Demonstration of Specific Marker Proteins, Determining Spermatozoa Fertility, and of Proteins, Common for Sperm and Other Cellular Types (Stem/Progenitor, Malignant and Differentiated Normal Cells)

Author(s):  
Iliana N Ilieva,Sainova

The condensation of nuclear chromatin in mature differentiated male germ cells is an important morphological marker about their fertilization capability or male fertility, respectively. Spermatozoa with decondensed chromatin possess a sharply reduced ability to fertilize the egg and they are even responsible for the early abnormal development of the fetus. The aim of the current study is directed to demonstration of specific proteins/markers (cytoplasmic and/or nuclear DNPs/RNPs), determining the fertility of male germ cells, as well as of proteins, which are common/specific for sperm and other cell types (such as embryonic and adult stem/progenitor cells, malignant HeLa cells, etc.) at different stages of their development. Combining different techniques for assay could give a possibility about more precise identification of the changes, and inter-molecular (DNP/RNP and of protein-protein) interactions in the composition of complex cytoplasmic structures, on intra- and extra- cellular levels. The results obtained could be helpful to establish the diagnosis as well as to the application of adequate therapeutic strategy and/or of appropriate techniques for in vitro-fertilization (assisted reproductive technology) in cases of male infertility. The current article demonstrates for specific marker proteins.

2003 ◽  
Vol 372 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie NAUD ◽  
Aminata TOURÉ ◽  
Jianfeng LIU ◽  
Charles PINEAU ◽  
Laurence MORIN ◽  
...  

The male-germ-cell Rac GTPase-activating protein gene (MgcRacGAP) was initially described as a human RhoGAP gene highly expressed in male germ cells at spermatocyte stage, but exhibits significant levels of expression in most cell types. In somatic cells, MgcRacGAP protein was found to both concentrate in the midzone/midbody and be required for cytokinesis. As a RhoGAP, MgcRacGAP has been proposed to down-regulate RhoA, which is localized to the cleavage furrow and midbody during cytokinesis. Due to embryonic lethality in MgcRacGAP-null mutant mice and to the lack of an in vitro model of spermatogenesis, nothing is known regarding the role and mode of action of MgcRacGAP in male germ cells. We have analysed the expression, subcellular localization and molecular interactions of MgcRacGAP in male germ cells. Whereas MgcRacGAP was found only in spermatocytes and early spermatids, the widespread RhoGTPases RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 (which are, to various extents, in vitro substrates for MgcRacGAP activity) were, surprisingly, not detected at these stages. In contrast, Rnd2, a Rho family GTPase-deficient G-protein was found to be co-expressed with MgcRacGAP in spermatocytes and spermatids. MgcRacGAP was detected in the midzone of meiotic cells, but also, unexpectedly, in the Golgi-derived pro-acrosomal vesicle, co-localizing with Rnd2. In addition, a stable Rnd2–MgcRacGAP molecular complex could be evidenced by glutathione S-transferase pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. We conclude that Rnd2 is a probable physiological partner of MgcRacGAP in male germ cells and we propose that MgcRacGAP, and, quite possibly, other RhoGAPs, may participate in signalling pathways involving Rnd family proteins.


Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (14) ◽  
pp. 3359-3365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriyoshi Sakai

Because cell culture systems are easily accessible for experimental genetic manipulation, male germ cell culture is of great usefulness in creating sperm vectors. This report describes that cultured male germ cells of zebrafish (Danio rerio) underwent mitosis and transmeiotic differentiation, including the entire process of meiosis, to develop into functional sperm. Enzymatically dissociated testicular cells containing germ cells were co-cultured on feeder cells derived from tumor-like testis, which exhibited features characteristic of Sertoli cells such as phagocytic activity and transcription of the Wilms’ tumor suppressor wt1 and sox9a genes. Germ cells formed a clump, divided by mitosis, and differentiated into flagellated sperm on the feeders. Expression of the germ cell marker gene vas was prolonged in co-culture with the feeders, compared with culture of dissociated testicular cells alone, indicating that the feeder cells stimulate proliferation of spermatogonia. When cultured germ cells/sperm with the feeders were used for in vitro fertilization, normal embryos were obtained. Addition of the thymidine analogue 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) into culture medium resulted in BrdU-positive sperm and four-cell stage embryos after in vitro fertilization. This culture system should prove useful not only in producing transfected functional sperm, but also in analyzing the regulatory function of testicular somatic cells on the mitosis and meiosis of male germ cells in vertebrates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204173142110605
Author(s):  
Hossein Eyni ◽  
Sadegh Ghorbani ◽  
Hojjatollah Nazari ◽  
Marziyeh Hajialyani ◽  
Sajad Razavi Bazaz ◽  
...  

