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Amato CM, Fricke A, Marella S, Mogus JP, Bereman M, McCoy KA. An experimental evaluation of the efficacy of perinatal sulforaphane supplementation to decrease the incidence and severity of vinclozolin-induced hypospadias in the mouse model. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 451:116177. [PMID: 35905821 PMCID: PMC9450412 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Determining the mechanisms of toxicity induced by pollutants has long been a research priority in lieu of considering the mechanisms of resilience that prevent deleterious impacts. Protective mechanisms in many taxa can be therapeutically targeted to enhance resilience to synthetic toxicants. For example, the environmental sensor, Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nfe2l2 or Nrf2), a transcription factor, facilitates transcription of many protective genes. Hypospadias is a common malformation of the penis. The risk of being born with hypospadias increases with pollutant exposure. We use vinclozolin-induced hypospadias in the mouse as a model to test the hypothesis that pollutant-induced birth defects can be prevented and reduced in severity by augmenting natural mechanisms of resilience. Pregnant mice were exposed to the demasculinizing toxicant, vinclozolin, in combination with increasing doses of the NRF2 activator, sulforaphane. The sulforaphane dose that most effectively increased masculinization (anogenital distance) was identified and used to test the hypothesis that sulforaphane reduces the hypospadias-inducing potency of vinclozolin. Finally, a Nrf2 knockout study was conducted to test whether NRF2 was required for the sulforaphane-induced rescue effects. Sulforaphane supplementation to vinclozolin exposed embryos increased anogenital distance in a nonlinear fashion typical of Nrf2 activators. The most effective dose of sulforaphane (45 mg/kg) reduced the occurrence and severity of vinclozolin-induced hypospadias and corrected penis morphogenesis. The sulforaphane-induced rescue effect was dependent on the presence of Nrf2. Nrf2 plays a critical role in protecting the fetus from vinclozolin and reduces the incidence and severity of hypospadias, the most common birth defect in boys in many countries. This work lays a foundation for developing prenatal supplements that will protect the fetus from pollutant-induced hypospadias. Studying the protective mechanisms that drive resilience to toxicants will facilitate innovation of protective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro M Amato
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA
| | - Ariel Fricke
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA
| | - Sahiti Marella
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA
| | - Joshua P Mogus
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA
| | - Michael Bereman
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Krista A McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA; Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Center for Coastal and Human Health, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA.
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Rodriguez KF, Brown PR, Amato CM, Nicol B, Liu CF, Xu X, Yao HHC. Somatic cell fate maintenance in mouse fetal testes via autocrine/paracrine action of AMH and activin B. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4130. [PMID: 35840551 PMCID: PMC9287316 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31486-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fate determination and maintenance of fetal testes in most mammals occur cell autonomously as a result of the action of key transcription factors in Sertoli cells. However, the cases of freemartin, where an XX twin develops testis structures under the influence of an XY twin, imply that hormonal factor(s) from the XY embryo contribute to sex reversal of the XX twin. Here we show that in mouse XY embryos, Sertoli cell-derived anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and activin B together maintain Sertoli cell identity. Sertoli cells in the gonadal poles of XY embryos lacking both AMH and activin B transdifferentiate into their female counterpart granulosa cells, leading to ovotestis formation. The ovotestes remain to adulthood and produce both sperm and oocytes, although there are few of the former and the latter fail to mature. Finally, the ability of XY mice to masculinize ovaries is lost in the absence of these two factors. These results provide insight into fate maintenance of fetal testes through the action of putative freemartin factors. Fate determination and maintenance of foetal testes in most animals occurs cell autonomously. Here the authors show in mouse XY embryos that Sertoli cell derived AMH and activin B together maintain Sertoli cell identity, and lack of both AMH and activin B leads to transdifferentiation into female granulosa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina F Rodriguez
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Paula R Brown
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ciro M Amato
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chia-Feng Liu
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- Epigenetics & Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Humphrey Hung-Chang Yao
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA.
