scholarly journals A Novel Approach of Tracing in Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging Expression of Vitrified Immature Testicular Tissue Grafts Until Adulthood: A Translational Transgenic Mouse Model

Author(s):  
Buo-Jia Lu ◽  
Yung-Liang Liu ◽  
Bou-Zenn Lin ◽  
Chi-Huang Chen

Abstract Background: The optimal method for cryopreserving immature testicular tissue (ITT) remains unknown and there is no standardized protocol. Controlled slow freezing remains the mainstream method of choice in human prepubertal male fertility preservation. Currently, the outcomes for ITT vitrification are conflicting, and most data are limited to in vitro animal studies.Methods: A total of 12 pairs of donor and recipient mice were included in our experiments. The donors were immature transgenic mice, and the recipients were wild-type male mice. In the vitrification group, ITT was vitrified and thawed before transplantation. In the control group, ITT was transplanted to the recipients immediately. After thawing, we measured the expression of apoptosis-related mRNA caspase-3. More importantly, we monitored to adulthood all the transplanted grafts in vivo using noninvasive bioluminescence imaging (BLI) technology. On day 31, we removed the grafts for evaluation via hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: We traced the survival of the grafts by in vivo BLI on days 1, 2, 5, 7, and 31 after transplantation. In both the vitrification and the control groups, bioluminescence decreased between days 2 and 5. Subsequently, the bioluminescence showed an upward trend until day 31. Compared with day 1, the bioluminescence was significantly stronger on day 31 after transplantation (P = 0.009). The differences between the two groups were constantly insignificant after analysis. These results indicate that both fresh and frozen–thawed testicular tissues can survive for at least 31 days after transplantation. Moreover, the vitrification group showed BLI signals comparable with those of fresh tissues. Compared with the control group, expression of the caspase-3 gene was significantly increased after vitrification (P = 0.04). Histology and IHC showed that both tissue structure and protein expression were intact in both groups.Conclusions: Transplanted vitrified ITT grafts could survive till adulthood with BLI intensity comparable to that of the fresh control. Intact cells and structures for spermatogenesis in vitrified ITT grafts were as well-preserved as those in the control group. This translational model of self-repairing vitrified ITT grafts in vivo, lends weight to the role of vitrification in prepubertal male fertility preservation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guiqing Zhou ◽  
Jianhui Liu ◽  
Xiangyang Li ◽  
Yujian Sang ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are found in environmental particulate matter and are proven to have adverse effects on fertility. The relationship and underlying mechanisms between miRNAs and apoptosis induced by SiNPs during spermatogenesis is currently ambiguous. Experimental design: The present study was designed to investigate the role of miRNA-450b-3p in the reproductive toxicity caused by SiNPs. In vivo, 40 male mice were randomly divided into control and SiNPs groups, 20 per group. The mice in the SiNPs group were administrated 20 mg/kg SiNPs by tracheal perfusion once every 5 days, for 35 days, and the control group were given the equivalent of a normal luminal saline. In vitro, spermatocyte cells were divided into 0 and 5 μg/mL SiNPs groups, after passaged for 30 generations, the GC-2spd cells in 5 μg/mL SiNPs groups were transfected with miRNA-450b-3p and its mimic and inhibitor. Results: In vivo, the results showed that SiNPs damaged tissue structures of testis, decreased the quantity and quality of the sperm, reduced the expression of miR-450b-3p, and increased the protein expressions of the MTCH2, BID, BAX, Cytochrome C, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 in the testis. In vitro, SiNPs obviously repressed the viability and increased the LDH level and apoptosis rate, decreased the levels of the miR-450b-3p, significantly enhanced the protein expressions of the MTCH2, BID, BAX, Cytochrome C, Caspase-9, Caspase-3; while the mimic of miR-450b-3p reversed the changes induced by SiNPs, but inhibitor further promoted the effects induced by SiNPs.Conclusion: The result suggested that SiNPs could induce the spermatocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the miR-450b-3p expression to target promoting the MTCH2 resulting in activating mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathways in the spermatocyte cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyu Qiao ◽  
Ran Zhang ◽  
Lina Gao ◽  
Yanjie Guo ◽  
Jinda Wang ◽  
...  

