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Du M, Chen S, Chen Y, Yuan X, Dong H. Testicular fat deposition attenuates reproductive performance via decreased follicle-stimulating hormone level and sperm meiosis and testosterone synthesis in mouse. Anim Biosci 2024; 37:50-60. [PMID: 37641828 PMCID: PMC10766465 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Testicular fat deposition has been reported to affect animal reproduction. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. The present study explored whether sperm meiosis and testosterone synthesis contribute to mouse testicular fat depositioninduced reproductive performance. METHODS High fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity CD1 mice (DIO) were used as a testicular fat deposition model. The serum hormone test was performed by agent kit. The quality of sperm was assessed using a Sperm Class Analyzer. Testicular tissue morphology was analyzed by histochemical methods. The expression of spermatocyte marker molecules was monitored by an immuno-fluorescence microscope during meiosis. Analysis of the synthesis of testosterone was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and reagent kit. RESULTS It was found that there was a significant increase in body weight among DIO mice, however, the food intake showed no difference compared to control mice fed a normal diet (CTR). The number of offspring in DIO mice decreased, but there was no significant difference from the CTR group. The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone were lower in DIO mice and their luteinizing hormone levels were similar. The results showed a remarkable decrease in sperm density and motility among DIO mice. We also found that fat accumulation affected the meiosis process, mainly reflected in the cross-exchange of homologous chromosomes. In addition, overweight increased fat deposition in the testis and reduced the expression of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes, thereby affecting the synthesis and secretion of testosterone by testicular Leydig cells. CONCLUSION Fat accumulation in the testes causes testicular cell dysfunction, which affects testosterone hormone synthesis and ultimately affects sperm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Du
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
| | - Shikun Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150,
Australia
| | - Yang Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
| | - Xinxu Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284,
USA
| | - Huansheng Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
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Wang Y, Liang Y, Yuan Z, Mai W, Leng Y, Zhang R, Chen J, Lai C, Chen H, Wu X, Sheng C, Zhang Q. Cadmium facilitates the formation of large lipid droplets via PLCβ2-DAG-DGKε-PA signal pathway in Leydig cells. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 266:115610. [PMID: 37866036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) exposure damages the reproductive system. Lipid droplets (LDs) play an important role in steroid-producing cells to provide raw material for steroid hormone. We have found that the LDs of Leydig cells exposed to Cd are bigger than those of normal cells, but the effects on steroidogenesis and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Using Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTARQ) proteomics, phosphodiesterase beta-2 (PLCβ2) was identified as the most significantly up-regulated protein in immature Leydig cells (ILCs) and adult Leydig cells (ALCs) derived from male rats exposed to maternal Cd. Consistent with high expression of PLCβ2, the size of LDs was increased in Leydig cells exposed to Cd, accompanied by reduction in cholesterol and progesterone (P4) levels. However, the high PLCβ2 did not result in high diacylglycerol (DAG) level, because Cd exposure up-regulated diacylglycerol kinases ε (DGKε) to promote the conversion from DAG to phosphatidic acid (PA). Exogenous PA, which was consistent with the intracellular PA concentration induced by Cd, facilitated the formation of large LDs in R2C cells, followed by reduced P4 level in the culture medium. When PLCβ2 expression was knocked down, the increased DGKε caused by Cd was reversed, and then the PA level was decreased to normal. As results, large LDs returned to normal size, and the level of total cholesterol was improved to restore steroidogenesis. The accumulation of PA regulated by PLCβ2-DAG-DGKε signal pathway is responsible for the formation of large LDs and insufficient steroid hormone synthesis in Leydig cells exposed to Cd. These data highlight that LD is an important target organelle for Cd-induced steroid hormone deficiency in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjin Wang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuqing Liang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zansheng Yuan
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wanwen Mai
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yang Leng
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Runze Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiayan Chen
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Caiyong Lai
- Department of Urology, The sixth affiliated hospital of Jinan University, Dongguan 523570, China
| | - Hongxia Chen
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangzhou Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University Co., Ltd, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaoping Wu
- Institute of Tissue Transplantation and Immunology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Chao Sheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Qihao Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangzhou Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University Co., Ltd, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Koganti PP, Tu LN, Selvaraj V. Functional metabolite reserves and lipid homeostasis revealed by the MA-10 Leydig cell metabolome. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac215. [PMID: 36714831 PMCID: PMC9802464 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In Leydig cells, intrinsic factors that determine cellular steroidogenic efficiency is of functional interest to decipher and monitor pathophysiology in many contexts. Nevertheless, beyond basic regulation of cholesterol storage and mobilization, systems biology interpretation of the metabolite networks in steroidogenic function is deficient. To reconstruct and describe the different molecular systems regulating steroidogenesis, we profiled the metabolites in resting MA-10 Leydig cells. Our results identified 283-annotated components (82 neutral lipids, 154 membrane lipids, and 47 other metabolites). Neutral lipids were represented by an abundance of triacyglycerols (97.1%), and low levels of cholesterol esters (2.0%). Membrane lipids were represented by an abundance of glycerophospholipids (77.8%), followed by sphingolipids (22.2%). Acylcarnitines, nucleosides, amino acids and their derivatives were the other metabolite classes identified. Among nonlipid metabolites, we recognized substantial reserves of aspartic acid, choline, creatine, betaine, glutamine, homoserine, isoleucine, and pantothenic acid none of which have been previously considered as a requirement in steroidogenic function. Individually limiting use of betaine, choline, or pantothenic acid, during luteinizing hormone-induced steroidogenesis in MA-10 cells resulted in substantial decreases to acute steroidogenic capacity, explained by intermediary metabolite imbalances affecting homeostasis. As such, our dataset represents the current level of baseline characterization and unravels the functional resting state of steroidogenic MA-10 Leydig cells. In identifying metabolite stockpiles and causal mechanisms, these results serve to further comprehend the cellular setup and regulation of steroid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanthi P Koganti
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Lan N Tu
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Vimal Selvaraj
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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