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Yan Q, Wang Q, Nan J, Chen T, Wang J, Zhang Y, Yuan L. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) regulates autophagy and apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway of yak Sertoli cells. Theriogenology 2024; 220:96-107. [PMID: 38503100 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.03.003] [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: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Successful male reproduction depends on healthy testes. Autophagy has been confirmed to be active during many cellular events associated with the testes. It is not only crucial for testicular spermatogenesis but is also an essential regulatory mechanism for Sertoli cell (SCs) ectoplasmic specialization integrity and normal function of the blood-testis-barrier. Hypoxic stress induces oxidative damage, apoptosis, and autophagy, negatively affecting the male reproductive system. Cryptorchidism is a common condition associated with infertility. Recent studies have demonstrated that hypoxia-induced miRNAs and their transcription factors are highly expressed in the testicular tissue of infertile patients. Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) is a heat-shock protein family member associated with cellular antioxidant defense and anti-apoptotic functions. The present study found that the HO1 mRNA and protein are up-regulated in yak cryptorchidism compared to normal testes. Next, we investigated the expression of HO1 in the SCs exposed to hypoxic stress and characterized the expression of key molecules involved in autophagy and apoptosis. The results showed that hypoxic stress induced the upregulation of autophagy of SCs. The down-regulation of HO1 using siRNA increases autophagy and decreases apoptosis, while the over-expression of HO1 attenuates autophagy and increases apoptosis. Furthermore, HO1 regulates autophagy and apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These results will be helpful for further understanding the regulatory mechanisms of HO1 in yak cryptorchidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Jinghong Nan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Juntao Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China; College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ligang Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou, China; College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, China
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Liguori G, Tafuri S, Pelagalli A, Ali’ S, Russo M, Mirabella N, Squillacioti C. G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) and ERs Are Modulated in the Testis-Epididymal Complex in the Normal and Cryptorchid Dog. Vet Sci 2024; 11:21. [PMID: 38250927 PMCID: PMC10820011 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010021] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence by the literature that the unbalance between androgens and estrogens is a relevant condition associated with a common canine reproductive disorder known as cryptorchidism. The role of estrogens in regulating testicular cell function and reproductive events is supposedly due to the wide expression of two nuclear estrogen receptors (ERs), ER-alpha and ER-beta and a trans-membrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in the testis. In this study, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to assess the distribution and expression of GPER in the testis-epididymal complex in the normal and cryptorchid dog. ER-alpha and ER-beta were also evaluated to better characterize the relative abundances of all three receptors. In addition, in these tissues, the expression level of two proteins as SOD1 and Nrf2 normally associated with oxidative stress was investigated to evaluate a possible relationship with ERs. Our data revealed changes in the distribution and expression of the GPER between the normal and cryptorchid dog. In particular, dogs affected by cryptorchidism showed an upregulation of GPER at level of the examined reproductive tract. Also considering the obtained result of a modulation of SOD1 and Nrf2 expression, we could hypothesize the involvement of GPER in the cryptorchid condition. Further studies are, however, necessary to characterize the role of GPER and its specific signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Liguori
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (S.T.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (N.M.); (C.S.)
- Department of Prevention, ASL FG, Piazza Pavoncelli 11, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Simona Tafuri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (S.T.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (N.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Alessandra Pelagalli
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, National Research Council, Via De Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Sabrina Ali’
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (S.T.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (N.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Marco Russo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (S.T.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (N.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Nicola Mirabella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (S.T.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (N.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Caterina Squillacioti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy; (G.L.); (S.T.); (S.A.); (M.R.); (N.M.); (C.S.)