Introduction. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) have emerged as promising cell candidates but with poor survival after transplantation. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of VEGF, bFGF, and IGF-1 on BMSCs’ viability and proliferation bothin vivoandin vitrousing bioluminescence imaging (BLI).Methods. BMSCs were isolated fromβ-actin-Fluc+transgenic FVB mice, which constitutively express firefly luciferase. Apoptosis was induced by hypoxia preconditioning for up to 24 h followed by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. 106BMSCs with/without growth factors were injected subcutaneously into wild type FVB mice’s backs. Survival of BMSCs was longitudinally monitored using bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for 5 weeks. Protein expression of Akt, p-Akt, PARP, and caspase-3 was detected by Western blot.Results. Hypoxia-induced apoptosis was significantly attenuated by bFGF and IGF-1 compared with VEGF and control groupin vitro(P<0.05). When combined with matrigel, IGF-1 showed the most beneficial effects in protecting BMSCs from apoptosisin vivo.The phosphorylation of Akt had a higher ratio in the cells from IGF-1 group.Conclusion. IGF-1 could protect BMSCs from hypoxia-induced apoptosis through activation of p-Akt/Akt pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Cheng ◽  
Dan Liu ◽  
Ruinan Xing ◽  
Haixu Song ◽  
Xiaoxiang Tian ◽  
...  

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anticancer drug, but its therapeutic use is limited by its cardiotoxicity. The principal mechanisms of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity are oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Orosomucoid 1 (ORM1), an acute-phase protein, plays important roles in inflammation and ischemic stroke; however, the roles and mechanisms of ORM1 in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity remain unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the function of ORM1 in cardiomyocytes experiencing DOX-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. A DOX-induced cardiotoxicity animal model was established in C57BL/6 mice by administering an intraperitoneal injection of DOX (20 mg/kg), and the control group was intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of sterilized saline. The effects were assessed after 7 d. Additionally, H9c2 cells were stimulated with DOX (10 μM) for 24 h. The results showed decreased ORM1 and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis after DOX stimulation in vivo and in vitro. ORM1 overexpression significantly reduced DOX-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. ORM1 significantly increased the expression of nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream protein heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and reduced the expression of the lipid peroxidation end product 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and the level of cleaved caspase-3. In addition, Nrf2 silencing reversed the effects of ORM1 on DOX-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, ORM1 inhibited DOX-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which might provide a new treatment strategy for DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Gwang Park ◽  
Young-Jin Son ◽  
Tae Ho Lee ◽  
Nam Joon Baek ◽  
Deok Hyo Yoon ◽  
...  

Cordyceps militaris is used widely as a traditional medicine in East Asia. Although a few studies have attempted to elucidate the anticancer activities of C. militaris, the precise mechanism of C. militaris therapeutic effects is not fully understood. We examined the anticancer activities of C. militaris ethanolic extract (Cm-EE) and its cellular and molecular mechanisms. For this purpose, a xenograft mouse model bearing murine T cell lymphoma (RMA) cell-derived cancers was established to investigate in vivo anticancer mechanisms. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, immunoblotting analysis, and flow cytometric assay were employed to check in vitro cytotoxicity, molecular targets, and proapoptotic action of Cm-EE. Interestingly, cancer sizes and mass were reduced in a C. militaris-administered group. Levels of the phosphorylated forms of p85 and AKT were clearly decreased in the group administered with Cm-EE. This result indicated that levels of phosphoglycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) and cleaved caspase-3 were increased with orally administered Cm-EE. In addition, Cm-EE directly inhibited the viability of cultured RMA cells and C6 glioma cells. The number of proapoptotic cells was significantly increased in a Cm-EE treated group compared with a control group. Our results suggested that C. militaris might be able to inhibit cancer growth through regulation of p85/AKT-dependent or GSK3β-related caspase-3-dependent apoptosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-542
Author(s):  
Lijuan Zhao ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Wei Fan

