Project description:Cultivation of neonatal mouse testis tissue can induce spermatogenesis and produce fertile sperms. However, this in vitro spermatogenesis by the current organ culture method comes short in fully mimicking the in vivo counterpart, partly due to a lack of knowledge about the underlying molecular phenotypes. In this study, we investigated transcriptome of cultured testis tissues using microarray method. Principle component analysis of the transcriptome data revealed delay and/or arrest of spermatogenesis and immediate radical immune reactions in the cultured testis tissues. The delay/arrest of spermatogenesis occurred before and during early meiotic phase, resulting in inefficient progression of meiosis. The immune reaction, on the other hand, was drastic and overwhelming, in which TLR4-NF-kB signaling was speculated to be involved. Notably, treatment with TAK242, an inhibitor of TLR4-NF-kB signaling pathway, ameliorated the macrophage activation which otherwise would exacerbate the inflammation. The present study revealed for the first time the immense immune reaction in the cultured tissue by transcriptomic analysis, which could be a cause of the inefficiency of in vitro spermatogenesis.
Project description:Analysis of 2dpp whole testes cultured for 24h in the presence of WIN 18,446, a BDAD compound. BDADs (Bis-(dichloroacetyl)-diamines) have been shown previously to inhibit spermatogenesis and function as male contraceptives in many species; however, their mechanism of action has yet to be fully described. Results provide insight into the ability of WIN 18,446 to inhibit retinoic acid synthesis in the murine testis. Testes were removed from 2dpp 129 mice and cultured for 24h in an organ culture mold in the presence of WIN 18,446. Total RNA was extracted and hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays.
Project description:Studying spermatogenesis is the key to understanding the development mechanism of the yak reproductive system. Although N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has been reported to regulate spermatogenesis and reproductive function in mammals, the molecular mechanism of m6A in yak testis development and spermatogenesis remains largely unknown. Therefore, we collected testicular tissue from junile and adult yaks, and found that the m6A level significantly increased after sexual maturity in yak. In MeRIP-seq, 1,702 hypermethylated peaks and 724 hypomethylated peaks were identified. The hypermethylated differentially methylated RNAs (DMRs) (CIB2, AK1, FOXJ2, PKDREJ, SLC9A3, and TOPAZ1) mainly regulated spermatogenesis, while the hypomethylated DMRs (BCL6, USP25, CD96, EPHA2, and TAF12) mainly participated in immune response. Functional enrichment analysis showed that DMRs were significantly enriched in the adherens junction, gap junction, and Wnt, PI3K, and mTOR signaling pathways, regulating cell development, spermatogenesis, and testicular endocrine function. The functional analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that they were involved in the biological processes of mitosis, meiosis, and flagellated sperm motility during sexual maturity of yak testis. We also screened the key regulatory factors of testis development and spermatogenesis by combined analysis, which included BRCA1, CREBBP, STAT3, and SMAD4. This study has important research value and practical guiding significance for yak genetic improvement, particularly in understanding the molecular mechanism and evolutionary dynamics of the progression of testis developmental stages in yaks.
Project description:Spermatogenesis plays an important role in the mammalian testis, involving in the complex processes of mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. Spermatogenesis may also be disrupted in the absence of the immunological and ‘fence’ functions of the BTB, resulting in male subfertility or infertility. Mice lacking wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) display male reproductive organ defects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these abnormalities remain unclear. We explored the function of Wip1 in spermatogenesis and fertility by examining differences in the expressed testis proteome and phosphoproteome between Wip1-deficient and wild-type mice using a proteomics approach. 90 proteins and 178 phosphoproteins were differentially regulated between these two groups of mice. These results suggested that proinflammatory cytokines may impair the blood–testis barrier dynamics by decreasing the expression of junction-associated proteins, which effect could be partially responsible for the subfertility and spermatogenesis defects in Wip1-knockout mice.
Project description:Our experimental design includes samples at different time points during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Each time point corresponds to specific cell content in the testis. First time point is post natal day (PND) 7, when only somatic cells and spermatogonia are present in the testis. Thereafter additional cell types are present in selected samples in chronological order: PND 14 contains early spermatocytes, PND 17 late spermatocytes, PND 21 round spermatids and finally PND 28 elongating spermatids. Our results highlight differentially expressed genes and gene isoforms, which are important for correct sperm development and male fertility. In addition, functional analysis suggests a highly controlled gene expression pattern during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Transcriptome sequencing of the mouse testes at PND 7, 14, 17, 21 and 28 for analysis of differences in gene expression pattern during the first wave of spermatogenesis. In total 10 samples were analysed, replicates for each time point.
Project description:Our experimental design includes samples at different time points during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Each time point corresponds to specific cell content in the testis. First time point is post natal day (PND) 7, when only somatic cells and spermatogonia are present in the testis. Thereafter additional cell types are present in selected samples in chronological order: PND 14 contains early spermatocytes, PND 17 late spermatocytes, PND 21 round spermatids and finally PND 28 elongating spermatids. Our results highlight differentially expressed genes and gene isoforms, which are important for correct sperm development and male fertility. In addition, functional analysis suggests a highly controlled gene expression pattern during the first wave of spermatogenesis.
Project description:Analysis of 2dpp whole testes cultured for 24h in the presence of WIN 18,446, a BDAD compound. BDADs (Bis-(dichloroacetyl)-diamines) have been shown previously to inhibit spermatogenesis and function as male contraceptives in many species; however, their mechanism of action has yet to be fully described. Results provide insight into the ability of WIN 18,446 to inhibit retinoic acid synthesis in the murine testis.
Project description:Continuous sperm production is not necessary for the survival of the organism, but is essential to maintain a species. The process of spermatogenesis is comprised of three phases: mitotic proliferation, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. To illuminate germline intrinsic and extrinsic programs, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on ~35K cells from the adult mouse testis. This analysis provides a comprehensive molecular atlas of the testis, identifying both known and novel cell types. We demonstrate for the first time the continuous nature of germ cell differentiation, provide molecular signatures and subtype-specific molecular markers, and identify several novel candidate regulators of spermatogenesis. Finally, we demonstrate in vivo using spatial mapping that germ and somatic cell molecular subtypes correspond to previously defined histological cell types residing at different stages of seminiferous epithelial cycle. Taken together, our results unveil the complexity of the testis, and provide a global, unbiased roadmap of the in vivo gametogenesis program.
Project description:Temporal study of the first wave of spermatogenesis in juvenile mouse testis and analysis of four germ cell deficient mouse models.<br> A series of purified testis cell-types (McCarrey libraries)constituting a focussed gene set was exploited to examine gene expression in prepubertal mouse testis. Testis RNA from C57/BL6J mice at various ages post partum was compared to a common control consisting of adult (8 week) testis RNA from the same strain(also corresponding to the last time-point).This generates a time course showing the activation of genes on the array across the first wave of spermatogenesis, which can then be correlated with the appearance of specific germ cell types, allowing assignation of unknown genes to differing cell types. <br> <br> Adult testis RNA from four different genetic models of infertility (XXSxrb, mshi, Bax -/-, bs) were compared to age- and strain-matched normal control testis RNA. These models possess different cellular complements within the testis, which can be interpreted within the framework established by the first wave analysis and used to refine the assignment of genes to cell types.