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Gene expression alterations by conditional knockout of androgen receptor in adult Sertoli cells of Utp14b jsd/jsd (jsd) mice.

ABSTRACT: Spermatogenesis is dependent primarily on testosterone action on the Sertoli cells, but the molecular mechanisms have not been identified. Attempts to identify testosterone-regulated target genes in Sertoli cells have used microarray analysis of gene expression in mice lacking the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells (SCARKO) and wild-type mice, but the analyses have been complicated both by alteration of germ cell composition of the testis when pubertal or adult mice were used and by differences in Sertoli-cell gene expression from the expression in adults when prepubertal mice were used. To overcome these limitations and identify AR-regulated genes in adult Sertoli cells, we compared gene expression in adult jsd (Utp14b jsd/jsd, juvenile spermatogonial depletion) mouse testes and with that in SCARKO-jsd mouse testes, since their cellular compositions are essentially identical, consisting of only type A spermatogonia and somatic cells. Microarray analysis identified 157 genes as downregulated and 197 genes as upregulated in the SCARKO-jsd mice compared to jsd mice. Some of the AR-regulated genes identified in the previous studies, including Rhox5, Drd4, and Fhod3, were also AR regulated in the jsd testes, but others, such as proteases and components of junctional complexes, were not AR regulated in our model. Surprisingly, a set of germ cell–specific genes preferentially expressed in differentiated spermatogonia and meiotic cells, including Meig1, Sycp3, and Ddx4, were all upregulated about 2-fold in SCARKO-jsd testes. AR-regulated genes in Sertoli cells must therefore be involved in the regulation of spermatogonial differentiation, although there was no significant differentiation to spermatocytes in SCARKO-jsd mice. Further gene ontogeny analysis revealed sets of genes whose changes in expression may be involved in the dislocation of Sertoli cell nuclei in SCARKO-jsd testes.

SUBMITTER: Zhou W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3071269 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Gene expression alterations by conditional knockout of androgen receptor in adult Sertoli cells of Utp14b jsd/jsd (jsd) mice.

Zhou Wei W Wang Gensheng G Small Christopher L CL Liu Zhilin Z Weng Connie C CC Yang Lizhong L Griswold Michael D MD Meistrich Marvin L ML

Biology of reproduction 20110201 2

Spermatogenesis is dependent primarily on testosterone action on the Sertoli cells, but the molecular mechanisms have not been identified. Attempts to identify testosterone-regulated target genes in Sertoli cells have used microarray analysis of gene expression in mice lacking the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells (SCARKO) and wild-type mice, but the analyses have been complicated both by alteration of germ cell composition of the testis when pubertal or adult mice were used and by differe ...[more]

PMID: 21312389

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Project description:Spermatogenesis is dependent primarily on testosterone action on the Sertoli cells. Although the identification of testosterone-regulated target genes in Sertoli cells has been approached using microarray analysis to compare gene expression in mice with androgen receptor (AR) elimination in the Sertoli cells (SCARKO) and wild type mice, the analysis has been complicated by alteration of germ cell composition of the testis when pubertal or adult mice were used and differences in Sertoli-cell gene expression from those in adult when prepubertal mice were used. Since the testicular cell components of adult jsd (Utp14bjsd ,juvenile spermatogonial depletion) mice and SCARKO-jsd mice are essentially identical, consisting of only type A spermatogonia and somatic cells, comparisons of gene expression profiles between jsd and SCARKO-jsd testes would identify AR regulated genes in adult Sertoli cells, with minimum effects of cell number changes. Microarray analysis identified 161 genes as downregulated and 202 genes as upregulated in the SCARKO-jsd mice compared to jsd mice. Some of the genes identified in the previous studies, including Rhox5, Drd4, and Fhod3, were also AR-regulated in the jsd testes but others, such as proteases and components of junctional complexes, were not androgen regulated in our model. Surprisingly, a set of germ-cell-specific genes preferentially expressed in differentiated spermatogonia and meiotic cells, including Meig1, Sycp3, and Ddx4, were all upregulated about 2-fold in SCARKO-jsd testes, demonstrating that, although there was no significant differentiation to spermatocytes in SCARKO-jsd mice, AR-regulated genes in Sertoli cells are involved in the regulation of spermatogonial differentiation. Further gene ontogeny analysis revealed possible sets of genes whose expression changes may be involved in the disruption of Sertoli cell organization in SCARKO-jsd testes. Comparisons of gene expression profiles between the testis of jsd mice (n=3) and SCARKO-jsd mice (n=3).

Project description:A significant decline in human male reproductive function has been reported for the past 20 years but the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. However, recent studies showed that the gap junction protein connexin-43 (CX43; also known as GJA1) might be involved. CX43 is the predominant testicular connexin (CX) in most species, including in humans. Alterations of its expression are associated with different forms of spermatogenic disorders and infertility. Men with impaired spermatogenesis often exhibit a reduction or loss of CX43 expression in germ cells (GCs) and Sertoli cells (SCs). Adult male transgenic mice with a conditional knockout (KO) of the Gja1 gene [referred to here as connexin-43 (Cx43)] in SCs (SCCx43KO) show a comparable testicular phenotype to humans and are infertile. To detect possible signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms leading to the testicular phenotype in adult SCCx43KO mice and to their failure to initiate spermatogenesis, the testicular gene expression of 8-day-old SCCx43KO and wild-type (WT) mice was compared. Microarray analysis revealed that 658 genes were significantly regulated in testes of SCCx43KO mice. Of these genes, 135 were upregulated, whereas 523 genes were downregulated. For selected genes the results of the microarray analysis were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR and immunostaining. The majority of the downregulated genes are GC-specific and are essential for mitotic and meiotic progression of spermatogenesis, including Stra8, Dazl and members of the DM (dsx and map-3) gene family. Other altered genes can be associated with transcription, metabolism, cell migration and cytoskeleton organization. Our data show that deletion of Cx43 in SCs leads to multiple alterations of gene expression in prepubertal mice and primarily affects GCs. The candidate genes could represent helpful markers for investigators exploring human testicular biopsies from patients showing corresponding spermatogenic deficiencies and for studying the molecular mechanisms of human male sterility.

Dataset Information

Gene expression alterations by conditional knockout of androgen receptor in adult Sertoli cells of Utp14b jsd/jsd (jsd) mice.

Publications

Gene expression alterations by conditional knockout of androgen receptor in adult Sertoli cells of Utp14b jsd/jsd (jsd) mice.

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