Surfing the wave, cycle, life history, and genes/proteins expressed by testicular germ cells. Part 5: Intercellular junctions and contacts between germs cells and Sertoli cells and their regulatory interactions, testicular cholesterol, and genes/proteins associated with more than one germ cell generation

2009 ◽  
pp. NA-NA ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Hermo ◽  
R.-Marc Pelletier ◽  
Daniel G. Cyr ◽  
Charles E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Cell Generation ◽  
Cycle Life ◽  
Regulatory Interactions ◽  
Wave Cycle

Surfing the wave, cycle, life history, and genes/proteins expressed by testicular germ cells. Part 1: Background to spermatogenesis, spermatogonia, and spermatocytes

2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Hermo ◽  
R.-Marc Pelletier ◽  
Daniel G. Cyr ◽  
Charles E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Cycle Life ◽  
Wave Cycle

scholarly journals Cell-type-specific regulation of genes involved in testicular lipid metabolism: fatty acid-binding proteins, diacylglycerol acyltransferases, and perilipin 2

Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 471-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo M Oresti ◽  
Jesús García-López ◽  
Marta I Aveldaño ◽  
Jesús del Mazo
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Fatty Acid Binding Proteins ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Fatty Acid Binding ◽  
Germ Cell Differentiation ◽  
Perilipin 2

Male germ cell differentiation entails the synthesis and remodeling of membrane polar lipids and the formation of triacylglycerols (TAGs). This requires fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) for intracellular fatty acid traffic, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) to catalyze the final step of TAG biosynthesis, and a TAG storage mode. We examined the expression of genes encoding five members of the FABP family and two DGAT proteins, as well as the lipid droplet protein perilipin 2 (PLIN2), during mouse testis development and in specific cells from seminiferous epithelium.Fabp5expression was distinctive of Sertoli cells and consequently was higher in prepubertal than in adult testis. The expression ofFabp3increased in testis during postnatal development, associated with the functional differentiation of interstitial cells, but was low in germ cells.Fabp9, together withFabp12, was prominently expressed in the latter. Their transcripts increased from spermatocytes to spermatids and, interestingly, were highest in spermatid-derived residual bodies (RB). Both Sertoli and germ cells, which produce neutral lipids and store them in lipid droplets, expressedPlin2. Yet, whileDgat1was detected in Sertoli cells,Dgat2accumulated in germ cells with a similar pattern of expression asFabp9. These results correlated with polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich TAG levels also increasing with mouse germ cell differentiation highest in RB, connecting DGAT2 with the biosynthesis of such TAGs. The age- and germ cell type-associated increases inFabp9,Dgat2, andPlin2levels are thus functionally related in the last stages of germ cell differentiation.

Studies of Sl/Sld in equilibrium with +/+ mouse aggregation chimaeras. II. Effect of the steel locus on spermatogenesis

Development ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nakayama ◽  
H. Kuroda ◽  
H. Onoue ◽  
J. Fujita ◽  
Y. Nishimune ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mast Cells ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Type A ◽  
Precursor Cells ◽  
Intrinsic Defect ◽  
Serial Sections ◽  
Type A Spermatogonia

Mutant mice of Sl/Sld genotype are deficient in melanocytes, erythrocytes, mast cells and germ cells. Deficiency of melanocytes, erythrocytes and mast cells is not attributable to an intrinsic defect in their precursor cells but to a defect in the tissue environment that is necessary for migration, proliferation and/or differentiation. We investigated the mechanism of germ cell deficiency in male Sl/Sld mice by producing aggregation chimaeras from Sl/Sld and +/+ embryos. Chimaeric mice with apparent white stripes were obtained. Two of four such chimaeras were fertile and the phenotypes of resulting progenies showed that some Sl/Sld germ cells had differentiated into functioning sperms in the testis of the chimaeras. In cross sections of the testes of chimaeras, both differentiated and nondifferentiated tubules were observed. However, the proportions of type A spermatogonia to Sertoli cells in both types of tubules were comparable to the values observed in differentiated tubules of normal +/+ mice. We reconstructed the whole length of four tubules from serial sections. Differentiated and nondifferentiated segments alternated in a single tubule. The shortest differentiated segment contained about 180 Sertoli cells and the shortest nondifferentiated segment about 150 Sertoli cells. These results suggest that Sertoli cells of either Sl/Sld or +/+ genotype make discrete patches and that differentiation of type A spermatogonia does not occur in patches of Sl/Sld Sertoli cells.

Germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions

1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kretser DM de
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Sertoli Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Cell Interactions ◽  
Cell Contact ◽  
Paracrine Factors ◽  
Cytological Changes ◽  
Cyclic Changes ◽  
Blood Testis Barrier

The interactions between the Sertoli cells and germ cells are progressively becoming an important part of testicular physiology. This paper explores the cytological basis for these interactions, detailing the cyclic changes in the Sertoli cells in concert with the stages of the seminiferous cycle and the nature of the blood-testis barrier. These cytological changes are correlated with a number of variations in the function of Sertoli cells. The mechanisms by which germ cells and Sertoli cells interact are explored and can be divided into those using cell-to-cell contact and others utilizing paracrine factors.

scholarly journals A conserved requirement forFbxo7during male germ cell cytoplasmic remodelling

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia C Rathje ◽  
Suzanne J Randle ◽  
Sara Al Rawi ◽  
Benjamin M Skinner ◽  
Emma EP Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Substrate Recognition ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Proteasome Activity ◽  
Ubiquitin E3 Ligase ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
Summary Statement ◽  
Similar Stage

Summary statementFbxo7 is the substrate-recognition subunit of an SCF-type ubiquitin E3 ligase complex. It has physiologically important functions in regulating mitophagy, proteasome activity and the cell cycle in multiple cell types, like neurons, lymphocytes and erythrocytes. Here we show that in addition to the previously-known Parkinsonian and haematopoietic phenotypes, Fbxo7-deficient male mice are completely sterile. In these males, despite successful meiosis, nuclear elongation and eviction of histones from chromatin, the developing spermatids are phagocytosed by Sertoli cells during late spermiogenesis, as the cells undergo cytoplasmic remodelling. Surprisingly, despite the loss of all germ cells, there was no evidence of the symplast formation and cell sloughing that is typically associated with spermatid death in other mouse sterility models, suggesting that novel cell death and/or cell disposal mechanisms may be engaged in Fbxo7-deficient males. Mutation of theDrosophilaFbxo7 orthologue,nutcracker(ntc) was previously shown to cause sterility at a similar stage of germ cell development, indicating that the requirement for Fbxo7 is conserved. Thentcphenotype was attributed to proteasome mis-regulation via an interaction with the proteasome regulator, DmPI31. Our data suggest rather that in mice, the requirement for Fbxo7 is either independent of its interaction with PI31, or relates specifically to cytoplasmic proteasome activity during spermiogenesis.

1 XENOGRAFTING OF ADULT MAMMALIAN TESTIS TISSUE

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
L. Arregui ◽  
R. Rathi ◽  
W. Zeng ◽  
A. Honaramooz ◽  
M. Gomendio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Human Testis ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
Donor Tissue ◽  
Germ Cell Differentiation ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
Testis Tissue

