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PubMed2004

Immunohistochemical demonstration of myoid cells in the testis and its excurrent ducts in the domestic fowl.

(1) Immunohistochemical methods and three antibodies (against actin, desmin and smooth muscle actin) were used to demonstrate the myoid cells in the domestic fowl testis and its excurrent ducts. (2) A positive reaction to actin, smooth muscle actin and desmin was found in the myoid cells of peritubular tissue of the testis and in rete testis, ductuli efferentes and ductus epididymidis. (3) In the testis myoid-reactive cells form a single layer. In the rete testis, ductuli efferentes and the ductus epididymidis reactive myoid cells form a main component of the stroma. (4) Positive reaction to actin, smooth muscle actin and desmin was also observed in the myoid cells of the tunica albuginea and in the wall of blood vessels in the testis and epididymis, indicating a contractile function for the testicular capsule.

Actins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in contralateral testis during unilateral testicular torsion in rats.

There are controversies about the injury of the contralateral testis during unilateral testicular torsion (UTT). An autonomic reflex arc between bilateral testes has been proposed. The authors focused on the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the contralateral testis during UTT. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats underwent unilateral torsion (1 h)-detorsion (up to 24 h). NO synthase (NOS) activity was detected as NADPH-diaphorase activity after fixation by paraformaldehyde. N-nitro-L-Arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 20 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to the other group of rats. To evaluate the testicular injury, proteolysis of alpha-fodrin production was detected by Western blotting. Apoptosis of the germ cells was evaluated by TUNEL. Long-term effect on spermatogenesis was evaluated by flow cytometry at 60 days after UTT. Transient activation of NOS was detected following the proteolysis of alpha-fodrin in the contralateral testis. L-NAME inhibited these alterations. NADPH-diaphorase activity and eNOS immunoreactivity were co-localized in the endothelial cells. These reactions were not observed in other organs. There was neither enhanced apoptosis nor deteriorated spermatogenesis in the contralateral testis during and 60 days after UTT. In the contralateral testis, eNOS-derived NO regulates the vasomotor function against unilateral testicular torsion, whereas it acts slightly cytotoxic. These results suggest the possible involvement of a testis-specific neurovasomotor reflex between the bilateral testes.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of cathepsin L in human testis under diverse infertility conditions.

The cathepsin family of proteolytic enzymes play an important role in the remodeling seminiferous epithelia in rodent testis. In an effort to uncover the cathepsin L expression in diverse pathological conditions in human testis, the immunohistochemical localization of cathepsin L was conducted in human testis under diverse male infertility condition including spermatogenic hypoplasia and testis cancer. In seminiferous tubule of normal, non-obstructive azoospermic, decreased spermatogenesis, and maturation arrest conditions, cathepsin L was found in both germ cells and Sertoli cells. In contrast, there was no visible expression of cathepsin L in seminiferous tubule tissues from Sertoli cell-only syndrome, spermatogenic hypoplasia, and testicular cancer. Our result suggests that the cross-talk between germ cells and Sertoli cells is crucial for the control of cathepsin L expression in human testis. The absence of expression of cathepsin L in germ cell cancer emphasizes that cathepsin L expression in Sertoli cells is regulated by functional germ cells in human testis.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Morphometric analysis of Leydig cells in the normal rat testis.

