concentration (P = 0.005 for Group 1 and P= 0.008 for Group 2 when the minimums were compared with baseline levels, the same below), motility (P = 0.009 and 0.021, respectively), the hypoosmotic swelling test score (P = 0.007 and 0.008, respectively), total acrosin activity (P = 0.018 and 0.009, respectively), and an increase in the seminal plasma malondialdehyde concentration (P = 0.005 and 0.017, respectively). The decrease of sperm concentration was greater for Group 2 than for Group 1 (P = 0.031). We concluded that transient scrotal hyperthermia seriously, but reversibly, negatively affected the spermatogenesis, oxidative stress may be involved in this process. In addition, intermittent heat exposure more seriously suppresses the spermatogenesis compared to consecutive heat exposure. This may be indicative for clinical infertility etiology analysis and the design of contraceptive methods based on heat stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Rao
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Ling Zhao
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shi-Fu Hu
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Lei
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chang-Hong Zhu
- Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Peng Z, Liu L, Wei X, Ling J. Expression of Oct-4, SOX-2, and MYC in dental papilla cells and dental follicle cells during in-vivo tooth development and in-vitro co-culture. Eur J Oral Sci 2015; 122:251-8. [PMID: 25039286 DOI: 10.1111/eos.12141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
During tooth development, the special structure of dental follicle and dental papilla enables dental papilla cells (DPCs) and dental follicle cells (DFCs) to make contact with each other. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4), sex determining region Y box-2 (SOX-2), and cellular homologue of avian myelocytomatosis virus oncogene (MYC) (OSM) are associated with reprogramming and pluripotency. However, whether the expression of OSM could be activated through cell-cell communication is not known. In this study, the distribution of OSM in rat tooth germ was investigated by immunohistochemical staining. An in-vitro co-culture system of DPCs and DFCs was established. Cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle stages, and expression of OSM were investigated by Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) analysis, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemical staining. We found that Oct-4 and SOX-2 were strongly expressed in tooth germ on days 7 and 9 after birth, whereas MYC was expressed only on day 9. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were inhibited, the cell cycle was arrested in the G0/G1 phase, and the propidium iodide (PI) value was downregulated. Expression of Oct-4 and SOX-2 was significantly elevated in both cell types after 3 d of co-culture, whereas expression of MYC was not significantly elevated until day 5. These results indicate that the optimized microenvironment with cell-cell communication enhanced the expression of reprogramming markers associated with reprogramming capacity in DPCs and DFCs, both in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjun Peng
- Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Stomatology Guangzhou, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
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Scrotal heat stress causes sperm chromatin damage and cysteinyl aspartate-spicific proteinases 3 changes in fertile men. J Assist Reprod Genet 2015; 32:747-55. [PMID: 25702164 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-015-0451-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To observe changes in semen parameters, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and cysteinyl aspartate-spicific proteinases (Caspase-3) in adult healthy men after scrotal heat stress (SHS). METHODS The scrotums of 19 healthy male volunteers were exposed to the condition of 40-43 °C SHS belt warming 40 min each day for successive 2 days per week. The course of SHS was continuously 3 months. Routine semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, eosin Y (EY) staining sperm HOS and chromatin dispersion (HOS/SCD) test, HOS and aniline blue (HOS/AB) staining test were carried out before, during and after SHS. The activated Caspase 3 levels of spermatozoa were determined with a microtiter plate reader. RESULTS The mean parameters of sperm concentration, motility and normal morphological sperm were significantly decreased in groups with sperm being collected during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months when compared with those in groups of pre-SHS (P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences of sperm DNA fragmentation, normal sperm membrane and vitality, and Caspase-3 activity were observed between the groups of before SHS and after SHS 3 months and the groups of during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months (P < 0.001). Three months the SHS stopped, various parameters recovered to the level before SHS. Abnormal sperm with HOS/AB and HOS/SCD showed a negatively significant correlation with normal sperm by HOS/EY test, and WBC in semen showed a positively significant correlation with Caspase-3 activity. The percentage of abnormal sperm by using the test of HOS/SCD showed a positively significant correlation with that of HOS/AB. CONCLUSIONS The continuously constant SHS can impact the semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and Caspase-3, and the combination of HOS plus AB test may simultaneously determine the integrity of membrane and chromatin condensation at the same spermatozoon.