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Amato CM, Yao HHC, Zhao F. One Tool for Many Jobs: Divergent and Conserved Actions of Androgen Signaling in Male Internal Reproductive Tract and External Genitalia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:910964. [PMID: 35846302 PMCID: PMC9280649 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.910964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 1940s, Alfred Jost demonstrated the necessity of testicular secretions, particularly androgens, for male internal and external genitalia differentiation. Since then, our knowledge of androgen impacts on differentiation of the male internal (Wolffian duct) and external genitalia (penis) has been drastically expanded upon. Between these two morphologically and functionally distinct organs, divergent signals facilitate the establishment of tissue-specific identities. Conversely, conserved actions of androgen signaling are present in both tissues and are largely responsible for the growth and expansion of the organs. In this review we synthesize the existing knowledge of the cell type-specific, organ specific, and conserved signaling mechanisms of androgens. Mechanistic studies on androgen signaling in the Wolffian duct and male external genitalia have largely been conducted in mouse model organisms. Therefore, the majority of the review is focused on mouse model studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro M. Amato
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Humphrey H-C. Yao
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Fei Zhao
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Rister AL, Amato CM, Nash T, McCoy MW, Bereman M, McCoy KA. Toxicant exposure during pregnancy increases protective proteins in the dam and a sexually dimorphic response in the fetus. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 413:115407. [PMID: 33434571 PMCID: PMC9152768 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that alter endocrine system function, induce birth defects, and a myriad of other negative health outcomes. Although the mechanism of toxicity of many EDCs have been studied in detail, little work has focused on understanding the mechanisms through which pregnant dams and fetuses protect themselves from EDCs, or if those protective mechanisms are sexually dimorphic in fetuses. In this study, we examined proteomic alterations in the livers of mouse dams and their male and female fetuses induced by vinclozolin, a model antiandrogenic EDC. Dam livers upregulated nine phase I and phase II detoxification pathways and pathway analysis revealed that more pathways are significantly enriched in dam livers than in fetal livers. Phase I and II detoxification proteins are also involved in steroid and steroid hormone biosynthesis and vinclozolin likely alters steroid levels in both the dam and the fetus. The response of the fetal liver proteome to vinclozolin exposure is sexually dimorphic. Female fetal livers upregulated proteins in xenobiotic metabolism pathways, whereas male fetal livers upregulated proteins in oxidative phosphorylation pathways. These results suggest that female fetuses increase protective mechanisms, whereas male fetuses increase ATP production and several disease pathways that are indicative of oxidative damage. Females fetuses upregulate proteins and protective pathways that were similar to the dams whereas males did not. If this sexually dimorphic pattern is typical, then males might generally be more sensitive to EDCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana L Rister
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
| | - Ciro M Amato
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Tara Nash
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Michael W McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Michael Bereman
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Krista A McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Amato CM, Boyd M, Yang J, McCoy KA. Organizational effects of the antiandrogen, vinclozolin, on penis development in the mouse†. Biol Reprod 2018; 99:639-649. [DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ciro M Amato
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Morgan Boyd
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joshua Yang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Krista A McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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McCoy KA, Amato CM, Guillette LJ, St Mary CM. Giant toads (Rhinella marina) living in agricultural areas have altered spermatogenesis. Sci Total Environ 2017; 609:1230-1237. [PMID: 28787797 PMCID: PMC5600858 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Across diverse taxa, germ cell development is controlled by an intricate cascade of processes that are tightly controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Endocrine disturbances, such as those induced by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can negatively affect spermatogenesis. Here, we investigate whether spermatogenesis is altered in the giant toad, Rhinella marina, living in agricultural areas where EDCs are used relative to suburban areas. We also ask if reductions in spermatogenesis were associated with developmental gonadal abnormalities (intersex) found in the same frogs. We found that toads in agricultural areas exhibited reduced spermatogenesis relative to non-agricultural animals, and that those reductions were not associated with gross gonadal abnormalities. All toads living in agricultural areas had reduced spermatogenesis relative to those living in non-agricultural areas regardless of whether they had gonadal abnormalities originating during development. Similarities in reproductive dysfunction among diverse taxa living in agricultural areas, including humans, suggest that many vertebrate taxa living in agricultural areas around the globe are likely experiencing some level of reproductive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista A McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