Leydig cells are thought to be the source of most, if not all, the testosterone produced by the testis. The goal of this study was to obtain quantitative information about rat Leydig cells and their organelles that might be correlated with pertinent physiological and biochemical data available either now or in the future. Morphometric analysis of Leydig cells in mature normal rats was carried out on tissue fixed by perfusion with buffered glutaraldehyde, and embedded in glycol methacrylate for light microscopy and in Epon for electron microscopy. In a whole testis, 82.4% of the volume was occupied by seminiferous tubules, 15.7% by the interstitial tissue, and 1.9% by the capsule. Leydig cells constituted 2.7% of testicular volume. Each cubic centimeter (contained approximatelyy 1 g) of rat testis contained about 22 million Leydig cells. An average Leydig cell had a volume of 1,210 micron3 and its plasma membrane had a surface area of 1,520 micron2. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), the most prominent organelle in Leydig cells and a major site of steroidogenic enzymes, had a surface area of approximately 10,500 micron2/cell, which is 6.9 times that of the plasma membrane and is 60% of the total membrane area of the cell. The total surface area of Leydig SER per cubic centimeter of testis tissue is approximately 2,300 cm2 or 0.23 m2. There were 3.0 mg of Leydig mitochondria in 1 g of testis tissue. The average Leydig cell contained approximately 622 mitochondria, measuring on the average 0.35 micron in diameter and 2.40 micron in length. The mitochondrial inner membrane (including cristae), another important site of steroidogenic enzymes, had a surface area of 2,920 micron2/cell, which is 1.9 times that of the plasma membrane. There were 644 cm2 of inner mitochondrial membrane/cm3 of testis tissue. These morphometric results can be correlated with published data on the rate of testosterone secretion to show that an average Leydig cell secretes approximately 0.44 pg of testosterone/d or 10,600 molecules of testosterone/s. The rate of testosterone production by each square centimeter of SER is 4.2 ng/d or 101 million molecules/s: the corresponding rate for each square centimeter of mitochondrial inner membrane is 15 ng testosterone/d or 362 million molecules/s.

Animals↗
PubMed1958

Demonstration in vitro of anaphylactoid response of the uterus and ileum of guinea pigs injected with testis or sperm.

FEMALE GUINEA PIGS WERE INJECTED WITH THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS: homogenates of guinea pig testis in saline or in adjuvant; suspensions of washed guinea pig sperm in saline or in adjuvant; homogenates of rabbit testis in adjuvant; guinea pig sperm and rabbit sperm in adjuvant. Control animals were not injected or were injected with adjuvant alone. At various times between 15 and 39 days after injection, the animals were sacrificed. Their ilea and uterine horns were removed and tested in vitro for reaction to washed epididymal sperm of the guinea pig, rabbit, or bull. It was found that the animals which were injected with homologous testis or sperm in adjuvant possessed organs which responded strongly to the challenge with homologous sperm. The response was a contracture which began 10 to 30 seconds after the sperm were injected into the bath and lasted for 5 minutes to 4 hours, the longest period of observation. Responses which lasted for periods of 5 minutes to 30 minutes were obtained with the uteri of the animals injected with guinea pig testis in saline or with guinea pig sperm in saline. Animals which were injected with rabbit testis and adjuvant responded to rabbit sperm, and animals injected with guinea pig sperm and rabbit sperm in adjuvant reacted to both gametes. A large proportion of the control animals possessed organs which reacted weakly to the challenge with homologous sperm. Retesting the organ which had contracted following exposure to sperm indicated that desensitization had occurred. Testing with heterologous sperm indicated a species selectivity. The evidence is interpreted to mean that injections of sperm or testis induce a hypersensitivity which is similar in some respects but differs from true anaphylaxis. The findings are discussed from the point of view of the nature of the response and the implications regarding natural immunity to sperm.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The high intra-abdominal testis: technique and long-term success of laparoscopic testicular autotransplantation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Treatment of the high intra-abdominal testis is often a challenging problem. We present our technique of and results with laparoscopically assisted testicular autotransplantation (LATA) for treatment of the high intra-abdominal testis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 15 patients with a high intra-abdominal testis who underwent procedures between 1993 and 1999 in which intra-abdominal dissection and testicular mobilization was performed laparoscopically. The LATA technique is described. RESULTS: The 15 patients underwent 17 LATA procedures. Age at surgery ranged from 6 months to 13 years (mean 3.6 years; median 2.5 years). Two of these patients had undergone failed contralateral orchidopexy for an intra-abdominal testis, and two patients underwent metachronous bilateral procedures. The laparoscopic dissection and microvascular anastomoses were successful in all patients. There were no postoperative complications. The involved testis remained viable with adequate growth in 15 of 17 procedures (88%) during a median 42-month (range 7-70 months) follow-up. Successful procedures included those in the two patients with contralateral atrophic testes and the two who underwent bilateral procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The LATA demonstrated a good long-term surgical outcome and may be the technique of choice in patients with bilateral intra-abdominal testes or patients who have contralateral testis atrophy following unsuccessful orchidopexy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Molecular cloning of mouse somatic and testis-specific H2B histone genes containing a methylated CpG island.