Testis tissue grafting presents an option for preservation of genetic material when sperm recovery is not possible. Grafting of testis tissue from sexually immature males to immunodeficient mice results in germ cell differentiation and production of fertilization-competent sperm from different mammalian species (Honaramooz et al. 2002 Nature 418, 778–781). However, the efficiency of testis tissue xenografting from adult donors has not been critically evaluated. Spermatogenesis was arrested at meiosis in grafts from mature horses (Rathi et al. 2006 Reproduction 131, 1091–1098) and hamsters (Schlatt et al. 2002 Reproduction 124, 339–346), and no germ cell differentiation occurred in xenografts of adult human testis tissue (Schlatt et al. 2006 Hum. Reprod. 21, 384–389). The objective of this study was to investigate survival and germ cell differentiation of testis xenografts from sexually mature donors of different species. Small fragments of testis tissue from 10 donor animals of 5 species were grafted under the back skin of immunodeficient, castrated male mice (n = 37, 2–6/donor). Donors were pig (8 months old), goat (18 months old and 4 years old) (n = 2), bull (3 years old), donkey (13 months old), and rhesus monkey (3, 6, 11, and 12 years old). At the time of grafting, donor tissue contained elongated spermatids, albeit to different degrees (>75% of seminiferous tubules in testis tissue from pig, goat, bull, and 6–12-year-old monkeys, and 33 or 66% of tubules in tissue from donkey or 3-year-old monkey, respectively). Grafts were recovered <12 weeks (n = 14 mice), 12–24 weeks (n = 16 mice), and >24 weeks (n = 7 mice) after grafting and classified histologically as completely degenerated (no tubules found), degenerated tubules (only hyalinized seminiferous tubules observed), or according to the most advanced type of germ cell present. Grafts from pig, goat, bull, and 6–12-year-old monkeys contained >60% degenerated tubules or were completely degenerated at all time points analyzed. In contrast, in grafts from the 3-year-old monkey, only 18% of tubules were degenerated, 14% contained Sertoli cells only, 64% contained meiotic, and 4% haploid germ cells at 24 weeks after grafting. Similarly, donkey testis grafts recovered 12–24 weeks after grafting contained <2% degenerated tubules, 46% of tubules had Sertoli cells only, 45% contained meiotic, and 7% haploid germ cells. These results show that survival and differentiation of germ cells in testis grafts from sexually mature mammalian donors is poor. However, better graft survival and maintenance of spermatogenesis occurred in donor tissue from donkey and 3-year-old monkey that were less mature at the time of grafting. Therefore, species and age-related differences appear to exist with regard to germ cell survival and differentiation in xenografts from adult donors. This work was supported by USDA/CSREES 03-35203-13486, NIH/NCRR 5-R01-RR17359-05, the Spanish Ministry of Education, and Science (BES-2004-4112).

scholarly journals Sertoli–germ cell junctions in the testis: a review of recent data

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1546) ◽  
pp. 1593-1605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona A. Kopera ◽  
Barbara Bilinska ◽  
C. Yan Cheng ◽  
Dolores D. Mruk
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Junction Type ◽  
Stage Viii ◽  
Immunological Barrier

Spermatogenesis is a process that involves an array of cellular and biochemical events, collectively culminating in the formation of haploid spermatids from diploid precursor cells known as spermatogonia. As germ cells differentiate from spermatogonia into elongated spermatids, they also progressively migrate across the entire length of the seminiferous epithelium until they reach the luminal edge in anticipation of spermiation at late stage VIII of spermatogenesis. At the same time, these germ cells must maintain stable attachment with Sertoli cells via testis-unique intermediate filament- (i.e. desmosome-like junctions) and actin- (i.e. ectoplasmic specializations, ESs) based cell junctions to prevent sloughing of immature germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium, which may result in infertility. In essence, both desmosome-like junctions and basal ESs are known to coexist between Sertoli cells at the level of the blood–testis barrier where they cofunction with the well-studied tight junction in maintaining the immunological barrier. However, the type of anchoring device that is present between Sertoli and germ cells depends on the developmental stage of the germ cell, i.e. desmosome-like junctions are present between Sertoli and germ cells up to, but not including, step 8 spermatids after which this junction type is replaced by the apical ES. While little is known about the biology of the desmosome-like junction in the testis, we have a relatively good understanding of the molecular architecture and the regulation of the ES. Here, we discuss recent findings relating to these two junction types in the testis, highlighting prospective areas that should be investigated in future studies.

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