Aim： To determine the effectiveness of the ski 1, sk9 and ski 1 TNUA5 Sertoli cell lines in binding germ cells in vitro. Methods： The immortalized Sertoli cell lines sk9, ski 1 and ski 1 TNUA5 were used in co-cultur...Aim： To determine the effectiveness of the ski 1, sk9 and ski 1 TNUA5 Sertoli cell lines in binding germ cells in vitro. Methods： The immortalized Sertoli cell lines sk9, ski 1 and ski 1 TNUA5 were used in co-culture experiments with germ cells in media with or without reproductive hormones and incubated for 44 h at 32℃. The number of germ cells bound to Sertoli cells was then determined and statistically analyzed. Western blot analysis and reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） studies were employed to investigate the presence of cell adhesion proteins and follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） receptor, respectively. Results： No statistical difference between the number of bound step-8 spermatids and bound pre-step 8 spermatids on Sertoli cells from any of the cell lines existed. After the addition of germ cells, Sertoli ceils showed more lipid accumulation in their cytoplasm, indicating active phagocytosis. Western blot analysis in the ski I TNUA5 line indicated the expression of N-cadherin. FSH-only and testosterone-only treatments increased N-cadherin expression, regardless of germ cell addition. The addition of germ cells to the ski l TNUA5 Sertoli cells increased the expression of espin, as did the addition of FSH with germ cells. RT-PCR studies of the ski I TNUA5 cells indicated that the mRNA for FSH receptor decreased with successive passages. Conclusion： In vitro binding between isolated germ cells and sk9, skll or skll TNUA5 Sertoli cells is not feasible, and therefore these cell lines are not useful for the in vitro investigation of Sertoli-germ cell interactions and primary Sertoli cell isolates must still be used.展开更多
Background Heat stress(HS)poses a significant threat to male goat reproduction.Sertoli cells(SCs)provide both structural and nutritional support necessary for germ cells.HS induces physiological and biochemical change...Background Heat stress(HS)poses a significant threat to male goat reproduction.Sertoli cells(SCs)provide both structural and nutritional support necessary for germ cells.HS induces physiological and biochemical changes in SCs.Nevertheless,the molecular mechanisms involved are still not fully understood.Melatonin is a classic antioxidant that can alleviate HS-induced male reproductive damage.However,the underlying molecular mechanisms by which melatonin mitigates damage to goat testicular SCs remain unclear and require further investigation.Results In this study,an in vivo heat stress model was established in goats.The results showed that HS exposure led to testicular injury,abnormal spermatogenesis and apoptosis of SCs.To elucidate the mechanism of HS-induced SC apoptosis,primary SCs were isolated and cultured from goat testes,then exposed to HS.HS exposure increased the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS),decreased adenosine triphosphate(ATP)synthesis,and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in SCs.Additionally,HS increased the expression of mitochondrial fission proteins 1(FIS1)and dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1)while decreasing the expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins Mitofusin 1(MFN1),Mitofusin 2(MFN2),and optic atrophy 1(OPA1).This resulted in excessive mitochondrial fission and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.Mdivi-1(DRP1 inhibitor)reduces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by inhibiting excessive mitochondrial fission.Mitochondrial fission is closely related to mitophagy.HS activated upstream mitophagy but inhibited autophagic flux,disrupting mitophagy and exacerbating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.Finally,the classical antioxidant melatonin was shown to reduce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SCs exposed to HS by decreasing ROS levels,restoring mitochondrial homeostasis,and normalizing mitophagy.Conclusions In summary,these findings indicated that the mechanism of HS-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SCs is mediated by hyperactivation of the ROS-DRP1-mitochondrial fission axis and inhibition of mitochondrial autophagy.Melatonin inhibited HS-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SCs by restoring mitochondrial homeostasis.This study enhances the understanding of the mechanisms through which heat stress triggers apoptosis and provides a vision for the development of drugs against HS by targeting mitochondria in goats.展开更多