We have isolated a mouse testis-specific H2B histone gene based on the unusual methylation of the CpG island of rat testis-specific H2B gene in somatic tissues. After digestion of genomic DNA with the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme Hha I, we found that, among 10-20 copies of mouse H2B histone genes, at least three copies are methylated in somatic tissues, but not in testis. Cloning and sequence analysis of two methylated H2B genes revealed that one gene, MTH2B, is strikingly similar to the testis-specific histone H2B (TH2B) gene of rat and the other, psH2B, is a pseudogene of the somatic-type H2B gene. Northern blot analysis revealed that the expression of the MTH2B gene is testis-specific. During spermatogenesis, the MTH2B gene is expressed predominantly in pachytene spermatocytes, as observed in the expression of rat TH2B gene. Interestingly, the MTH2B gene is largely unmethylated in embryonic stem cells, but methylated in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells. The psH2B pseudogene is methylated in somatic tissues and F9 cells, but only partially methylated in embryonic stem cells. Methylation of the psH2B pseudogene seems to be attributed to its location within the context of repetitive sequences including the B1 element. The unmethylation of both H2B histone genes in the testis explains how CpG islands of those histone genes can be maintained during evolution despite heavy methylation in somatic tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Evidence for four cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain isoforms in rat testis.

Recent studies have revealed the expression of multiple putative cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (DHC) genes in several organisms, with each gene encoding a separate protein isoform. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that different isoforms do different things, as is the case for the axonemal dyneins. Furthermore, the large number of tasks ascribed to cytoplasmic dynein suggests that there may be additional isoforms not yet identified. Two of the mammalian cytoplasmic dynein heavy chains are DHC1a and DHC1b. DHC1a is conventional cytoplasmic dynein and is found in all organisms examined. DHC1b is expressed in organisms that have multiple dyneins, and has been implicated in the intracellular trafficking of molecules in unciliated and ciliated cells. In the present study, we examined the DHC1b protein from rat testis. Testis cytoplasmic dynein contains a large amount of dynein heavy chain reactive with an antibody raised against a peptide sequence of rat DHC1b. The testis anti-DHC1b immunoreactive protein is slightly smaller than testis DHC1a, as assessed by SDS-PAGE. In Northern blots, the DHC1b mRNA is smaller than the DHC1a mRNA. In sucrose gradients made in low ionic strength, DHC1a sedimented at approximately 20S, and the anti-1b immunoreactive heavy chains sedimented in a broad band centered at approximately 14S. The V1-photolysis reaction of individual sucrose gradient fractions revealed three distinct patterns of photolysis, suggesting that there are at least three separate 1b-like heavy chain isoforms in testis. Using a high-stringency Western blotting protocol, the anti-1b antibody and the anti-DHC2 antibody recognized the same heavy chain and specifically bound to one of the three 1b-like heavy chains. We conclude that rat testis contains three 1b-like dynein heavy chains, and one of these is the product of the DHC1b/DHC2 gene previously identified.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Identification and characteristics of a novel E1 like gene nUBE1L in human testis.

A gene, presumably involved in spermatogenesis, was identified and characterized by using cDNA microarray. Hybridization intensity was 2.13 fold higher in adult testis than that in fetal testis. The full length of this gene was 4288 bp and it encoded a 578 amino acid protein. Conserved structure and amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the protein contained 1 Thif-domain, 2 UBACT-domains, and a functional active site cysteine lay upstream of UBACT domain, all of them also existed in ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 and E1 like proteins. So we named this gene as a novel ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 like gene (nUBE1L). Expression profile showed that nUBE1L was predominantly expressed in testis. Comparison of the expression of nUBE1L in different developmental stages of testis indicated that it was highly expressed in adult testis. In conclusion, nUBE1L is a novel human E1 like gene highly expressed in adult testis, which plays key role in ubiquitin system, and accordingly influences spermatogenesis and male fertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Dietary (n-3) fatty acids alter fatty acid composition and prostaglandin synthesis in rat testis.