This study was established to investigate the effects of cisplatin nano-liposomes on the apoptosis of the human retinoblastoma (RB) cell line Y79 in vitro and in vivo. Y79 cells were cultured and then exposed to Annexin V/PI to test their apoptosis, tested with the Caspase-3 activity detection kit to examine the change in activity of Caspase-3, and subjected to western blotting to test Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression. Y79-cell-transplanted tumor model in nude mice was also established and divided into three groups, with five nude mice in each. Cisplatin nano-liposomes were applied to the experimental group, cisplatin was injected into the control group, while saline was administered to the blank group, after which the nude mice were killed and the tumor was removed. Tumor volumes and weights in the three groups were compared. Nucleic acid extraction from magnetic beads was adopted to extract DNA, RT-PCR was employed to test Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA levels in tumor tissues, and in situ cell death assay kit was applied to test apoptotic cells. In comparison to the cisplatin solution and DMSO groups, the cisplatin liposome group showed higher Y79 apoptotic rate, Caspase-3 activity, and Bax protein expression, and lower Bcl-2 protein expression (all P < 0 05). In comparison with the control and blank groups, the experimental group showed lower tumor volume, weight, and Bcl-2 mRNA level of nude mice. In addition, in comparison with the control group, the experimental group showed higher cellular apoptotic rate and Bax mRNA level. In terms of the clinical effects of cisplatin nano-liposomes on a tumor transplant in nude mice with cervical cancer, they were shown to promote tumor apoptosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enjun Zuo ◽  
Cong Zhang ◽  
Jun Mao ◽  
Chenxue Gao ◽  
Shuhai Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Because precise mechanism for 2,5-hexanedione (HD)-induced neuronal apoptosis largely remains unknown, we explored the potential mechanisms both in vivo and in vitro. Rats were intraperitoneally exposed to HD at different doses for 5 weeks, following which the expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), phosphorylation of Akt and Bad, dimerization of Bad and Bcl-xL, as well as the release of cytochrome c and the caspase-3 activity were measured. Moreover, these variables were also examined in vitro in HD-exposed VSC4.1 cells with or without a PI3K-specific agonist (IGF-1), and in HD-exposed VSC4.1 cells with or without a PI3K-specific inhibitor (LY294002) in the presence or absence of NGF. The data indicate that, as the concentration of HD increased, rats exhibited progressive gait abnormalities, and enhanced neuronal apoptosis in the rat sciatic nerve, compared with the results observed in the control group. Furthermore, HD significantly down-regulated NGF expression in the rat sciatic nerve. Moreover, suppression of NGF expression inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and Bad. Meanwhile, an increase in the dimerization of Bad and Bcl-xL in mitochondria resulted in cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. In contrast, HD-induced apoptosis was eliminated by IGF-1. Additionally, NGF supplementation reversed the decrease in phosphorylation of Akt and Bad, as well as reversing the neuronal apoptosis in HD-exposed VSC4.1 cells. However, LY294002 blocked these effects of NGF. Collectively, our results demonstrate that mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis is induced by HD through NGF suppression via the PI3K/Akt pathway both in vivo and in vitro.


2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 1192-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Huang Chen ◽  
Chia-Woei Wang ◽  
Ming-I. Hsu ◽  
Yen-Hua Huang ◽  
Wen-Fu Thomas Lai ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elissavet Ntemou ◽  
Chrysanthi Alexandri ◽  
Pascale Lybaert ◽  
Ellen Goossens ◽  
Isabelle Demeestere

While the incidence of cancer in children and adolescents has significantly increased over the last decades, improvements made in the field of cancer therapy have led to an increased life expectancy for childhood cancer survivors. However, the gonadotoxic effect of the treatments may lead to infertility. Although semen cryopreservation represents the most efficient and safe fertility preservation method for males producing sperm, it is not feasible for prepubertal boys. The development of an effective strategy based on the pharmacological protection of the germ cells and testicular function during gonadotoxic exposure is a non-invasive preventive approach that prepubertal boys could benefit from. However, the progress in this field is slow. Currently, cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue (ITT) containing spermatogonial stem cells is offered to prepubertal boys as an experimental fertility preservation strategy by a number of medical centers. Several in vitro and in vivo fertility restoration approaches based on the use of ITT have been developed so far with autotransplantation of ITT appearing more promising. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological approaches for fertility protection in prepubertal and adolescent boys and the fertility restoration approaches developed on the utilization of ITT.


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