Sertoli and granulosa cells,the initial differentiated somatic cells in bipotential gonads,play crucial roles in directing male and female gonad development,respectively.The transcription factor Foxo1 is involved in d...Sertoli and granulosa cells,the initial differentiated somatic cells in bipotential gonads,play crucial roles in directing male and female gonad development,respectively.The transcription factor Foxo1 is involved in diverse cellular processes,and its expression in gonadal somatic cells is sex-dependent.While Foxo1 is abundantly expressed in ovarian granulosa cells,it is notably absent in testicular Sertoli cells.Nevertheless,its function in gonadal somatic cell differentiation remains elusive.In this study,we find that ectopic expression of Foxo1 in Sertoli cells leads to defects in testes development.Further study uncovers that the ectopic expression of Foxo1 induces the abundant expression of Foxl2 in Sertoli cells,along with the upregulation of other female-specific genes.In contrast,the expression of male-specific genes is reduced.Mechanistic studies indicate that Foxo1 directly binds to the promoter region of Foxl2,inducing its expression.Our findings highlight that Foxo1 serves as a key regulator for the lineage maintenance of ovarian granulosa cells.This study contributes valuable insights into understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing the lineage maintenance of gonadal somatic cells.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid on lead-induced Sertoli cell injury and its potential molecular mechanisms using primary Sertoli cells from rooster testes.Methods:Primary Sertoli ce...Objective:To investigate the protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid on lead-induced Sertoli cell injury and its potential molecular mechanisms using primary Sertoli cells from rooster testes.Methods:Primary Sertoli cells from 6-week-old rooster testes were divided into four goups.They were treated with serum-free DMEM-F12 medium(the control group),40μM lead acetate,100μM alpha-lipoic acid,or 40μM lead acetate plus 100μM alpha-lipoic acid for 24 h,respectively.Cell viability,reactive oxygen species levels(DCFH-DA),antioxidant enzyme activities(catalase,superoxide dismutase),blood-testis barrier-related proteins,nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)pathway components,proliferation/apoptosis markers(Western blot),and related gene expression(qPCR)were analyzed.Results:Alpha-lipoic acid treatment significantly reduced lead-induced reactive oxygen species(ROS)production by 58.3%compared to the lead acetate group(P<0.05),enhanced catalase activity by 35.8%(P<0.05),and elevated lead-reduced PCNA expression by 47.2%(P<0.05).Lead acetate 40μM plus 100μM alpha-lipoic acid significantly increased Nrf2 expression by 78.9%and HO1/NQO1 expression by 97.5%and 89.4%,respectively(P<0.05),significantly upregulated the expression of Bcl2 protein and significantly downregulated Bax protein expression(P<0.05).Conclusions:Alpha-lipoic acid enhances the antioxidant properties of Sertoli cells by activating the Nrf2 pathway,restores lead-induced excessive autophagy,and inhibits apoptosis,thus alleviating the damage caused by lead in Sertoli cells.展开更多
Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1(Cre/loxP)technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and L...Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1(Cre/loxP)technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and Leydig cells within the testis.However,the shortcomings of these genetic tools include high costs,lengthy experimental periods,and limited accessibility for researchers.Therefore,exploring alternative gene silencing techniques is of great practical value.In this study,we employed adeno-associated virus(AAV)as a vector for gene silencing in Sertoli and Leydig cells.Our findings demonstrated that AAV serotypes 1,8,and 9 exhibited high infection efficiency in both types of testis cells.Importantly,we discovered that all three AAV serotypes exhibited exquisite specificity in targeting Sertoli cells via tubular injection while demonstrating remarkable selectivity in targeting Leydig cells via interstitial injection.We achieved cell-specific knockouts of the steroidogenic acute regulatory(Star)and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor(Lhcgr)genes in Leydig cells,but not in Sertoli cells,using AAV9-single guide RNA(sgRNA)-mediated gene editing in Rosa26-LSL-Cas9mice.Knockdown of androgen receptor(Ar)gene expression in Sertoli cells of wild-type mice was achieved via tubular injection of AAV9-short hairpinRNA(shRNA)-mediated targeting.Our findings offer technical approaches for investigating gene function in Sertoli and Leydig cells through AAV9-mediated gene silencing.展开更多
