Molecular machinery providing copper bioavailability for spermatozoa along the epididymial tubule in mouse

Progressive functional maturation of spermatozoa is completed during the transit of these cells through the epididymis, a tubule structure connecting a testicle to a vas deferens. Epididymal epithelial cells by means of their secretory and absorptive functions determine a highly specialized luminal microenvironment containing multiple organic and inorganic components. The latter include copper ions, which due to their redox properties are indispensable for critical homeostatic processes occurring in spermatozoa floating in different part of epididymis but can be potentially toxic. Main purpose of our study was to determine epididymal region-dependent expression and localization of copper transporters ensuring a tight control of copper concentration in epididymal fluid. We also aimed at identifying proteins responsible for copper uptake by spermatozoa and verifying whether this process is coordinated with copper supply to superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a copper-dependent antioxidant enzyme. Our study identifies two ATPases-ATP7A, ATP7B and Slc31a1, major copper importers/exporters depending on their differential expression on epididymal polarized epithelial cells of the caput, corpus, and cauda. Next, ceruloplasmin seems to be a chief protein transporting copper in the epididymal fluid and providing this biometal to spermatozoa. The entry of copper to germ cells is mediated by Slc31a1 and is correlated with both expressions of copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS), copper chaperone directly providing copper ions to SOD1 and with the expression and activity of the latter. Our results outline a network of cooperating copper binding proteins expressed in epididymal epithelium and in spermatozoa that orchestrate bioavailability of this microelement for gametes and protect them against copper toxicity.

The Impact of the Ketogenic Diet on Glial Cells Morphology. A Quantitative Morphological Analysis

Ketogenic diet is reported to protect against cognitive decline, drug-resistant epilepsy, Alzheimer's Disease, damaging effect of ischemic stroke and many neurological diseases. Despite mounting evidence that this dietary treatment works, the exact mechanism of its protective activity is largely unknown. Ketogenic diet acts systemically, not only changing GABA signaling in neurons, but also influencing the reliance on mitochondrial respiration, known to be disrupted in many neurological diseases. Normally, human body is driven by glucose while ketogenic diet mimics starvation and energy required for proper functioning comes from fatty acids oxidation. In the brain astrocytes are believed to be the sole neural cells capable of fatty oxidation. Here we try to explain that not exclusively neurons, but also morphological changes of astroglia and/or microglia due to different metabolic state are important for the mechanism underlying the protective role of ketogenic diet. By quantifying different parameters describing cellular morphology like ramification index or fractal dimension and using Principal Component Analysis to discover the regularities between them, we demonstrate that in normal adult rat brain, ketogenic diet itself is able to change glial morphology, indicating an important role of these underappreciated cells in the brain metabolism.

Identification of perivascular and stromal mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells in porcine endometrium

Mammalian uterus contains a population of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells that likely contribute to endometrial regeneration during each reproductive cycle. In human and mouse, they reside in perivascular, epithelial and stromal compartments of the endometrial functionalis and basalis. Here, we aimed to identify tissue resident cells expressing mesenchymal stem cell markers CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, CD140b and CD146 in the porcine endometrium. We used single immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Each of these markers was detected in small cells surrounding endometrial blood vessels. CD105 and CD146 were also expressed in single stromal cells. A few stromal and perivascular cells showed the presence of pluripotency marker Oct4 in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus, which may imply they are not truly pluripotent. Endometrial cell cultures were examined for the expression of CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105 and CD140b proteins and tested in wound-healing assay and culture model of chemotaxis. In conclusion, our results demonstrate perivascular location of prospective mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells in the porcine endometrium and may suggest that stromal CD105⁺ and CD146⁺ cells represent more mature precursors originating from their perivascular ancestors.

Induction of cortical oscillations in spreading cells by depolymerization of microtubules

Actomyosin-based cortical contractility is a common feature of eukaryotic cells but the capability to produce rhythmic contractions is found in only a few types such as cardiomyocytes. Mechanisms responsible for the acquisition of this capability remain largely unknown. Rhythmic contractility can be induced in non-muscle cells by microtubule depolymerization. Spreading epithelial cells and fibroblasts in which microtubules were depolymerized with nocodazole or colcemid underwent rhythmic oscillations of the body that lasted for several hours before the cells acquired a stable, flattened shape. By contrast, control cells spread and flattened into discoid shapes in a smooth and regular manner. Quantitative analysis of the oscillations showed that they have a period of about 50 seconds. The kinase inhibitors, HA 1077 and H7, and the more specific rho-kinase inhibitor, Y 27632, caused the oscillations to immediately cease and the cells to become flat. Transient increases in cytoplasmic calcium preceded the contractile phase of the oscillations. Wrinkle formation by cells plated on elastic substrata indicated that the contractility of colcemid-treated cells increased in comparison to controls but was drastically decreased after HA 1077 addition. These data suggest that an intact microtubular system normally prevents pulsations by moderating excessive rho-mediated actin myosin contractility. Possible mechanistic interactions between rho-mediated and calcium activated contractile pathways that could produce morphological oscillations are discussed.

