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Zhao Y, Deng S, Li C, Cao J, Wu A, Chen M, Ma X, Wu S, Lian Z. The Role of Retinoic Acid in Spermatogenesis and Its Application in Male Reproduction. Cells 2024; 13:1092. [PMID: 38994945 PMCID: PMC11240464 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis in mammalian testes is essential for male fertility, ensuring a continuous supply of mature sperm. The testicular microenvironment finely tunes this process, with retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A, serving a pivotal role. Retinoic acid is critical for various stages, including the differentiation of spermatogonia, meiosis in spermatogenic cells, and the production of mature spermatozoa. Vitamin A deficiency halts spermatogenesis, leading to the degeneration of numerous germ cells, a condition reversible with retinoic acid supplementation. Although retinoic acid can restore fertility in some males with reproductive disorders, it does not work universally. Furthermore, high doses may adversely affect reproduction. The inconsistent outcomes of retinoid treatments in addressing infertility are linked to the incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which retinoid signaling governs spermatogenesis. In addition to the treatment of male reproductive disorders, the role of retinoic acid in spermatogenesis also provides new ideas for the development of male non-hormone contraceptives. This paper will explore three facets: the synthesis and breakdown of retinoic acid in the testes, its role in spermatogenesis, and its application in male reproduction. Our discussion aims to provide a comprehensive reference for studying the regulatory effects of retinoic acid signaling on spermatogenesis and offer insights into its use in treating male reproductive issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Shoulong Deng
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Animal Model, National Health Commission of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China;
| | - Chongyang Li
- Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No. 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China;
| | - Jingchao Cao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Aowu Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Mingming Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Xuehai Ma
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Mental Development and Learning Science, College of Psychology, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Sen Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Zhengxing Lian
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biological Sciences, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
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Kitamura Y, Suzuki A, Uranishi K, Nishimoto M, Mizuno S, Takahashi S, Okuda A. Alternative splicing for germ cell‐specific
Mga
transcript can be eliminated without compromising mouse viability or fertility. Dev Growth Differ 2022; 64:409-416. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Kitamura
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Genomic Medicine Saitama Medical University, 1397‐1 Yamane, Hidaka Saitama Japan
| | - Ayumu Suzuki
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Genomic Medicine Saitama Medical University, 1397‐1 Yamane, Hidaka Saitama Japan
| | - Kousuke Uranishi
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Genomic Medicine Saitama Medical University, 1397‐1 Yamane, Hidaka Saitama Japan
| | - Masazumi Nishimoto
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Genomic Medicine Saitama Medical University, 1397‐1 Yamane, Hidaka Saitama Japan
- Biomedical Research Center Saitama Medical University, 1397‐1 Yamane, Hidaka Saitama Japan
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center University of Tsukuba, 1‐1‐1 Tennodai Tsukuba Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center University of Tsukuba, 1‐1‐1 Tennodai Tsukuba Japan
| | - Akihiko Okuda
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Genomic Medicine Saitama Medical University, 1397‐1 Yamane, Hidaka Saitama Japan
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Bhattacharya I, Sharma P, Purohit S, Kothiyal S, Das M, Banerjee A. Recent Update on Retinoic Acid-Driven Initiation of Spermatogonial Differentiation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:833759. [PMID: 35372365 PMCID: PMC8965804 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.833759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cells (Gc) propagate the genetic information to subsequent generations. Diploid (2n) Gc get transformed to specialized haploid (n) gametes by mitotic and meiotic divisions in adult gonads. Retinoic acid (RA), an active derivative of vitamin A (retinol), plays a critical role in organ morphogenesis and regulates the meiotic onset in developing Gc. Unlike ovaries, fetal testes express an RA-degrading enzyme CYP26B1, and thereby, male Gc fail to enter into meiosis and instead get arrested at G0/G1 stage, termed as gonocytes/pro-spermatogonia by embryonic (E) 13.5 days. These gonocytes are transformed into spermatogonial stem/progenitor cells after birth (1–3 days of neonatal age). During post-natal testicular maturation, the differentiating spermatogonia enter into the meiotic prophase under the influence RA, independent of gonadotropic (both FSH and LH) support. The first pulse of RA ensures the transition of undifferentiated type A spermatogonia to differentiated A1 spermatogonia and upregulates STRA8 expression in Gc. Whereas, the second pulse of RA induces the meiotic prophase by augmenting MEIOSIN expression in differentiated spermatogonia B. This opinion article briefly reviews our current understanding on the RA-driven spermatogonial differentiation in murine testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrashis Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University, A Central University, Srinagar Campus, Uttarakhand, India
- *Correspondence: Indrashis Bhattacharya, ; Arnab Banerjee,
| | - Partigya Sharma
- Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University, A Central University, Srinagar Campus, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Shriya Purohit
- Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University, A Central University, Srinagar Campus, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sachin Kothiyal
- Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University, A Central University, Srinagar Campus, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Moitreyi Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Goa University, Taleigao, India
| | - Arnab Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, KK Birla, Goa Campus, BITS Pilani, Zuarinagar, India
- *Correspondence: Indrashis Bhattacharya, ; Arnab Banerjee,
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Abstract
Male meiosis is a complex process whereby spermatocytes undergo cell division to form haploid cells. This review focuses on the role of retinoic acid (RA) in meiosis, as well as several processes regulated by RA before cell entry into meiosis that are critical for proper meiotic entry and completion. Here, we discuss RA metabolism in the testis as well as the roles of stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) and MEIOSIN, which are responsive to RA and are critical for meiosis. We assert that transcriptional regulation in the spermatogonia is critical for successful meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Gewiss
- School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - M Christine Schleif
- School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Michael D Griswold
- School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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Variance in expression and localization of sex-related genes CgDsx, CgBHMG1 and CgFoxl2 during diploid and triploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas gonad differentiation. Gene 2021; 790:145692. [PMID: 33961972 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Several evolutionarily conserved classes of transcriptional regulators were involved in diverse sex determination and differentiation pathways across taxa, whereas their roles in most mollusks is still limited. The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, a dioecious bivalve with sex reversal, could be an ideal model for this issue because of its complex sexuality and potential disruption of sex differentiation in triploid individuals. Here, two mRNA splicing isoforms of a DM domain gene CgDsx and two isoforms of a novel sex-related CgBHMG1 (ortholog of BHMG1 in mammals) were identified in C. gigas. Real time PCR showed that two isoforms of CgDsx and one isoform of CgBHMG1 displayed male-specific expression in diploid oysters, opposite with the female-specific CgFoxl2 (a potential factor of female gonadic differentiation). Interestingly, the four sex-specific transcripts in diploid oyster were expressed in triploid oysters with opposite sex, triploid hermaphrodites and individuals at stage I that sex could not be determined. Subsequent in situ hybridization analysis on gonads of diploid oysters revealed predominant expression of CgDsx in spermatogonia of testes, CgBHMG1 in spermatocytes of testes and follicle cells of ovaries, and CgFoxl2 in follicle cells of ovaries and some male germ cells in testes. And aberrant co-expression of the three genes in triploid oysters was localized in gonadal tubules of gonads at stage I, ovarian follicle cells and undetermined gonial cells in nontypical hermaphroditic gonads with rare female materials. From the above, temporal and spatial expression of sex-related genes in diploid and triploid gonads indicated that CgDsx and CgFoxl2 might mainly function in C. gigas sex differentiation, and CgBHMG1 appeared as a factor involved in meiosis. This work will help to illuminate the gene network of sex differentiation in bivalves and provides new sight on this issue from comparison between diploid and triploid individuals.
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