文摘Aim： To determine the effectiveness of the ski 1, sk9 and ski 1 TNUA5 Sertoli cell lines in binding germ cells in vitro. Methods： The immortalized Sertoli cell lines sk9, ski 1 and ski 1 TNUA5 were used in co-culture experiments with germ cells in media with or without reproductive hormones and incubated for 44 h at 32℃. The number of germ cells bound to Sertoli cells was then determined and statistically analyzed. Western blot analysis and reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） studies were employed to investigate the presence of cell adhesion proteins and follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） receptor, respectively. Results： No statistical difference between the number of bound step-8 spermatids and bound pre-step 8 spermatids on Sertoli cells from any of the cell lines existed. After the addition of germ cells, Sertoli ceils showed more lipid accumulation in their cytoplasm, indicating active phagocytosis. Western blot analysis in the ski I TNUA5 line indicated the expression of N-cadherin. FSH-only and testosterone-only treatments increased N-cadherin expression, regardless of germ cell addition. The addition of germ cells to the ski l TNUA5 Sertoli cells increased the expression of espin, as did the addition of FSH with germ cells. RT-PCR studies of the ski I TNUA5 cells indicated that the mRNA for FSH receptor decreased with successive passages. Conclusion： In vitro binding between isolated germ cells and sk9, skll or skll TNUA5 Sertoli cells is not feasible, and therefore these cell lines are not useful for the in vitro investigation of Sertoli-germ cell interactions and primary Sertoli cell isolates must still be used.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFD1300200)Basic Research Program of Jiangsu Province(BK20220315)+1 种基金Key Research and Development Project in Shaanxi Province(No.2022QCY-LL-52,No.2024NC-ZDCYL-03-02)Core and Key technological breakthroughs Project in agriculture of Shanxi Province(No.2023NYGG005).
文摘Background Heat stress(HS)poses a significant threat to male goat reproduction.Sertoli cells(SCs)provide both structural and nutritional support necessary for germ cells.HS induces physiological and biochemical changes in SCs.Nevertheless,the molecular mechanisms involved are still not fully understood.Melatonin is a classic antioxidant that can alleviate HS-induced male reproductive damage.However,the underlying molecular mechanisms by which melatonin mitigates damage to goat testicular SCs remain unclear and require further investigation.Results In this study,an in vivo heat stress model was established in goats.The results showed that HS exposure led to testicular injury,abnormal spermatogenesis and apoptosis of SCs.To elucidate the mechanism of HS-induced SC apoptosis,primary SCs were isolated and cultured from goat testes,then exposed to HS.HS exposure increased the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS),decreased adenosine triphosphate(ATP)synthesis,and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in SCs.Additionally,HS increased the expression of mitochondrial fission proteins 1(FIS1)and dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1)while decreasing the expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins Mitofusin 1(MFN1),Mitofusin 2(MFN2),and optic atrophy 1(OPA1).This resulted in excessive mitochondrial fission and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.Mdivi-1(DRP1 inhibitor)reduces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by inhibiting excessive mitochondrial fission.Mitochondrial fission is closely related to mitophagy.HS activated upstream mitophagy but inhibited autophagic flux,disrupting mitophagy and exacerbating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.Finally,the classical antioxidant melatonin was shown to reduce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SCs exposed to HS by decreasing ROS levels,restoring mitochondrial homeostasis,and normalizing mitophagy.Conclusions In summary,these findings indicated that the mechanism of HS-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SCs is mediated by hyperactivation of the ROS-DRP1-mitochondrial fission axis and inhibition of mitochondrial autophagy.Melatonin inhibited HS-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in SCs by restoring mitochondrial homeostasis.This study enhances the understanding of the mechanisms through which heat stress triggers apoptosis and provides a vision for the development of drugs against HS by targeting mitochondria in goats.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB0820000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82421003,32270902,32170855)+1 种基金the Faculty Resources Project of the College of Life Sciences,Inner Mongolia University(2022-104)Initiative Scientific Research Program,Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(20231OZ0102).