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Chen SR, Liu YX. Regulation of spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal and spermatocyte meiosis by Sertoli cell signaling. Reproduction 2014; 149:R159-67. [PMID: 25504872 DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a continuous and productive process supported by the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which arise from undifferentiated precursors known as gonocytes and are strictly controlled in a special 'niche' microenvironment in the seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells, the only somatic cell type in the tubules, directly interact with SSCs to control their proliferation and differentiation through the secretion of specific factors. Spermatocyte meiosis is another key step of spermatogenesis, which is regulated by Sertoli cells on the luminal side of the blood-testis barrier through paracrine signaling. In this review, we mainly focus on the role of Sertoli cells in the regulation of SSC self-renewal and spermatocyte meiosis, with particular emphasis on paracrine and endocrine-mediated signaling pathways. Sertoli cell growth factors, such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), as well as Sertoli cell transcription factors, such as ETS variant 5 (ERM; also known as ETV5), nociceptin, neuregulin 1 (NRG1), and androgen receptor (AR), have been identified as the most important upstream factors that regulate SSC self-renewal and spermatocyte meiosis. Other transcription factors and signaling pathways (GDNF-RET-GFRA1 signaling, FGF2-MAP2K1 signaling, CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling, CCL9-CCR1 signaling, FSH-nociceptin/OPRL1, retinoic acid/FSH-NRG/ERBB4, and AR/RB-ARID4A/ARID4B) are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Ren Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yi-Xun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Jia Y, Lue YH, Swerdloff R, Lee KW, Cobb LJ, Cohen P, Wang C. The cytoprotective peptide humanin is induced and neutralizes Bax after pro-apoptotic stress in the rat testis. Andrology 2013; 1:651-9. [PMID: 23686888 DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2013.00091.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that the mitochondria-derived cytoprotective peptide humanin (HN), when administered intratesticularly to rats, rescues germ cells from apoptosis secondary to testicular stress of hormonal deprivation induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A). To decipher the cellular mechanisms of HN action in the amelioration of GnRH-A-induced germ cell apoptosis, adult male rats received the following treatments for 5 days: (i) daily intratesticular (IT) injections with saline (control); (ii) a single subcutaneous injection of GnRH-A on Day 1 and daily IT injection of saline; (iii) daily IT injection of synthetic HN; and (iv) GnRH-A injection on Day 1 and daily IT injection of HN (GnRH-A+HN). HN alone had no effect on germ cell apoptosis. GnRH-A increased germ cell apoptosis and BAX in the testicular mitochondrial fractions. Synthetic HN decreased germ cell apoptosis induced by GnRH-A and BAX in the mitochondria. We deduced that the cytoprotective action of synthetic HN on GnRH-A-induced germ cell apoptosis was mediated by attenuating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity and increasing STAT3 phosphorylation. The effect of synthetic HN on the expression of endogenous rat HN in the testis was studied using rat HN specific antibody. GnRH-A treatment increased, but concomitant treatment with synthetic HN reduced endogenous rat HN expression in both cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions in testis. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the increased rat HN was physically associated with BAX in the cytosolic testicular fractions after GnRH-A treatment. Double-immunofluorescence staining confirmed the co-localization of BAX and rat HN in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells and spermatocytes after GnRH-A treatment. We conclude that the cytoprotective effect of exogenously administered synthetic HN is mediated by interactions of endogenous rat HN with BAX in the cytoplasm preventing the entry of BAX to the mitochondria to govern the fate of germ cell survival or death during pro-apoptotic stress to the testis in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Jia
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509-2910, USA
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Agarwal A, Hamada A, Esteves SC. Insight into oxidative stress in varicocele-associated male infertility: part 1. Nat Rev Urol 2012; 9:678-90. [PMID: 23165403 DOI: 10.1038/nrurol.2012.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Varicocele is recognized as the leading cause of male infertility because it can impair spermatogenesis through several distinct pathophysiological mechanisms. Current evidence supports oxidative stress as a key element in the pathophysiology of varicocele-related infertility, although these mechanisms have not yet been fully described. Measurement of the reactive oxygen species and other markers of oxidative stress, including the levels of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, can provide valuable information on the extent of oxidative stress and might guide therapeutic management strategies. The testis can respond to varicocele-associated cell stressors, such as heat stress, ischaemia or production of vasodilators (for example, nitric oxide) at the expense of the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species. These responses have their own implications in exacerbating the underlying oxidative stress and on the subsequent infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Agarwal
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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Transient scrotal hyperthermia induces lipid droplet accumulation and reveals a different ADFP expression pattern between the testes and liver in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45694. [PMID: 23056214 PMCID: PMC3464254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In most mammals, the testes provide a stable environment for spermatogenesis, which depends on a lower temperature than the core body temperature. It has been reported that mild testicular heating safely and reversibly suppresses spermatogenesis, and is under consideration for its potential application as a male contraceptive. Previously, we focused on the molecular mechanism of germ cell apoptosis and anti-apoptotic factors induced by heat treatment in humans and mice. However, the recovery process remains under investigation. RESULTS In this study, we found that lipid droplets in mouse testes are dramatically increased after a brief period of scrotal hyperthermia, and gradually dissipate following temperature normalization. Analysis of the human testis proteome revealed nine proteins associated with lipid droplets. Two of them, ADFP (also known as ADRP and PLIN2) and TIP47 (also known as PLIN3) may participate in acute lipid droplet formation in mammalian testes. We show that Adfp expression is upregulated after scrotal heat treatment in mice. Surprisingly, we find Adfp lacking its 5'-UTR is observed in Adfp(Δ1/Δ1) mouse testes, but is not detectable in liver. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal testis Adfp transcriptional regulation is tissue-specific, and is associated with lipid droplet accumulation induced by heat. The results also indicate that the testes could retain functional proteins through testes-specific transcriptional regulation.