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Pei S, Luo J, Weng X, Xu Y, Bai J, Li F, Li W, Yue X. iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis provides novel insight into the postnatal testicular development of Hu sheep. J Proteomics 2023; 286:104956. [PMID: 37390892 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.104956] [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: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Testicular development is an intricate and coordinated process in which thousands of proteins are involved in the regulation of somatic cells development and spermatogenesis. However, knowledge about the proteomic changes during postnatal testicular development in Hu sheep is still elusive. The study was conducted to characterize the protein profiles at four key stages during postnatal testicular development, including infant (0-month-old, M0), puberty (3-month-old, M3), sexual maturity (6-month-old, M6) and body maturity (12-month-old, M12), and between the large- and small-testis groups at 6 months in Hu sheep. Consequently, 5252 proteins were identified using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods, and 465, 1261, 231 and 1080 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were found between M0_vs_M3, M3_vs_M6L, M6L_vs_M12, and M6L_vs_M6S, respectively. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the majority of DAPs were involved in cellular process, metabolic process and immune system-related pathways. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed using 86 fertility-related DAPs, and five proteins with the highest degree were represented as hub proteins, including CTNNB1, ADAM2, ACR, HSPA2 and GRB2. This study provided new insights into the regulation mechanisms of postnatal testicular development and identified several potential biomarkers for selecting the high-fertility rams. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Testicular development is an intricate developmental process in which thousands of proteins are involved in regulating the somatic cells development and spermatogenesis. However, knowledge about the proteome changes during postnatal testicular development in Hu sheep is still elusive. This study provides comprehensive insights into the dynamic changes in the sheep testis proteome during postnatal testicular development. Additionally, testis size is positively correlated with semen quality and ejaculation volume, also for the merits of easy measurement, high heritability and selection efficiency, is an important indicator to select candidate rams with high fertility. The functional analyses of the acquired candidate proteins may help us gain a better understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of testicular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengwei Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Jing Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Xiuxiu Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Yanli Xu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry Quality Standards, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi 830057, China
| | - Jingjing Bai
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Extension Station of Wuwei City, Wuwei 733000, China
| | - Fadi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Wanhong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Xiangpeng Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
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Dehdari Ebrahimi N, Shojaei-Zarghani S, Taherifard E, Dastghaib S, Parsa S, Mohammadi N, Sabet Sarvestani F, Moayedfard Z, Hosseini N, Safarpour H, Sadeghi A, Azarpira N, Safarpour AR. Protective effects of melatonin against physical injuries to testicular tissue: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal models. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1123999. [PMID: 36798664 PMCID: PMC9927015 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1123999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern societies face infertility as a global challenge. There are certain environmental conditions and disorders that damage testicular tissue and may cause male infertility. Melatonin, as a potential antioxidant, may protect testicular tissue. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of melatonin in animal models against physical, heat, and ischemic damage to the testicular tissue. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched to identify animal trials evaluating the protective effect of melatonin therapy on rodent testicular tissue when it is exposed to physical, thermal, ischemic, or hypobaric oxygen stress. Random-effect modeling was used to estimate the standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals based on the pooled data. Additionally, the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool was used to assess the risk of bias. The study protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022354599). RESULTS A total of 41 studies were eligible for review out of 10039 records. Studies employed direct heat, cryptorchidism, varicocele, torsion-detorsion, testicular vascular occlusion, hypobaric hypoxia, ischemia-reperfusion, stress by excessive or restraint activity, spinal cord injury, and trauma to induce stress in the subjects. The histopathological characteristics of testicular tissue were generally improved in rodents by melatonin therapy. Based on the pooled data, sperm count, morphology, forward motility, viability, Johnsen's biopsy score, testicular tissue glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase levels were higher in the melatonin treatment rodent arms. In contrast, the malondialdehyde level in testicular tissue was lower in the treatment rodent arms. The included studies suffered from a high risk of bias in most of the SYRCLE domains. CONCLUSION This study concludes that melatonin therapy was associated with improved testicular histopathological characteristics, reproductive hormonal panel, and tissue markers of oxidative stress in male rodents with physical, ischemic, and thermal testicular injuries. In this regard, melatonin deserves scientific investigations as a potential protective drug against rodent male infertility. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022354599.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Shojaei-Zarghani