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)], compared with the long-chain (n-3) fatty acids in fish oil, in suppressing arachidonic acid [20:4(n-6)] metabolism in rat testis. Six groups of rats were fed three levels of 18:3(n-3) or fish oil, and the fatty acid composition of testis parenchyma lipids and prostaglandin (PG) I2 synthesis by tunica were determined after 12 wk. Levels of docosapentaenoic acid [22:5(n-6)], the major 22-carbon fatty acid in rat testis lipids, were significantly depressed compared with the control by both linolenic acid and fish oil; however, testis weights were not affected significantly. Arachidonic acid levels also were depressed significantly in testis lipids by dietary (n-3) fatty acids, but the decreases were not as pronounced as those observed in other tissues. The synthesis of PGI2 was significantly reduced compared with the control by (n-3) fatty acid feeding, but there were no differences among the experimental groups. Both 18:3(n-3) and the longer-chain (n-3) fatty acids from fish oil reduce levels of 20:4(n-6) and 22:5(n-6) in testis lipids and the capacity of the tunica to synthesize PGI2, but these fatty acids seem to cause no defect in testicular development as indicated by weight.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed2002

Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor in normal and inflamed rat testis.

Macrophages are numerous in the testicular interstitial tissue under normal conditions and increase during inflammation. The mechanisms involved are poorly characterized. Expression of the macrophage-regulating cytokines monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) was examined in the adult rat testis before and after an i.p. injection of an inflammatory stimulus, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the normal testis, M-CSF was readily observed using Northern blot and Western blot analysis. In contrast, MCP-1 was not detectable by Northern blot in the normal testis, but was detected using RT-PCR amplification and a sensitive ELISA. After LPS treatment, testicular MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression increased dramatically (up to 400-fold). In-situ hybridization for MCP-1 revealed that production was confined to the interstitium of the inflamed testis, in Leydig cells, peritubular cells, perivascular cells and monocyte-like macrophages, but not in tissue-resident macrophages. Unlike MCP-1, M-CSF mRNA and protein expression in the testis increased only marginally, if at all, after LPS treatment. These results suggest that MCP-1 stimulates the increase in intratesticular macrophages that accompanies LPS-induced inflammation in vivo. Together with M-CSF, MCP-1 may also play a role in maintaining the resident macrophage population of the normal testis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Expression analysis of the human testis-specific serine/threonine kinase (TSSK) homologues. A TSSK member is present in the equatorial segment of human sperm.

Two members of the human testis-specific serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinase family, TSSK 1 and TSSK 2, were cloned and sequenced from a human testis adaptor-ligated cDNA library using a PCR strategy. Within the cDNA, open reading frames (ORF) were defined encoding proteins of 367 and 358 amino acids respectively, as well as conserved kinase domains typical of the superfamily of Ser/Thr kinases. Both genes were intronless and mapped to chromosomes 5 and 22 respectively. The human and mouse homologues of TSSK 1 and TSSK 2, together with TSSK 3 and SSTK/FKSG82, constitute a kinase subfamily closely related to the calmodulin kinases and SNF/nim 1 kinase subfamilies. Similar to the mouse, tissue expression by northern and dot blot analysis revealed that human TSSK 1 and 2 messages are expressed exclusively in the testis. However, mRNA for these kinases can be detected in other tissues using real-time PCR. In addition, TSKS, the human homologue of a putative substrate of TSSK 1 and 2, was cloned. TSKS had an ORF of 592 amino acids and was also expressed exclusively in the testis as demonstrated by northern and dot blot analyses; however, lower levels of expression in other tissues were detected using real-time PCR. Human TSSK 2 and TSKS interacted in a yeast two-hybrid system and also co-immunoprecipitated after in vitro translation. TSSK 2 expressed in yeast and bacteria was able to autophosphorylate and also phosphorylated recombinant TSKS in vitro. Antibodies against recombinant TSSK 2 demonstrated that a member of the TSSK family was present in human testis and localized to the equatorial segment of ejaculated human sperm. In contrast, TSKS was only found in the testis. The finding of a TSSK family member in mature sperm suggests that this family of kinases might play a role in sperm function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Presence of a bi-directional S phase-specific transcription regulatory element in the promoter shared by testis-specific TH2A and TH2B histone genes.