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Ilani N, Armanious N, Lue YH, Swerdloff RS, Baravarian S, Adler A, Tsang C, Jia Y, Cui YG, Wang XH, Zhou ZM, Sha JH, Wang C. Integrity of the blood-testis barrier in healthy men after suppression of spermatogenesis with testosterone and levonorgestrel. Hum Reprod 2012; 27:3403-11. [PMID: 23019303 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/des340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do exogenous male hormonal contraceptives that suppress intratesticular testosterone and spermatogenesis interfere with the blood-testis barrier integrity in men? SUMMARY ANSWER When spermatogenesis was suppressed by testosterone alone or combined with levonorgestrel (LNG) treatment in men, the structural appearance of Sertoli cell tight junctions remained intact in the human testis. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN Testosterone promotes the integrity of the blood-testis barrier. Intratesticular androgen deprivation induced by exogenous testosterone plus a progestin to suppress spermatogenesis in a contraceptive regimen may disturb the structural and functional integrity of the blood-testis barrier. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION Testicular biopsies were obtained from a sub-study of a randomized clinical trial of 36 healthy Chinese men who were treated for 18 weeks and followed for at least a 12-week recovery period. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIAL, SETTING, METHODS Healthy Chinese male volunteers (27-48 years) were randomized to two treatment groups (n = 18/group) for 18 weeks: (1) testosterone undecanoate (TU) 1000 mg i.m. injection followed by a 500 mg injection every 6 weeks and (2) TU + LNG 250 μg orally daily. Blood samples were obtained from all participants before and during treatment and at the end of the recovery phase. Open testicular biopsies for this study were obtained from four men before treatment and from four men in each of the TU and TU + LNG groups at 2 and 9 weeks of treatment. The presence of antisperm antibodies was checked in the archived serum samples of the subjects at baseline, during treatment and at the end of the recovery period. Stored testicular biopsy samples from cynomolgus monkeys treated with either sub-cutaneous testosterone or placebo for 12 weeks were used for additional protein expression studies. MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF THE CHANCE Expression of blood-testis barrier associated proteins quantified by immunohistochemistry (claudin 3, claudin 11, junctional adhesion molecule-A, zonula occludens-1) remained unchanged despite a significant decrease in the numbers of pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids in the seminiferous tubules at 9 weeks in the TU + LNG group. This was confirmed by immunoblots showing a lack of quantitative change in these tight junction proteins in monkeys after testosterone treatment. There were no increases in serum antisperm antibodies in the volunteers during the study. LIMITATIONS/REASONS FOR CAUTION The duration of the study was short and the long-term effects of male hormonal contraceptive treatments on the integrity of the blood-testis barrier remain to be determined. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study supports the safety of male hormonal contraceptive treatment and does not corroborate the previous findings of disturbed immunological integrity of the blood-testis barrier from animal studies such as androgen receptor knockout mice and exogenous hormonal treatment in rats. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST The study was supported by grants from the Contraceptive Research and Development Program and the Mellon Foundation (MFG-02-64, MFG-03-67), Endocrine, Metabolism and Nutrition Training Grant (T32 DK007571), the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Los Angeles Biomedical and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (UL1RR033176 and UL1TR000124) and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute Summer High School Student Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloufar Ilani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center and Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, 1000 W Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90509, USA
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Autophagy and apoptosis act as partners to induce germ cell death after heat stress in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41412. [PMID: 22848486 PMCID: PMC3405141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular heating suppresses spermatogenesis which is marked by germ cell loss via apoptotic pathways. Recently, it is reported that autophagy also can be induced by heat treatment in somatic cells. In this study, the status of autophagy in germ cells after heat treatment, as well as the partnership between autophagy and apoptosis in these cells was investigated. The results demonstrated that besides initiating apoptotic pathways, heat also induced autophagic pathways in germ cells. Exposure of germ cells to hyperthermia resulted in several specific features of the autophagic process, including autophagosome formation and the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II. Furthermore, the ubiquitin-like protein conjugation system was implicated as being likely responsible for heat-induced autophagy in germ cells since all genes involving this system were found to be expressed in the testes. In addition, the upstream protein in this system, Atg7 (Autophagy-related gene 7), was found to be expressed in all types of spermatogenic cells, and its expression level was positively correlated with the level of autophagy in germ cells. As a result, Atg7 was selected as the investigative target to further analyze the role of autophagy in heat-induced germ cell death. It was shown that down expression of Atg7 protein resulted in the notable decrease in the level of autophagy in heat-treated germ cells, and this down-regulation of autophagy caused by Atg7 knockdown further reduced the apoptotic rate of germ cells. These results suggest that autophagy plays a positive role in the process of germ cell apoptosis after heat treatment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that heat triggers autophagy and apoptosis in germ cells. These two mechanisms might act as partners, not antagonist, to induce cell death and lead to eventual destruction of spermatogenesis.