文摘Sertoli and granulosa cells,the initial differentiated somatic cells in bipotential gonads,play crucial roles in directing male and female gonad development,respectively.The transcription factor Foxo1 is involved in diverse cellular processes,and its expression in gonadal somatic cells is sex-dependent.While Foxo1 is abundantly expressed in ovarian granulosa cells,it is notably absent in testicular Sertoli cells.Nevertheless,its function in gonadal somatic cell differentiation remains elusive.In this study,we find that ectopic expression of Foxo1 in Sertoli cells leads to defects in testes development.Further study uncovers that the ectopic expression of Foxo1 induces the abundant expression of Foxl2 in Sertoli cells,along with the upregulation of other female-specific genes.In contrast,the expression of male-specific genes is reduced.Mechanistic studies indicate that Foxo1 directly binds to the promoter region of Foxl2,inducing its expression.Our findings highlight that Foxo1 serves as a key regulator for the lineage maintenance of ovarian granulosa cells.This study contributes valuable insights into understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing the lineage maintenance of gonadal somatic cells.
基金funded by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.LTGN24C170001Zhejiang Province Vocational Education Teaching Reform Project jg20230038+1 种基金Zhejiang Province Education Science Planning Project 2024JCD034Jinhua Science and Technology Plan Project 2024-2-002.
文摘Objective:To investigate the protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid on lead-induced Sertoli cell injury and its potential molecular mechanisms using primary Sertoli cells from rooster testes.Methods:Primary Sertoli cells from 6-week-old rooster testes were divided into four goups.They were treated with serum-free DMEM-F12 medium(the control group),40μM lead acetate,100μM alpha-lipoic acid,or 40μM lead acetate plus 100μM alpha-lipoic acid for 24 h,respectively.Cell viability,reactive oxygen species levels(DCFH-DA),antioxidant enzyme activities(catalase,superoxide dismutase),blood-testis barrier-related proteins,nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)pathway components,proliferation/apoptosis markers(Western blot),and related gene expression(qPCR)were analyzed.Results:Alpha-lipoic acid treatment significantly reduced lead-induced reactive oxygen species(ROS)production by 58.3%compared to the lead acetate group(P<0.05),enhanced catalase activity by 35.8%(P<0.05),and elevated lead-reduced PCNA expression by 47.2%(P<0.05).Lead acetate 40μM plus 100μM alpha-lipoic acid significantly increased Nrf2 expression by 78.9%and HO1/NQO1 expression by 97.5%and 89.4%,respectively(P<0.05),significantly upregulated the expression of Bcl2 protein and significantly downregulated Bax protein expression(P<0.05).Conclusions:Alpha-lipoic acid enhances the antioxidant properties of Sertoli cells by activating the Nrf2 pathway,restores lead-induced excessive autophagy,and inhibits apoptosis,thus alleviating the damage caused by lead in Sertoli cells.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82070872 and No.82370854 to JXL)Innovative and Entrepreneurial Team of Jiangsu Province(No.JSSCTD2021 to JXL)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2023M741790 to JP)Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent(2023ZB558 to JP).
文摘Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1(Cre/loxP)technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and Leydig cells within the testis.However,the shortcomings of these genetic tools include high costs,lengthy experimental periods,and limited accessibility for researchers.Therefore,exploring alternative gene silencing techniques is of great practical value.In this study,we employed adeno-associated virus(AAV)as a vector for gene silencing in Sertoli and Leydig cells.Our findings demonstrated that AAV serotypes 1,8,and 9 exhibited high infection efficiency in both types of testis cells.Importantly,we discovered that all three AAV serotypes exhibited exquisite specificity in targeting Sertoli cells via tubular injection while demonstrating remarkable selectivity in targeting Leydig cells via interstitial injection.We achieved cell-specific knockouts of the steroidogenic acute regulatory(Star)and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor(Lhcgr)genes in Leydig cells,but not in Sertoli cells,using AAV9-single guide RNA(sgRNA)-mediated gene editing in Rosa26-LSL-Cas9mice.Knockdown of androgen receptor(Ar)gene expression in Sertoli cells of wild-type mice was achieved via tubular injection of AAV9-short hairpinRNA(shRNA)-mediated targeting.Our findings offer technical approaches for investigating gene function in Sertoli and Leydig cells through AAV9-mediated gene silencing.