During mammalian spermatogenesis, somatic histones are replaced by testis-specific variants. The synthesis of the variants occurs primarily in the germ cells undergoing meiosis in the absence of DNA replication. We have cloned the genes encoding rat somatic and testis-specific H2A (TH2A) histones. The two genes share 300 bp of 5' upstream region with respective H2B genes: somatic H2A with somatic H2B and testis-specific TH2A with testis-specific TH2B gene. The deduced amino acid sequences show that H2A and TH2A histones have eight amino acid differences in the first half of the molecules and three consecutive changes in the C-terminal region. TH2A gene is expressed only in testis. Although synthesis of TH2A and TH2B histones is independent of DNA replication and insensitive to inhibitors of DNA synthesis in testis, the regulatory region shared by the two genes contain a bi-directional S phase-specific transcription regulatory element. In addition, TH2A gene, like TH2B gene, contains the consensus sequence element in the 3' non-coding region which is involved in the S phase-specific stabilization of histone mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Rat testis as a radiobiological in vivo model for radionuclides.

The radiobiological effect of intracellularly localised radionuclides emitting low energy electrons (Auger electrons) has received much attention. Most in vivo studies reported have been performed in the mouse testis. We have investigated the rat testis as an in vivo radiobiological model, with sperm-head survival, testis weight loss and also alteration in the blood plasma hormone levels of FSH and LH as radiobiological endpoints. Validation of the rat testis model was evaluated by using mean absorbed doses of up to 10 Gy from intratesticularly (i.t.) injected (111)In oxine or local X-ray irradiation. Biokinetics of the i.t. injected radionuclide was analysed by scintillation camera imaging and used in the absorbed dose estimation. By the analysis of the autoradiographs, the activity distribution was revealed. Cell fractionation showed (111)In to be mainly associated with the cell nuclei. External irradiations were monitored by thermoluminescence dosimeters. The sperm-head survival was the most sensitive radiobiological parameter correlated to the mean absorbed dose, with a D(37) of 2.3 Gy for (111)In oxine and 1.3 Gy for X rays. The levels of plasma pituitary gonadal hormones FSH and LH were elevated for absorbed doses >7.7 Gy. This investigation shows that the radiobiological model based on the rat testis has several advantages compared with the previously commonly used mouse testis model. The model is appropriate for further investigations of basic phenomena such as radiation geometry, intracellular kinetics and heterogeneity, crucial for an understanding of the biological effect of low-energy electrons.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Stimulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein in the adult rat testis following ischemic injury occurs without an increase in HIF-1alpha messenger RNA expression.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor composed of alpha and beta subunits. Stabilized from proteasome degradation and activated by hypoxia, HIF-1 stimulates expression of hypoxia-sensitive genes that mediate oxygen homeostasis in many tissues. Our hypothesis is that HIF-1 is involved in the cellular response to hypoxia in the ischemic testis. Goals of this study were to determine if HIF-1alpha mRNA is expressed in the testis, epididymis, and accessory sex glands of adult Sprague-Dawley rats and to determine if HIF-1alpha mRNA and protein expression in the testis is affected by experimentally induced ischemia. Total RNA from reproductive organs of adult rats was analyzed by relative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. HIF-1alpha mRNA showed equal expression in testis, all segments of epididymis, ductus deferens, accessory sex glands, and penis. To examine the effects of ischemia on HIF-1alpha mRNA and protein expression in the testis, rats were subjected to unilateral testicular ischemia by placing a ligature around spermatic artery or ischemia-inducing experimental torsion and reperfusion. RT-PCR revealed that HIF-1alpha mRNA expression at all times of ischemic treatment and reperfusion was unchanged compared with normoxic controls. HIF-1alpha protein was detected by immunoblot analysis of nuclear protein extracts from normoxic testes. Steady-state levels of HIF-1alpha protein were stimulated by 15 min of ischemia and showed a 2-fold increase at 30 min and 1, 3, and 6 h. HIF-1alpha protein was also elevated by experimental torsion and reperfusion compared with normoxic controls. These results support the hypothesis that HIF-1 may play a role in the cellular response to hypoxia in the ischemic testis.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Developmental, stage-specific, and hormonally regulated expression of growth hormone secretagogue receptor messenger RNA in rat testis.