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Yarmolenko PS, Moon EJ, Landon C, Manzoor A, Hochman DW, Viglianti BL, Dewhirst MW. Thresholds for thermal damage to normal tissues: an update. Int J Hyperthermia 2011; 27:320-43. [PMID: 21591897 DOI: 10.3109/02656736.2010.534527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 416] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to summarise a literature survey on thermal thresholds for tissue damage. This review covers published literature for the consecutive years from 2002-2009. The first review on this subject was published in 2003. It included an extensive discussion of how to use thermal dosimetric principles to normalise all time-temperature data histories to a common format. This review utilises those same principles to address sensitivity of a variety of tissues, but with particular emphasis on brain and testis. The review includes new data on tissues that were not included in the original review. Several important observations have come from this review. First, a large proportion of the papers examined for this review were discarded because time-temperature history at the site of thermal damage assessment was not recorded. It is strongly recommended that future research on this subject include such data. Second, very little data is available examining chronic consequences of thermal exposure. On a related point, the time of assessment of damage after exposure is critically important for assessing whether damage is transient or permanent. Additionally, virtually no data are available for repeated thermal exposures which may occur in certain recreational or occupational activities. For purposes of regulatory guidelines, both acute and lasting effects of thermal damage should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel S Yarmolenko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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30
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Nietupski JB, Hurlbut GD, Ziegler RJ, Chu Q, Hodges BL, Ashe KM, Bree M, Cheng SH, Gregory RJ, Marshall J, Scheule RK. Systemic administration of AAV8-α-galactosidase A induces humoral tolerance in nonhuman primates despite low hepatic expression. Mol Ther 2011; 19:1999-2011. [PMID: 21712814 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In mice, liver-restricted expression of lysosomal enzymes from adeno-associated viral serotype 8 (AAV8) vectors results in reduced antibodies to the expressed proteins. To ask whether this result might translate to patients, nonhuman primates (NHPs) were injected systemically with AAV8 encoding α-galactosidase A (α-gal). As in mice, sustained expression in monkeys attenuated antibody responses to α-gal. However, this effect was not robust, and sustained α-gal levels were 1-2 logs lower than those achieved in male mice at the same vector dose. Because our mouse studies had shown that antibody levels were directly related to expression levels, several strategies were evaluated to increase expression in monkeys. Unlike mice, expression in monkeys did not respond to androgens. Local delivery to the liver, immune suppression, a self-complementary vector and pharmacologic approaches similarly failed to increase expression. While equivalent vector copies reached mouse and primate liver and there were no apparent differences in vector form, methylation or deamination, transgene expression was limited at the mRNA level in monkeys. These results suggest that compared to mice, transcription from an AAV8 vector in monkeys can be significantly reduced. They also suggest some current limits on achieving clinically useful antibody reduction and therapeutic benefit for lysosomal storage diseases using a systemic AAV8-based approach.
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ZHANG JJ, WANG Y, XIANG HY, LI MX, LI WH, MA KG, WANG XZ, ZHANG JH. Oxidative Stress: Role in Acetamiprid-Induced Impairment of the Male Mice Reproductive System. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/s1671-2927(11)60063-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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32
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Huang XY, Sha JH. Proteomics of spermatogenesis: from protein lists to understanding the regulation of male fertility and infertility. Asian J Androl 2011; 13:18-23. [PMID: 21076435 PMCID: PMC3739396 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2010.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteomic technologies have undergone significant development in recent years, which has led to extensive advances in protein research. Currently, proteomic approaches have been applied to many scientific areas, including basic research, various disease and malignant tumour diagnostics, biomarker discovery and other therapeutic applications. In addition, proteomics-driven research articles examining reproductive biology and medicine are becoming increasingly common. The key challenge for this field is to move from lists of identified proteins to obtaining biological information regarding protein function. The present article reviews the available scientific literature related to spermatogenesis. In addition, this study uses two-dimensional electrophoresis mass spectrometry (2DE-MS) and liquid chromatography (LC)-MS to construct a series of proteome profiles describing spermatogenesis. This large-scale identification of proteins provides a rich resource for elucidating the mechanisms underlying male fertility and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Huang
- Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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33
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Molecular basis of cryptorchidism-induced infertility. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2010; 53:1274-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-010-4072-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 08/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zhu H, Cui Y, Xie J, Chen L, Chen X, Guo X, Zhu Y, Wang X, Tong J, Zhou Z, Jia Y, Lue YH, Hikim AS, Wang C, Swerdloff RS, Sha J. Proteomic analysis of testis biopsies in men treated with transient scrotal hyperthermia reveals the potential targets for contraceptive development. Proteomics 2010; 10:3480-93. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201000281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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35
