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Carvelli L, Hermo L, O’Flaherty C, Oko R, Pshezhetsky AV, Morales CR. Effects of Heparan sulfate acetyl-CoA: Alpha-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase (HGSNAT) inactivation on the structure and function of epithelial and immune cells of the testis and epididymis and sperm parameters in adult mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292157. [PMID: 37756356 PMCID: PMC10529547 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfate (HS), an abundant component of the apical cell surface and basement membrane, belongs to the glycosaminoglycan family of carbohydrates covalently linked to proteins called heparan sulfate proteoglycans. After endocytosis, HS is degraded in the lysosome by several enzymes, including heparan-alpha-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase (HGSNAT), and in its absence causes Mucopolysaccharidosis III type C (Sanfilippo type C). Since endocytosis occurs in epithelial cells of the testis and epididymis, we examined the morphological effects of Hgsnat inactivation in these organs. In the testis, Hgsnat knockout (Hgsnat-Geo) mice revealed statistically significant decrease in tubule and epithelial profile area of seminiferous tubules. Electron microscopy (EM) analysis revealed cross-sectional tubule profiles with normal and moderately to severely altered appearances. Abnormalities in Sertoli cells and blood-testis barrier and the absence of germ cells in some tubules were noted along with altered morphology of sperm, sperm motility parameters and a reduction in fertilization rates in vitro. Along with quantitatively increased epithelial and tubular profile areas in the epididymis, EM demonstrated significant accumulations of electrolucent lysosomes in the caput-cauda regions that were reactive for cathepsin D and prosaposin antibodies. Lysosomes with similar storage materials were also found in basal, clear and myoid cells. In the mid/basal region of the epithelium of caput-cauda regions of KO mice, large vacuolated cells, unreactive for cytokeratin 5, a basal cell marker, were identified morphologically as epididymal mononuclear phagocytes (eMPs). The cytoplasm of the eMPs was occupied by a gigantic lysosome suggesting an active role of these cells in removing debris from the epithelium. Some eMPs were found in proximity to T-lymphocytes, a feature of dendritic cells. Taken together, our results reveal that upon Hgsnat inactivation, morphological alterations occur to the testis affecting sperm morphology and motility parameters and abnormal lysosomes in epididymal epithelial cells, indicative of a lysosomal storage disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Carvelli
- IHEM-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis Hermo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cristian O’Flaherty
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Surgery (Urology Division), McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Richard Oko
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Alexey V. Pshezhetsky
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Carlos R. Morales
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Sullivan R, Légaré C, Lamontagne‐Proulx J, Breton S, Soulet D. Revisiting structure/functions of the human epididymis. Andrology 2019; 7:748-757. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Sullivan
- Department Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction Faculty Medicine Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
- Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
| | - C. Légaré
- Department Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction Faculty Medicine Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
- Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
| | - J. Lamontagne‐Proulx
- Faculty Pharmacy Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
- Neurosciences Division Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
| | - S. Breton
- Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - D. Soulet
- Faculty Pharmacy Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
- Neurosciences Division Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec‐Université Laval Quebec QC Canada
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Wijayarathna R, de Kretser DM, Meinhardt A, Middendorff R, Ludlow H, Groome NP, Loveland KA, Hedger MP. Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 470:188-198. [PMID: 29111388 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Regionalised interaction of the activins, follistatin and inhibin was investigated in the male reproductive tract of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit (Inha-/-). Serum and intratesticular activin B, although not activin A and follistatin, were increased in Inha-/- mice at 25 days of age, but all three proteins were elevated at 56 days. None of these proteins were altered within the epididymis and vas deferens at either age. At 25 days, histology of the epididymis and vas deferens was similar to wild-type. At 56 days, the testis contained extensive somatic cell tumours, leading to Leydig cell regression and testosterone deficiency. The epididymis and vas deferens showed epithelial regression and increased prominence of the interstitial stroma. Immunoregulatory and fibrotic gene expression in the epididymis and vas deferens were unchanged. Thus, absence of the inhibin α-subunit has marginal effects on activins in the epididymis and vas deferens, and regression of these tissues is associated with androgen deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukmali Wijayarathna
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
| | - David M de Kretser
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andreas Meinhardt
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ralf Middendorff
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | | | - Kate A Loveland
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark P Hedger
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Adhikari N, Neupane S, Roh J, Jun JH, Jung JK, Sohn WJ, Kim JY, Kim JY. Immunolocalization patterns of cytokeratins during salivary acinar cell development in mice. J Mol Histol 2017; 49:1-15. [PMID: 29181608 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-017-9742-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic development of the mouse salivary glands begins with epithelial thickening and continues with sequential changes from the pre-bud to terminal bud stages. After birth, morphogenesis proceeds, and the glands develop into a highly branched epithelial structure that terminates with saliva-producing acinar cells at the adult stage. Acinar cells derived from the epithelium are differentiated into serous, mucous, and seromucous types. During differentiation, cytokeratins, intermediate filaments found in most epithelial cells, play vital roles. Although the localization patterns and developmental roles of cytokeratins in different epithelial organs, including the mammary glands, circumvallate papilla, and sweat glands, have been well studied, their stage-specific localization and morphogenetic roles during salivary gland development have yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the stage and acinar cell type-specific localization pattern of cytokeratins 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, and 19 in the major salivary glands (submandibular, sublingual, and parotid glands) of the mouse at the E15.5, PN0, PN10, and adult stages. In addition, cell physiology, including cell proliferation, was examined during development via immunostaining for Ki67 to understand the cellular mechanisms that govern acinar cell differentiation during salivary gland morphogenesis. The distinct localization patterns of cytokeratins in conjunction with cell physiology will reveal the roles of epithelial cells in salivary gland formation during the differentiation of serous, mucous or seromucous salivary glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirpesh Adhikari
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, IHBR, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sanjiv Neupane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, IHBR, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jiyeon Roh
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea
| | - Jong Hwa Jun
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jae-Kwang Jung
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Wern-Joo Sohn
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, IHBR, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jae-Young Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, IHBR, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
| | - Ji-Youn Kim
- Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Gachon University, 191, Hambangmoe-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea.
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