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Liu C, Wu C, Zhang S, Lv Z. Contribution of impaired autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormal lipolysis to epididymal aging in mice. Exp Gerontol 2024; 195:112528. [PMID: 39067197 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
With the increase of the aged population in modern society, research on aging and aging-related diseases has attracted increasing attention. Unlike women, men experience changes gradually in the reproductive system during aging. The epididymis is an important organ for sperm maturation and storage, but less study has been conducted to investigate cellular senescence in aging epididymis and the corresponding influences on sperm. This study aims to explore cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying aging changes in epididymal tissues. Cellular senescence in the epididymis of 18-month-old C57BL/6 J mice was evaluated with SA (senescence-associated)-β-galactosidase staining and molecular markers such as P21 and Lamin B, compared to the 2-month-old young group. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining were performed to examine the proteins expressions involved in AMPKα/SIRT1 pathway, autophagy/mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and lipolysis. The results showed that in old mice AMPKα/ SIRT1 pathway was downregulated with increased acetylation in the epididymal tissues. Reduced expressions of autophagy related genes and PINK1/PARK2 were detected as well as increased P62 protein level and decreased colocalization of LC3 and LAMP2, which indicated deficient autophagy and mitophagy occurred in aging epididymal tissues. Significant decreased expressions of MFN1, MFN2, p-DRP1(Ser637) and FIS1 showed an imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics in aging epididymal tissues. Additionally, intracellular lipid droplets accumulation occurred in epididymal epithelial cells in old mice, with reduced expressions of the lipolysis enzymes ATGL, HSL and Ascl4. Lipophagy impairment was further detected by minimal colocalization of lipid droplets with either LC3 or LAMP2 in the epididymal ductal epithelial cells of old mice. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of impaired autophagy, imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics and disrupted lipolysis, which together contribute to senescent changes and may be detrimental to the epididymal function during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Department of Histology & Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Chongkang Wu
- Department of Histology & Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Shoubing Zhang
- Department of Histology & Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zhengmei Lv
- Department of Histology & Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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2
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Brown GC. Cell death by phagocytosis. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:91-102. [PMID: 37604896 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00921-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Cells can die as a consequence of being phagocytosed by other cells - a form of cell death that has been called phagotrophy, cell cannibalism, programmed cell removal and primary phagocytosis. However, these are all different manifestations of cell death by phagocytosis (termed 'phagoptosis' for short). The engulfed cells die as a result of cytotoxic oxidants, peptides and degradative enzymes within acidic phagolysosomes. Cell death by phagocytosis was discovered by Metchnikov in the 1880s, but was neglected until recently. It is now known to contribute to developmental cell death in nematodes, Drosophila and mammals, and is central to innate and adaptive immunity against pathogens. Cell death by phagocytosis mediates physiological turnover of erythrocytes and other leucocytes, making it the most abundant form of cell death in the mammalian body. Immunity against cancer is also partly mediated by macrophage phagocytosis of cancer cells, but cancer cells can also phagocytose host cells and other cancer cells in order to survive. Recent evidence indicates neurodegeneration and other neuropathologies can be mediated by microglial phagocytosis of stressed neurons. Thus, despite cell death by phagocytosis being poorly recognized, it is one of the oldest, commonest and most important forms of cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy C Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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3
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Ali W, Deng K, Sun J, Ma Y, Liu Z, Zou H. A new insight of cadmium-induced cellular evidence of autophagic-associated spermiophagy during spermatogenesis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:101064-101074. [PMID: 37646926 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29548-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy plays a dynamic role in spermatozoa development during spermatogenesis. However, the disruption of autophagic flux induces cell death under metal toxicity and severe oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that cadmium-induced autophagy might be involved in this mechanism. To verify this hypothesis, we studied cadmium-induced cellular evidence of autophagic-associated spermiophagy within the testis. In the present study, treatment with cadmium caused nuclear depressive disorders and vacuolated mitochondrial damage of Sertoli cells. In addition, spermiophagy through the cellular evidence of spermatozoa phagocytosis, the high lysosomal activity (lysosome engulfment and phagolysosome), and autophagy activity (autolysosome and autophagosome) were observed in the Sertoli cells. The immunohistochemistry of lysosomal membrane protein (LAMP2) to target the phagocytosis of spermatozoa revealed that the immunoreactivity of LAMP2 was overstimulated in the luminal compartment of testis's seminiferous tubules. In addition, the immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence of autophagy-related protein and microtubule-associated light chain (LC3) results showed the strong immunoreactivity and immunosignaling of LC3 in the Sertoli cells of the testis. Moreover, cadmium caused the overactivation of the expression level of autophagy-related proteins, autophagy-related gene (ATG7), (ATG5), beclin1, LC3, sequestosome 1 (P62), and LAMP2 which were confirmed by western blotting. In summary, this study demonstrated that hazards related to cadmium-induced autophagic-associated spermiophagy with the disruption of autophagic flux, providing new insights into the toxicity of cadmium in mammals and representing a high risk to male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Ali
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonggang Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zongping Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China.