In modern life, several factors such as genetics, exposure to toxins, and aging have resulted in significant levels of male infertility, estimated to be approximately 18% worldwide. In response, substantial progress has been made to improve in vitro fertilization treatments (e.g. microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (m-TESE), intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and round spermatid injection (ROSI)). Mimicking the structure of testicular natural extracellular matrices (ECM) outside of the body is one clear route toward complete in vitro spermatogenesis and male fertility preservation. Here, a new wave of technological innovations is underway applying regenerative medicine strategies to cell-tissue culture on natural or synthetic scaffolds supplemented with bioactive factors. The emergence of advanced bioengineered systems suggests new hope for male fertility preservation through development of functional male germ cells. To date, few studies aimed at in vitro spermatogenesis have resulted in relevant numbers of mature gametes. However, a substantial body of knowledge on conditions that are required to maintain and mature male germ cells in vitro is now in place. This review focuses on advanced bioengineering methods such as microfluidic systems, bio-fabricated scaffolds, and 3D organ culture applied to the germline for fertility preservation through in vitro spermatogenesis.


1989 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-239
Author(s):  
P.I. Francz ◽  
K. Bayreuther ◽  
H.P. Rodemann

Methods for the selective enrichment of various subpopulations of the human skin fibroblast cell line HH-8 have been developed. These methods permit the selection of homogeneous populations of the three mitotic fibroblast cell types MF I, II and III, and the four postmitotic cell types PMF IV, V, VI and VII. These seven cell types exhibit differentiation-dependent and cell-type-specific patterns of [35S]methionine-labelled polypeptides in total soluble cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins, also in membrane-bound proteins, and in secreted proteins. In the differentiation sequence MF II-MF III-PMF IV - PMF V - PMF VI 14 cell-type-specific marker proteins have been found in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fraction, also 24 cell-type-specific marker proteins have been found in the membrane-bound protein fraction, and 11 cell-type-specific marker proteins in the secreted protein fraction. Markers in spontaneously arising and experimentally selected or induced populations of a single fibroblast cell type were found to be identical.


2008 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1688-1689
Author(s):  
Wei Shen ◽  
Lan Li ◽  
Donghui Zhang ◽  
Qingjie Pan ◽  
Mingxiao Ding ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher L. Baker ◽  
Michael Walker ◽  
Seda Arat ◽  
Guruprasad Ananda ◽  
Pavlina Petkova ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAlthough a variety of writers, readers, and erasers of epigenetic modifications are known, we have little information about the underlying regulatory systems controlling the establishment and maintenance of the epigenetic landscape, which varies greatly among cell types. Here, we have explored how natural genetic variation impacts the epigenome in mice. Studying levels of H3K4me3, a histone modification at sites such as promoters, enhancers, and recombination hotspots, we found tissue-specific trans-regulation of H3K4me3 levels in four highly diverse cell types: male germ cells, embryonic stem (ES) cells, hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. To identify the genetic loci involved, we measured H3K4me3 levels in male germ cells in a mapping population of 60 BXD recombinant inbred lines, identifying extensive trans-regulation primarily controlled by six major histone quantitative trait loci (hQTL). These chromatin regulatory loci act dominantly to suppress H3K4me3, which at hotspots reduces the likelihood of subsequent DNA double-strand breaks. QTL locations do not correspond with enzyme known to metabolize chromatin features. Instead their locations match clusters of zinc finger genes, making these possible candidates that explain the dominant suppression of H3K4me3. Collectively, these data describe an extensive, tissue-specific set of chromatin regulatory loci that control functionally related chromatin sites.


Development ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L. Brice ◽  
J.E. Cheetham ◽  
V.N. Bolton ◽  
N.C. Hill ◽  
P.N. Schofield

The insulin-like growth factors are broadly distributed in the human conceptus and are thought to play a role in the growth and differentiation of tissues during development. Using in situ hybridization we have shown that a wide variety of specific cell types within tissues express the gene for insulin-like growth factor II at times of development from 18 days to 14 weeks of gestation. Examination of blastocysts produced by in vitro fertilization showed no expression, thus bracketing the time of first accumulation of IGF-II mRNA to between 5 and 18 days postfertilization. The pattern of IGF-II expression shows specific age-related differences in different tissues. In the kidney, for example, expression is found in the cells of the metanephric blastema which is dramatically reduced as the blastema differentiates. The reverse is also seen, and we have noted an increase in expression of IGF-II in the cytotrophoblast layer of the placenta with gestational age. The sites of expression do not correlate with areas of either high mitotic activity or specific types of differentiation, but the observed pattern of expression in the kidney, adrenal glands and liver suggests an explanation for the abnormally high IGF-II mRNA expression in developmental tumours such as Wilms' tumour.


1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (Suppl_3) ◽  
pp. 33-34
Author(s):  
J. Tesarik ◽  
C. Mendoza ◽  
M. Bahceci ◽  
C. Özcan ◽  
E. Greco ◽  
...  

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