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Transcriptional Alterations of Genes Related to Fertility Decline in Male rats Induced by Chronic Sleep Restriction

ABSTRACT: The adverse effects of sleep disorders on male fertility are increasingly concerning. In this study, a rat model of chronic sleep restriction (CSR) was established using the modified multiplatform method. The effects of CSR on the fertility of male rats were evaluated first based on sexual behavior. Serum hormones, including testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and sperm parameters (concentration, viability, motility, deformation rate) were measured, and testicular histology was analysed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The transcriptional differences between CSR rats and control rats were detected by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), and DNA methylation was then detected by bisulfite sequencing. After the differently expressed genes of CSR rats were sequenced and screened, some representative up- and down-regulated genes were randomly sampled to verify the sequencing results by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Finally, functional annotations were completed, including gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomic (KEGG) pathway analyses. The results showed that the sexual behavior of CSR rats did not change when compared with control group rats. The sperm concentration, viability and motility of the CSR rats decreased significantly, while the sperm malformation rate increased significantly. In the KEGG pathway analysis database, some specific differentially expressed genes were screened, which are involved in metabolic pathways, inflammation-related pathways, the renin-angiotensin system, etc. However, the aforesaid differentially expressed genes in the testes were not related to their DNA methylation status. CSR could significantly reduce the fertility of male rats, and one of its mechanisms occurs by altering gene expression in the testes, which has nothing to do with their DNA methylation. It was suggested that CSR could cause male infertility by significantly altering the testicular transcriptome.

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

PROVIDER: GSE141699 | GEO | 2019/12/16

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The specific role of polyamines in the testis physiology is not fully understood. Antizymes (OAZs) and antizyme inhibitors (AZINs) are modulators of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis and polyamine uptake. Although the three known OAZs are expressed in the testis, only OAZ3 is testis specific and has been proven to have an essential role in male fertility. Regarding the two existing AZINs, AZIN2 is the most abundantly expressed member in this gonad. Whereas previous studies suggested that AZIN2 might participate in mouse spermatogenesis, immunohistological analysis of human testicular sections revealed that AZIN2 is also detected in the steroidogenic Leydig cells but not in the germinal epithelium. In the present study, we found a close ontogenic similarity in the mRNA levels of OAZs and AZINs between mice and rats, but an opposite expression pattern of ODC activity. Further analysis of AZIN2 and OAZ3 in the testis of mice with different alterations in spermatogenesis and fertility, induced either genetically or pharmacologically, corroborated that both AZIN2 and OAZ3 are mainly expressed in the haploid germinal cells. Finally, by using transgenic mice with a truncated Azin2 gene fused to the bacterial lacZ gene, we studied the expression of Azin2 in testes, epididymides and spermatozoa. AZIN2 was detected in spermatids and spermatozoa, as well as in Leydig cells, and in epithelial epidydimal cells. Azin2 knock-out male mice were fertile; however, they showed marked decreases in testicular putrescine and plasma and testicular testosterone levels, and a dramatic reduction in the sperm motility. These results suggest an important role for AZIN2 in testicular cells by modulating polyamine concentrations, testosterone synthesis and sperm function. Overall, our data corroborate the relevance of polyamine regulation in spermatogenesis, where both AZIN2 and OAZ3 play fundamental roles. We used microarrays in order to detect how the disruption of Azin2 could affect overall gene expression in testis.

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Transcriptional Alterations of Genes Related to Fertility Decline in Male rats Induced by Chronic Sleep Restriction

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