Changes in ATP level and iron-induced ultra-weak photon emission in bull spermatozoa, caused by membrane peroxidation during thermal stress

ATP level, cell motility and viability, oxygen uptake, pyruvate kinase activity, and ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) induced by red-ox Fe(2+)-ascorbate cycling system were studied in fresh, in previously equilibrated in a glycerol diluent, and in cryopreserved bull spermatozoa, exposed to thermal stress by incubation of the cells at 44 degrees C. A sharp drop in motility and viability of fresh spermatozoa and even more so, of equilibrated and cryopreserved cells was accompanied by accumulation of ATP. When cell movement was totally inhibited, ATP utilization was decreased, while chemical energy continued to be produced by cell pyruvate kinase, one of the key glycolytic enzymes, which in spermatozoa is very active (6500 IU/g protein) and insensitive to feed-back inhibition by excess of ATP and L-cysteine. Accumulation of ATP during incubation at 44 degrees C in 0.9% NaCl was accompanied by rapid decrease in oxygen consumption by fresh spermatozoa and an increase in Fe(2+)-ascorbate induced UPE, followed by a sharp decrease in ATP level observed at the end of induced UPE measurement. The increase in photon emission due to lipid peroxidation was highly correlated with the increase in cell ATP level caused by thermal stress.

Changes in ATP level and iron-induced ultra-weak photon emission in bull spermatozoa, caused by membrane peroxidation during thermal stress

ATP level, cell motility and viability, oxygen uptake, pyruvate kinase activity, and ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) induced by red-ox Fe(2+)-ascorbate cycling system were studied in fresh, in previously equilibrated in a glycerol diluent, and in cryopreserved bull spermatozoa, exposed to thermal stress by incubation of the cells at 44 degrees C. A sharp drop in motility and viability of fresh spermatozoa and even more so, of equilibrated and cryopreserved cells was accompanied by accumulation of ATP. When cell movement was totally inhibited, ATP utilization was decreased, while chemical energy continued to be produced by cell pyruvate kinase, one of the key glycolytic enzymes, which in spermatozoa is very active (6500 IU/g protein) and insensitive to feed-back inhibition by excess of ATP and L-cysteine. Accumulation of ATP during incubation at 44 degrees C in 0.9% NaCl was accompanied by rapid decrease in oxygen consumption by fresh spermatozoa and an increase in Fe(2+)-ascorbate induced UPE, followed by a sharp decrease in ATP level observed at the end of induced UPE measurement. The increase in photon emission due to lipid peroxidation was highly correlated with the increase in cell ATP level caused by thermal stress.

Photon emission from chemically perturbed yeast cells

Photon emission (PE) from yeast cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain SP-4 in normal conditions and in conditions perturbed by the addition of formaldehyde was investigated using single-photon counting equipment. PE from yeast cells, growing in a standard nutrient medium (YPG) then centrifuged and resuspended in a phosphate buffer (pH = 6.5), was measured in the presence of oxygen or argon. The solution of formaldehyde (2%) was injected into the sample. The intensity of PE increased and reached a maximum, then slowly decreased to a level which was higher than the PE level without the perturbing factor. The kinetics of PE was found to be strongly dependent upon the presence of oxygen. The model of formation and recombination of free radicals was tested. The results indicate that PE can arise during the recombination reactions of free radicals like R. + R., RO. + RO., RO2. + RO2. which are formed in the enzymatic oxidative reactions.

Spectra of the formaldehyde-induced ultraweak luminescence from yeast cells

An increase in the intensity and distinct spectral changes of ultraweak luminescence from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were measured when the metabolism of cells was drastically altered. A small emission peak and a red emission band 680-850 nm appeared when air-dried cells were imbibed in water. Lethal concentrations of HCHO (0.01%-10%) elicited a 2500 fold increase of the emission intensity and distinct spectral alterations. A transient 500-580 nm emission appeared in the initial phase of interaction. Then a gradually increasing long-lasting red emission band centered around 620 nm predominated in the total spectral range covering 470-850 nm. These emissions were not correlated with minor changes in fluorescence emission and excitation spectra originating from tryptophan, flavins, and unidentified emitters.

Stress-induced photon emission from perturbed organisms

This paper reviews an ultraweak luminescent response of selected biological systems (lower and higher plants, insects and spermatozoa) to certain kinds of detrimental mechanical, temperature, chemical and photochemical stress and to lethal factors. The enhancing effect of white light and formaldehyde on the ultraweak luminescence of yeast and spermatozoa cells is described for the first time. An increase in the percentage of long wavelengths (lambda > 600 nm) with an increase in reaction time, and a significant influence of the suspending medium on the ultraweak luminescence, were observed. The vitality and motility of bull spermatozoa and the vitality of yeast cells were drastically decreased by treatment with white light, water, formaldehyde and iron-ions. Successive irradiation of intact bull spermatozoa cells with white light caused an increase in the intensity of delayed luminescence. An attempt has been undertaken to find stochastic models of non-stationary photon emission. The quasi-relaxation descending stage of non-stationary processes can be modeled as the Integrated Moving Average process IMA (0, 1, 1), and memory and transfer functions can describe the degree of perturbation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The relation of the ultraweak luminescence response to perturbations of homeostasis is discussed in the framework of biochemical and physical models.