| | - Ciro M Amato
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Louis J Guillette
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (L.J.G.), Medical University of South Carolina, and Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Colette M St Mary
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Amato CM, McCoy KA. A validated protocol to quantify severity of male urogenital feminization using the MOUSE (Mouse objective urethral severity evaluation). Pediatr Res 2016; 80:880-885. [PMID: 27490742 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2016.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital abnormalities vary in presentation, yet studies using model organisms tend to focus on occurrence rather than severity of the defect. Scoring severity of abnormalities in model systems allows explicit hypothesis testing during basic, translational, and reverse translational studies. We developed and validated a protocol to quantify severity of male urogenital feminization (hypospadias) in the mouse model. Hypospadias is one of the most common birth defects in the world. METHODS To induce genital feminization, pregnant mice were exposed to different concentrations of the antiandrogen vinclozolin. Genitalia were photographed at gestational age 18.5. A dichotomous scoring system to evaluate genital feminization was developed, and validated against histological measurements of urethral length. A training protocol was developed for novice scorers, and criteria were defined to evaluate precision and accuracy of scores. RESULTS Vinclozolin induced variation in hypospadias severity. Severity scores were tightly correlated with histologically determined urethral length and both techniques showed similar dose-response relationships. Novice observers were trained to precisely and accurately score hypospadias severity. CONCLUSION This standardized scoring system advances the mouse as a model to study urogenital development, and will facilitate research on the mechanisms driving genital feminization in males, and aid translational hypospadias research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro M Amato
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | - Krista A McCoy
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
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Hilleman DE, Monaghan MS, Ashby CL, Mashni JE, Woolley K, Amato CM. Physician-prompting statin therapy intervention improves outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease. Pharmacotherapy 2001; 21:1415-21. [PMID: 11714215 DOI: 10.1592/phco.21.17.1415.34422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of a posthospital discharge intervention that prompted physicians to increase the use and effectiveness of statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS Participants were 612 patients with CHD who were admitted to a coronary care unit. The control group (303 patients admitted from October 1-December 31, 1998) received no follow-up intervention. The intervention group (309 patients admitted fromJanuary 1-March 31, 1999) had follow-up letters sent or phone calls made to their primary care physicians with patient-specific recommendations concerning assessment of lipid profiles and statin therapy. Over a 2-year follow-up period, assessment of lipid profiles, use of therapy, and adverse clinical outcomes were compared between the control and intervention groups. RESULTS At hospital discharge, there was no significant difference in the use of statins between the groups. At each reported follow-up interval, the percentages of patients having lipid profiles measured, being treated with a statin, receiving titrated dosages of a statin, and achieving low-density lipid (LDL) cholesterol goals set by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) were significantly greater in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). At the end of the 2-year follow-up period, nearly three-fourths (72%) of the intervention group were receiving a statin, compared with 43% of the control group. In addition, 55% of the intervention group achieved their NCEP LDL goal, compared with only 10% of the control group. Recurrent myocardial infarction, hospitalization for myocardial ischemia, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular mortality were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). CONCLUSION A relatively simple physician-prompting intervention significantly increased assessment of lipid status, frequency of statin use, achievement of LDL treatment goals, and titration of lipid drug dosages. In addition, the improved use of statins significantly reduced adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This intervention tool should be more broadly applied in patient populations eligible to receive these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Hilleman
- School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Creigton University, Omaha, Nebraska 68178, USA.
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Garozzo A, Rossi M, Denaro A, Allegra E, Santangelo G, Amato CM, Tomasello C. [Analysis of nuclear DNA content in laryngeal tumors]. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 1988; 8:117-23. [PMID: 3188901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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