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Taherifard
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sanaz Dastghaib
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shima Parsa
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nasim Mohammadi
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Moayedfard
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nima Hosseini
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Heidar Safarpour
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Sadeghi
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- *Correspondence: Negar Azarpira,
| | - Ali Reza Safarpour
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Squillacioti C, Pelagalli A, Assisi L, Costagliola A, Van Nassauw L, Mirabella N, Liguori G. Does Orexin B-Binding Receptor 2 for Orexins Regulate Testicular and Epididymal Functions in Normal and Cryptorchid Dogs? Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:880022. [PMID: 35903144 PMCID: PMC9323089 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.880022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Orexins A (OXA) and B (OXB) and the receptors 1 (OX1R) and 2 (OX2R) for orexins are hypothalamic peptides found in several mammalian organs and participated to the control of a wide assortment of physiological and pathological functions. The distribution of OXA and OX1R has been extensively studied in the male gonad of mammals. Here, we examined the expression and localization of OXB and OX2R as well as their possible involvement in the regulation of testicular and epididymal functions, in healthy and cryptorchid dogs, employing some techniques such as immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time RT-PCR. In vitro tests were also carried out for evaluating the steroidogenic effect of OXB. OXB and OX2R were expressed in spermatocytes, spermatids, and Leydig cells in normal testis. Their localization was restricted to Sertoli and Leydig cells in cryptorchid conditions. OXB was found to be localized in all tracts of both normal and cryptorchid epididymis, whereas OX2R was found only in the caput. Because the small molecular weight of the peptides OXA and OXB, the expression of their precursor prepro-orexin (PPO), OX1R, and OX2R proteins and mRNAs were investigated by means of Western blot and real-time RT-PCR analyses, respectively, in all tested groups of. In particular, the mRNA level expression of all three genes was higher in cryptorchid dogs than in normal ones. In vitro tests demonstrated that OXB—by binding OX2R—is not involved in testicular steroidogenic processes. Therefore, the findings of this study might be the basis for further functional and molecular studies addressing the possible biochemical effects of OXB and OX2R in normal and pathological conditions of the male reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Squillacioti
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pelagalli
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessandra Pelagalli
| | - Loredana Assisi
- Department of Biology, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Costagliola
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luc Van Nassauw
- Laboratory of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicola Mirabella
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna Liguori
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Department of Prevention, ASL FG, Foggia, Italy
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Gao Y, Wang C, Wang K, He C, Hu K, Liang M. The effects and molecular mechanism of heat stress on spermatogenesis and the mitigation measures. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2022; 68:331-347. [PMID: 35722894 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2022.2074325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Under normal conditions, to achieve optimal spermatogenesis, the temperature of the testes should be 2-6 °C lower than body temperature. Cryptorchidism is one of the common pathogenic factors of male infertility. The increase of testicular temperature in male cryptorchidism patients leads to the disorder of body regulation and balance, induces the oxidative stress response of germ cells, destroys the integrity of sperm DNA, yields morphologically abnormal sperm, and leads to excessive apoptosis of germ cells. These physiological changes in the body can reduce sperm fertility and lead to male infertility. This paper describes the factors causing testicular heat stress, including lifestyle and behavioral factors, occupational and environmental factors (external factors), and clinical factors caused by pathological conditions (internal factors). Studies have shown that wearing tight pants or an inappropriate posture when sitting for a long time in daily life, and an increase in ambient temperature caused by different seasons or in different areas, can cause an increase in testicular temperature, induces testicular oxidative stress response, and reduce male fertility. The occurrence of cryptorchidism causes pathological changes within the testis and sperm, such as increased germ cell apoptosis, DNA damage in sperm cells, changes in gene expression, increase in chromosome aneuploidy, and changes in Na+/K+-ATPase activity, etc. At the end of the article, we list some substances that can relieve oxidative stress in tissues, such as trigonelline, melatonin, R. apetalus, and angelica powder. These substances can protect testicular tissue and relieve the damage caused by excessive oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Gao
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaixian Wang
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaofan He
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Hu
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
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