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Lue Y, Swerdloff R, Liu Q, Mehta H, Hikim AS, Lee KW, Jia Y, Hwang D, Cobb LJ, Cohen P, Wang C. Opposing roles of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and humanin in the regulation of testicular germ cell apoptosis. Endocrinology 2010; 151:350-7. [PMID: 19952275 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-0577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Modulating germ cell death and survival have significant therapeutic potential for male infertility and contraception. We have shown previously that IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) gene expression is up-regulated in human testis when germ cell apoptosis is induced by intratesticular hormonal deprivation created by testosterone administration. Humanin (HN) is a binding partner of IGFBP3, and both are expressed in rat testes. We therefore hypothesized that IGFBP3, a proapoptotic factor, and HN, an antiapoptotic factor, are important regulators of male germ cell apoptosis. Whereas baseline apoptosis in the testis was equivalent between Igfbp3 knockout and wild-type mice, treatment with GnRH antagonist (GnRH-A) for 2 wk induced germ cell apoptosis in wild type, which was dramatically reduced in Igfbp3 knockout mice. To investigate the direct effects of IGFBP3 and HN on germ cell apoptosis, intratesticular administration of IGFBP3 for 5 d in rats induced a 4.2- and 3.8-fold increase in apoptosis at stages VII-VIII and XIV-I of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, respectively. GnRH-A treatment for 5 d increased apoptosis, mainly at stages VII-VIII. Addition of IGFBP3 to GnRH-A treatment enhanced apoptosis to 39.3-fold at stages VII-VIII, which was higher than either treatment alone. Intratesticular injection of HN significantly decreased GnRH-A-induced apoptosis at stages XIV-I but not stages VII-VIII. We conclude that IGFBP3 and HN play key roles in the coordinated regulation of testicular germ cell homeostasis. Perturbation of this interaction is important in enhancing or preventing germ cell death, providing new targets for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- YanHe Lue
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90502, USA
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36
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Jia Y, Lee KW, Swerdloff R, Hwang D, Cobb LJ, Sinha Hikim A, Lue YH, Cohen P, Wang C. Interaction of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 and BAX in mitochondria promotes male germ cell apoptosis. J Biol Chem 2009; 285:1726-32. [PMID: 19887447 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.046847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cell apoptosis is crucial for spermatogenesis and can be triggered by various stimuli, including intratesticular hormone deprivation. This study proposes a role for insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in male germ cell apoptosis. Groups of adult Sprague-Dawley male rats received one of the following treatments for 5 days: (i) daily intratesticular (IT) injections with saline (control); (ii) a single subcutaneous injection of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A), acyline, on day 1 and a daily IT injection of saline; (iii) daily IT injection of IGFBP-3; and (iv) a GnRH-A injection on day 1 and a daily IT injection of IGFBP-3. Germ cell apoptosis increased significantly after IGFBP-3 or GnRH-A treatment which was further enhanced by the combined treatment. After co-immunoprecipitation with BAX antibody, IGFBP-3 association with BAX was demonstrated in total and mitochondrial fractions but not in the cytosol of testis extracts. BAX-associated IGFBP-3 expression was increased in mitochondria after treatment compared with control, which was confirmed by an IGFBP-3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dot blot studies further validated the BAX-IGFBP-3 binding in vitro. IGFBP-3 as well as BAX induced release of cytochrome c and DIABLO from isolated testicular mitochondria in vitro. IGFBP-3, when combined with an ineffective dose of BAX, triggered release of these proteins from isolated mitochondria at a 4-fold lower dose than IGFBP-3 alone. Our data demonstrate that the IGFBP-3 and BAX interaction activates germ cell apoptosis via the mitochondria-dependent pathway. This represents a novel pathway regulating germ call homeostasis that may have significance for male fertility and testicular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jia
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90509-2910, USA
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37
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Ghasemi N, Babaei H, Azizallahi S, Kheradmand A. Effect of long-term administration of zinc after scrotal heating on mice spermatozoa and subsequent offspring quality. Andrologia 2009; 41:222-8. [PMID: 19601933 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.00920.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was set to investigate whether the adverse effects of heat on spermatozoa and subsequent foetuses could be prevented by long-term zinc administration. The scrotums of animals were immersed in water at either 43 degrees C (heat group) or 23 degrees C (control group). Half of the heat and control mice were given 10 mg kg(-1) zinc every other day for 60 days and the others received sterile saline instead of zinc. Heat stress significantly reduced sperm motility, concentration, hypoosmotic swelling-water test (HOS-WT) positive and chromomycin A(3) (CMA(3)) negative spermatozoa at the first 15 days, and the greatest decrease occurred at 30 days (P < 0.05). Sperm motility, concentration and HOS-WT positive spermatozoa were also reduced initially in the zinc administered group, but we did not observe any further decrease in the above mentioned parameters on day 30 (P < 0.05). The weight of foetuses obtained from the females mated with paternal heat treatment males was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05) and long-term zinc therapy caused a partial recovery (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that the adverse effects of hyperthermia on semen parameters may be prevented by zinc therapy. Likewise, long-term administration of zinc could improve quality of litter obtained from the females mated with scrotal heat treatment males.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ghasemi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
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38
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Wang XZ, Liu SS, Sun Y, Wu JY, Zhou YL, Zhang JH. Beta-cypermethrin impairs reproductive function in male mice by inducing oxidative stress. Theriogenology 2009; 72:599-611. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2009] [Revised: 03/15/2009] [Accepted: 04/11/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Lue Y, Wang C, Cui Y, Wang X, Sha J, Zhou Z, Xu J, Wang C, Hikim APS, Swerdloff RS. Levonorgestrel enhances spermatogenesis suppression by testosterone with greater alteration in testicular gene expression in men. Biol Reprod 2009; 80:484-92. [PMID: 19074003 PMCID: PMC6354713 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.070839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2008] [Revised: 07/14/2008] [Accepted: 11/17/2008] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior studies have demonstrated that combined treatment of testosterone with a progestin induces a more rapid and greater suppression of spermatogenesis than testosterone treatment alone. We hypothesized that the suppressive effects of the combination of testosterone undecanoate (TU) injections plus oral levonorgestrel (LNG) on spermatogenesis may be mediated through a greater perturbation of testicular gene expression than TU alone. To test this hypothesis, we performed open testicular biopsy on 12 different adult healthy subjects: 1) four healthy men as controls; 2) four men 2 wk after TU treatment; and 3) four men 2 wk after TU + LNG administration. RNA isolated from biopsies was used for DNA microarray using the Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 oligonucleotide microarrays. Gene expression with >or=2-fold changes (P < 0.05) compared with control was analyzed using the National Institutes of Health Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery 2008 resource. The TU treatment altered the gene expression in 109 transcripts, whereas TU + LNG altered the gene expression in 207 transcripts compared with control. Both TU and TU + LNG administration suppressed gene expression of insulin-like 3; cytochrome P450, family 17, subfamily A1 in Leydig cells; and inhibin alpha in Sertoli cells; they increased proapoptotic transcripts BCL2-like 14, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3; and they decreased X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. In comparison with TU treatment alone, TU + LNG treatment upregulated insulin-like 6 and relaxin 1, and downregulated RNA-binding protein transcripts. We conclude that TU + LNG administration induces more changes in testicular gene expression than TU alone. This exploratory study provided a novel and valuable database to study the mechanisms of action of hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis in men and identified testicular-specific molecules that may serve as potential targets for male contraceptive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- YanHe Lue
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, California 90502, USA
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40
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Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine. Invited oral presentations. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2009; 55:1-66. [PMID: 19165677 DOI: 10.1080/19396360802675009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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41
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Chen M, Cai H, Yang JL, Lu CL, Liu T, Yang W, Guo J, Hu XQ, Fan CH, Hu ZY, Gao F, Liu YX. Effect of heat stress on expression of junction-associated molecules and upstream factors androgen receptor and Wilms' tumor 1 in monkey sertoli cells. Endocrinology 2008; 149:4871-82. [PMID: 18535113 DOI: 10.1210/en.2007-1093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Sertoli cells are important in determining the fate of spermatogenic cells by providing nutrition and structural support via cell junctions. In this study, we sought to examine the effect of 43 C warming on cell junctions in seminiferous epithelium and the expression of junction-associated molecules in Sertoli cells. Electron microscopy showed the appearance of large vacuoles between Sertoli and germ cells and adjacent Sertoli cells, leading to disruption of corresponding cell junctions 24 h after terminating the heat treatment. Using primary Sertoli cells isolated from pubertal monkey testes, we demonstrated that expression of adherens junction-associated molecules, such as N-cadherin and beta-catenin, and tight junction-associated molecule zonula occludens protein 1 was significantly reduced in 24-48 h after heat treatment. In contrast, intermediate filament vimentin expression was up-regulated in 6-48 h. Androgen receptor (AR) and Wilms' tumor gene 1 expression dramatically decreased after heat treatment. Both proteins completely disappeared immediately after terminating heat treatment and began to recover after 6 h. Treatment of the monkey Sertoli cells with an AR antagonist, flutamide, could mimic the heat-induced changes in the expression of junction-associated molecules in Sertoli cells. Furthermore, overexpression of AR in the Sertoli cells up-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, beta-catenin, and zonula occludens protein 1 and down-regulated vimentin expression. Their expression after heat treatment could be rescued by the AR overexpression. These results indicate that the decreased AR expression after heat treatment is involved in heat-induced cell junction disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
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Cui Y, Zhu H, Zhu Y, Guo X, Huo R, Wang X, Tong J, Qian L, Zhou Z, Jia Y, Lue YH, Hikim AS, Wang C, Swerdloff RS, Sha J. Proteomic analysis of testis biopsies in men treated with injectable testosterone undecanoate alone or in combination with oral levonorgestrel as potential male contraceptive. J Proteome Res 2008; 7:3984-93. [PMID: 18702538 DOI: 10.1021/pr800259t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Treatment with injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU) alone or in combination with oral levonorgestrel (LNG) resulted in marked decreases in sperm concentrations. In this study, we used proteomic analyses to examine the cellular/molecular events occurring in the human testis after TU or TU + LNG treatment. We conducted a global proteomic analysis of the human testicular biopsies before and at 2 weeks after TU alone or TU + LNG treatment. Proteins showing significant changes in expression were identified and analyzed. As a result, 17 and 46 protein spots were found with significant differential expression after the treatment with TU alone and TU + LNG, respectively. TU treatment changed the expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), proteasome inhibitor PI31 subunit (PSMF1), and superoxide dismutase [Mn] mitochondrial precursor (SOD2). These proteins inhibit "assembly", induce cell death, and promote compensatory "cell survival" in the testis. After TU + LNG treatment, "proliferation/cell survival" and "apoptosis/death" were the predominant responses in the testis. TU + LNG treatment inhibited the expression of Prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta subunit (P4HB) and Annexin A2 (Annexin II). These proteins are involved in apoptosis and cell proliferation, respectively. TU + LNG treatment also enhanced the expression of SOD2 and Parvalbumin alpha (Pvalb). These two proteins may protect testicular cells against apoptosis/death and promote cell survival. In conclusion, TU and TU + LNG treatments suppress spermatogenesis through different pathways by changing the expression of different proteins. hnRNP K, PSMF1, SOD2, P4HB, Annexin II, and Pvalb, are key proteins that may be early molecular targets responsible for spermatogenesis suppression induced by hormone treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugui Cui
- Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, and Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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Li X, Liu Q, Liu S, Zhang X, Liu Y, Zhang Y. The spatiotemporal expression changes of 16 epididymis-specific genes induced by testosterone, heat, and combination treatment in cynomolgus monkey. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2008.00451.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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44
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Johnson C, Jia Y, Wang C, Lue YH, Swerdloff RS, Zhang XS, Hu ZY, Li YC, Liu YX, Hikim APS. Role of caspase 2 in apoptotic signaling in primate and murine germ cells. Biol Reprod 2008; 79:806-14. [PMID: 18614702 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.068833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the role of caspase 2 in apoptotic signaling of nonhuman primate male germ cells triggered by mild testicular hyperthermia, testosterone (T(e)) implants, or by combined interventions. Mean incidence of germ cell apoptosis increased significantly by Day 3 in the heat (H(e)) alone group and by Day 8 in the Te alone group but peaked at Day 3 in H(e) + T(e) group. We found activation of caspase 2 in both germ cells and Sertoli cells after induction of apoptosis. Most notably, active caspase 2 immunoreactivity was detected only in those germ cells susceptible to apoptosis compared with controls, where little or no such staining is detected. To further explore the role of caspase 2 in regulating male germ cell death, we next evaluated the efficacy of caspase 2 inhibition in preventing or attenuating heat-induced germ cell apoptosis in rats. Caspase 2 inhibition significantly (P < 0.05) prevented such heat-induced germ cell apoptosis. The protection offered by the caspase 2 inhibitor occurred upstream of mitochondria, involving suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 14 activation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) induction and, in turn, suppression of cytochrome c-mediated death pathway. Together, our results show that caspase 2 is activated in male germ cells undergoing apoptosis in nonhuman primates after heat stress, hormonal deprivation, or after combined interventions. Blockade of caspase 2 activation prevents heat-induced germ cell apoptosis in rats by suppressing the MAPK14- and NO-mediated intrinsic pathway signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace Johnson
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, California 90509, USA
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Abstract
Despite significant advances in contraceptive options for women over the last 50 yr, world population continues to grow rapidly. Scientists and activists alike point to the devastating environmental impacts that population pressures have caused, including global warming from the developed world and hunger and disease in less developed areas. Moreover, almost half of all pregnancies are still unwanted or unplanned. Clearly, there is a need for expanded, reversible, contraceptive options. Multicultural surveys demonstrate the willingness of men to participate in contraception and their female partners to trust them to do so. Notwithstanding their paucity of options, male methods including vasectomy and condoms account for almost one third of contraceptive use in the United States and other countries. Recent international clinical research efforts have demonstrated high efficacy rates (90-95%) for hormonally based male contraceptives. Current barriers to expanded use include limited delivery methods and perceived regulatory obstacles, which stymie introduction to the marketplace. However, advances in oral and injectable androgen delivery are cause for optimism that these hurdles may be overcome. Nonhormonal methods, such as compounds that target sperm motility, are attractive in their theoretical promise of specificity for the reproductive tract. Gene and protein array technologies continue to identify potential targets for this approach. Such nonhormonal agents will likely reach clinical trials in the near future. Great strides have been made in understanding male reproductive physiology; the combined efforts of scientists, clinicians, industry and governmental funding agencies could make an effective, reversible, male contraceptive an option for family planning over the next decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie T Page
- Center for Research in Reproduction and Contraception, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
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Wang C, Cui YG, Wang XH, Jia Y, Sinha Hikim A, Lue YH, Tong JS, Qian LX, Sha JH, Zhou ZM, Hull L, Leung A, Swerdloff RS. transient scrotal hyperthermia and levonorgestrel enhance testosterone-induced spermatogenesis suppression in men through increased germ cell apoptosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 92:3292-304. [PMID: 17504903 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-0367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT In rodents and monkeys, a combination of hormonal and physical agents accelerates germ cell death. OBJECTIVE A "proof of concept" study was performed to investigate whether addition of heat exposure or a progestin to an androgen induces germ cell death and more complete and rapid spermatogenesis suppression. DESIGN AND SETTINGS A randomized clinical trial was performed at academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS We treated four groups of healthy male volunteers (18 per group) for 18 wk: 1) testosterone undecanoate (TU) 1000 mg im (first dose), followed by 500 mg im every 6 wk; 2) submersion of scrota at 43 C in water for 30 min/d for 6 consecutive days; 3) TU plus heat; and 4) TU plus oral levonorgestrel (LNG) 250 microg/d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Semen parameters, testicular histology, and germ cell apoptosis were the main outcome measures. RESULTS Heat alone and TU plus heat suppressed sperm counts more than TU alone by wk 6. By wk 9, recovery began in the heat only group, whereas spermatogenesis remained suppressed in the TU plus heat group. Oral LNG plus TU suppressed spermatogenesis earlier and more severely than TU alone. At wk 2, significantly greater germ cell apoptosis occurred in heat and heat plus TU subjects, but not in subjects without heat treatment, compared with pretreatment subjects. By 9 wk, markedly smaller seminiferous tubule diameters and fewer spermatocytes and spermatids were noted in all 12 biopsies from men receiving TU, TU plus LNG, with most dramatic differences for the TU plus heat group, whereas no differences from pretreatment biopsies were observed in men who received heat treatment only. CONCLUSIONS Heat causes a rapid and transient suppression of spermatogenesis. TU plus heat resulted in low-sperm output that was maintained by continuous treatment with TU. Addition of an oral progestin accelerated spermatogenesis suppression by TU alone. Increased germ cell apoptosis contributed to suppression of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Wang
- Department of Medicine, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Torrance, California 90509, USA.