Recent evidence from our research suggested the direct role of ghrelin in the control of testicular function. However, the pattern of expression and hormonal regulation of the gene encoding its cognate receptor (i.e., the growth hormone-secretagogue receptor [GHS-R]) in the male gonad remains to be fully elucidated. In this paper, overall expression of GHS-R mRNA in rat testis was compared with that of the functional receptor form, namely GHS-R type 1a, in different developmental and experimental settings. In addition, cellular distribution of GHS-R within adult testis tissue was assessed. Our analyses demonstrated persistent expression of the GHS-R gene in rat testis throughout postnatal development. In contrast, testicular expression of GHS-R type 1a mRNA remained undetectable before puberty and sharply increased thereafter. In adult testis, GHS-R1a mRNA expression presented a scattered pattern of cellular distribution, including Sertoli and Leydig cells that also showed specific GHS-R1a immunoreactivity. Expression of total GHS-R and specific GHS-R1a mRNAs was detected in isolated seminiferous tubule preparations, with varying levels throughout the defined stages of the spermatogenic cycle. In addition, testicular expression of total GHS-R and GHS-R1a mRNAs was up-regulated by exposure to ghrelin in vitro and after stimulation with FSH in vivo. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that expression of the GHS-R gene in rat testis takes place in a developmental, stage-specific, and hormonally regulated manner. Divergent expression of total GHS-R and type 1a specific mRNAs was detected at certain stages of postnatal development and spermatogenic cycle, thus raising the possibility that, in addition to net changes in GHS-R gene expression, the balance between receptor subtypes may represent a novel mechanism for the tuning of ghrelin sensitivity in rat testis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Specific binding of nuclear proteins to a bifunctional promoter element upstream of the H1/AC box of the testis-specific histone H1t gene.

The testis-specific histone H1t gene is transcribed exclusively in primary spermatocytes during spermatogenesis. Studies with transgenic mice show that 141 base pairs (bp) of the H1t proximal promoter accompanied with 800 bp of downstream sequence are sufficient for tissue-specific transcription. Nuclear proteins from testis and pachytene spermatocytes produce footprints spanning the region covering the repressor element (RE) from 100 to 125 nucleotides upstream of the H1t transcriptional initiation site. Only testis nuclear proteins bind to the 5'-end of the element and produce a unique, low-mobility complex in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. This testis complex is distinct from the complex formed by a repressor protein derived from several cell lines that binds to the 3'-end of the element. The testis complex band is formed when using nuclear proteins from primary spermatocytes, where the H1t gene is transcribed, and band intensity drops 70%-80% when using nuclear proteins from early spermatids, where H1t gene transcription ceases. Protein-DNA cross-linking experiments using testis nuclear proteins produce electrophoretic bands of 59, 52, and 50 kDa on SDS/PAGE gels.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Different testicular gene expression patterns in the first spermatogenic cycle of postnatal and vitamin A-deficient rat testis.

Spermatogenesis is a complicated process of germ cell differentiation, involving programmatic expression of diverse cell type- and developmental stage-specific genes. To date, the vitamin-A-deficiency (VAD) rats and postnatal rats are two models commonly used to study spermatogenesis. In the present study, we studied the expression of 1185 known genes in the vitamin-A-deficient and retinol-reinitiated spermatogenesis of rat testis using Clontech Atlas rat cDNA expression arrays. The mRNA expression patterns of post-vitamin-A (PVA) testis on Days 15 and 35 were compared with those of the spermatogenic arrested rat testis on Day 0. About 9% (110/1185) of the genes studied were highly expressed. When compared with VAD rat testis on Day 0, 20 and 31 genes were differentially expressed by a factor of twofold or greater on Days 15 and 35, respectively. Four genes (cytochrome P450 17, sulfated glycoprotein 2, protein kinase inhibitor, and cathepsin L) that play important roles in spermatogenesis were selected and their gene expression patterns were confirmed by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Comparison of the expression patterns of these genes between PVA-VAD and postnatal rat testis in developmentally matched stages revealed substantial differences during the early stages of spermatogenesis. This discrepancy could be caused by either the presence of arrested but mature somatic cells in the PVA-VAD testis that may contribute to a unique gene expression pattern in this model or the direct effect of retinol on spermatogenesis. Therefore, caution is needed in interpreting the gene expression data using the PVA-VAD and postnatal rat models in studying spermatogenesis in rat testes.

Animals↗