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Li Y, Feng Y, Jiang Y, Ma J, Bao X, Li Z, Cui M, Li B, Xu X, Wang W, Sun G, Liu X, Yang J. Differential gene expression analysis related to sperm storage in spermathecas of Amphioctopus fangsiao. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 42:100966. [PMID: 35150972 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.100966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sperm storage in the female body is an important strategy in animal reproductive behavior. Amphioctopus fangsiao is an economically important cephalopod that has a sperm storage period of up to seven months. There are few studies concerning the mechanism of sperm storage in A. fangsiao. In this study, we performed transcriptome gene expression profiling of the oviductal glands at different phases (presence and absence of sperm storage). In total, 7943 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) comprising 4737 upregulated and 3206 downregulated genes were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to search for sperm storage-related genes. A protein interaction network was constructed to examine the interactions between genes. Nineteen genes associated with immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy were obtained and verified by qRT-PCR. This is the first comprehensive analysis of sperm storage-related genes in A. fangsiao. The results provide basic insights into the complex sperm storage mechanism of A. fangsiao.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Yanwei Feng
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China.
| | - Yu Jiang
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Jingjun Ma
- Yantai Laishan District Fisheries and Marine Service station, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xiaokai Bao
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Zan Li
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Mingxian Cui
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Bin Li
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China; Yantai Haiyu Marine Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Yantai 264004, China
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Weijun Wang
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China; Jiangsu Baoyuan Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Lianyungang 222100, China
| | - Guohua Sun
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Xiumei Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Jianmin Yang
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China.
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Mei X, Gao M, Huang T, Shen D, Xia D, Qiu Z, Zhao Q. Comparative analysis of testis transcriptome between a genetic male sterile line (GMS) and its wild-type 898WB in silkworm, Bombyx mori. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 42:100961. [PMID: 35074722 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.100961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an important model organism of lepidopteran insects, and its testis is a main male reproductive organ and spermatogenesis place. Studying the testis helps to understand the mechanisms of genetic sterility of lepidopteran insects and to achieve sterile insect technique (SIT) for pest control. Herein, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of testes between three biological replicates of the GMS mutant and wild strain 898WB, respectively. In total, 1872 up-regulated genes and 1823 down-regulated genes were identified in the testis of the GMS mutant. Several genes contribute significantly to spermatogenesis and testis development, such as "serine/threonine protein kinase", "organic cation transporter protein", "tyrosine protein kinase", "lncRNAs" and "immune-associated genes". The KEGG pathway analysis shows that the DEGs were annotated to 123 pathways, and 10 pathways were significantly enriched, such as "metabolic pathway", "biosynthesis of amino acids", and "phagosome-lysosome pathway", which are associated with testis development and spermatogenesis. The results of the qPCR expression were consistent with the RNA-seq data, which shows that the RNA-seq results were accurate. The DEGs of the testes between GMS mutant and 898WB were screened by RNA-Seq technology, which provides a reliable reference to understand the molecule mechanism of male sterility of the GMS mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinglin Mei
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China
| | - Mengjie Gao
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China
| | - Tianchen Huang
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China
| | - Dongxu Shen
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China; The Sericulture Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China
| | - Dingguo Xia
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China; The Sericulture Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China
| | - Zhiyong Qiu
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China; The Sericulture Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China
| | - Qiaoling Zhao
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China; The Sericulture Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212018, China.
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6
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Farias TDO, Figueiredo AFA, Wnuk NT, Vieira CP, Lara NDLEM, Avelar GFD, Talamoni SA, Costa GMJ. Sperm production and seminal analyses in a Neotropical sperm-storing vespertilionid bat yellowish myotis (Myotis levis). Theriogenology 2021; 174:73-84. [PMID: 34425303 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Yellowish myotis is a Neotropical vespertilionid bat that presents a seasonal reproduction. The sperm is produced in the Mature stage, stored in the Regressed stage and released in the Rest stage (mating period). Aiming to understand, for the first time, the relationship between testis and epididymis physiology in yellowish myotis reproduction, the spermatogenesis length, sperm production, and seminal parameters were herein evaluated. Fifty-one adult male bats were captured in Santuário do Caraça, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The gonads were collected in the Maturing and Mature stages for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses, whereas the epididymis was evaluated in all reproductive stages for seminal studies. Our results demonstrated that the yellowish myotis spermatogenic process is fast, lasting 31.70 ± 0.15 days. Despite the low Sertoli cell efficiency (6.60 ± 1.23), the high numbers of Sertoli cells per testis enable an elevated sperm production in the Mature stage. The sperm concentration, vitality, and motility presented the highest values in the Regressed stage; however, in this period, an increased incidence of sperm morphological defects was detected. In the following period (Rest stage), a drastic reduction of defective sperm was observed, suggesting quality control of sperm before the mating period. Furthermore, the epididymis ability to maintain a long-term sperm-storage was observed in 26.7% of the bats in the Maturing stage. In summary, yellowish myotis presented a fast and high sperm production during the Mature stage. These sperms are stored and selected before mating period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita De Oliveira Farias
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - André Felipe Almeida Figueiredo
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Natalia Teixeira Wnuk
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Carolina Pinhol Vieira
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Nathalia de Lima E Martins Lara
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Gleide Fernandes de Avelar
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Sônia Aparecida Talamoni
- Laboratory of Mastozoology, Department of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais - PUC Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Mattos Jardim Costa
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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