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Jia Y, Hikim APS, Lue YH, Swerdloff RS, Vera Y, Zhang XS, Hu ZY, Li YC, Liu YX, Wang C. Signaling Pathways for Germ Cell Death in Adult Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) Induced by Mild Testicular Hyperthermia and Exogenous Testosterone Treatment1. Biol Reprod 2007; 77:83-92. [PMID: 17377139 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.106.058594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Male contraception has focused, to a great extent, on approaches that induce azoospermia or severe oligospermia through accelerated germ cell apoptosis. Understanding the specific steps in the germ cell apoptotic pathways that are affected by male contraceptives will allow more specific targeting in future contraceptive development. In this study, we have used a nonhuman primate model to characterize the key apoptotic pathway(s) in germ cell death after mild testicular hyperthermia, hormonal deprivation, or combined interventions. Groups of 8 adult (7- to 10-year-old) cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) received one of the following treatments: 1) two empty silastic implants; 2) two 5.5-cm testosterone (T) implants; 3) daily exposure of testes to heat (43 degrees C for 30 min) for 2 consecutive days; and 4) two T implants plus testicular heat exposure for two consecutive days. Testicular biopsies were performed before and at Days 3, 8, and 28 of treatment. Treatment with T, heat, or both led to sustained activation of both mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1/3 and MAPK14. Activation of MAPK1/3 and MAPK14 were accompanied by an increase in B-cell leukemia/lymphoma (BCL) 2 levels in both cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of testicular lysates (BAX levels remained unaffected) and cytochrome c and DIABLO release from mitochondria. These treatments also resulted in inactivation of BCL2 through phosphorylation at serine 70, thereby favoring the death pathway. We conclude that the serine phosphorylation of BCL2 and activation of the MAPK14-mediated mitochondria-dependent pathway are critical for male germ cell death in monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jia
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, California 90509, USA
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Guo J, Tao SX, Chen M, Shi YQ, Zhang ZQ, Li YC, Zhang XS, Hu ZY, Liu YX. Heat treatment induces liver receptor homolog-1 expression in monkey and rat sertoli cells. Endocrinology 2007; 148:1255-65. [PMID: 17170099 DOI: 10.1210/en.2006-1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrated in this study that liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) was expressed in the round spermatids in normal monkey testis, and no LRH-1 signal was observed in the Sertoli cells. After local warming (43 C) the monkey testis, however, LRH-1 expression was induced in the Sertoli cells in coincidence with activation of cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), a Sertoli cell dedifferentiated marker. Furthermore, we isolated rat primary Sertoli cells from testes at various stages of development and treated with 43 C water in vitro. The changes in LRH-1 as well as CK-18 expression were analyzed by confocal immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that LRH-1 was stage-dependently expressed in the Sertoli cells; no LRH-1-positive signal was detected in the cells obtained from the testes of adult rat on d 60 after birth when mature spermatozoa in the testis was completed. However, the mature Sertoli cells were warmed at the 43 C water bath for 15 min, and the LRH-1 signal was remarkably induced in a time-dependent manner, just like the changes of CK-18 expression in the Sertoli cells, suggesting that the heat-induced dedifferentiation of the mature Sertoli cells might be related to LRH-1 regulation. LRH-1 expression induced by the heat treatment was completely inhibited by the addition of ERK inhibitor U0126 in the culture, indicating that the heat-induced LRH-1 expression in the Sertoli cells may be regulated via ERK1/2 activation pathway. Testosterone was found to have no such effect on LRH-1 expression in the monkey and rat Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 25, Bei Si Huan Xi Lu, Beijing 100080, China
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