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Luaces JP, Toro-Urrego N, Otero-Losada M, Capani F. What do we know about blood-testis barrier? current understanding of its structure and physiology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1114769. [PMID: 37397257 PMCID: PMC10307970 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1114769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood-testis barrier (BTB) creates a particular compartment in the seminiferous epithelium. Contacting Sertoli cell-Sertoli cell plasma membranes possess specialized junction proteins which present a complex dynamic of formation and dismantling. Thus, these specialized structures facilitate germ cell movement across the BTB. Junctions are constantly rearranged during spermatogenesis while the BTB preserves its barrier function. Imaging methods are essential to studying the dynamic of this sophisticated structure in order to understand its functional morphology. Isolated Sertoli cell cultures cannot represent the multiple interactions of the seminiferous epithelium and in situ studies became a fundamental approach to analyze BTB dynamics. In this review, we discuss the contributions of high-resolution microscopy studies to enlarge the body of morphofunctional data to understand the biology of the BTB as a dynamic structure. The first morphological evidence of the BTB was based on a fine structure of the junctions, which was resolved with Transmission Electron Microscopy. The use of conventional Fluorescent Light Microscopy to examine labelled molecules emerged as a fundamental technique for elucidating the precise protein localization at the BTB. Then laser-scanning confocal microscopy allowed the study of three-dimensional structures and complexes at the seminiferous epithelium. Several junction proteins, like the transmembrane, scaffold and signaling proteins, were identified in the testis using traditional animal models. BTB morphology was analyzed in different physiological conditions as the spermatocyte movement during meiosis, testis development, and seasonal spermatogenesis, but also structural elements, proteins, and BTB permeability were studied. Under pathological, pharmacological, or pollutant/toxic conditions, there are significant studies that provide high-resolution images which help to understand the dynamic of the BTB. Notwithstanding the advances, further research using new technologies is required to gain information on the BTB. Super-resolution light microscopy is needed to provide new research with high-quality images of targeted molecules at a nanometer-scale resolution. Finally, we highlight research areas that warrant future studies, pinpointing new microscopy approaches and helping to improve our ability to understand this barrier complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. P. Luaces
- Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud, Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CAECIHS.UAI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N. Toro-Urrego
- Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud, Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CAECIHS.UAI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Otero-Losada
- Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud, Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CAECIHS.UAI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F. Capani
- Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud, Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CAECIHS.UAI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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An K, Yao B, Tan Y, Kang Y, Su J. Potential Role of Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Regulating Seasonal Reproduction in Animals: The Example of Males. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065874. [PMID: 36982948 PMCID: PMC10054328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065874] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Seasonal reproduction is a survival strategy by which animals adapt to environmental changes to improve their fitness. Males are often characterized by a significantly reduced testicular volume, indicating that they are in an immature state. Although many hormones, including gonadotropins, have played a role in testicular development and spermatogenesis, research on other hormones is insufficient. The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which is a hormone responsible for inducing the regression of Müllerian ducts involved in male sex differentiation, was discovered in 1953. Disorders in AMH secretion are the main biomarkers of gonadal dysplasia, indicating that it may play a crucial role in reproduction regulation. A recent study has found that the AMH protein is expressed at a high level during the non-breeding period of seasonal reproduction in animals, implying that it may play a role in restricting breeding activities. In this review, we summarize the research progress on the AMH gene expression, regulatory factors of the gene's expression, and its role in reproductive regulation. Using males as an example, we combined testicular regression and the regulatory pathway of seasonal reproduction and attempted to identify the potential relationship between AMH and seasonal reproduction, to broaden the physiological function of AMH in reproductive suppression, and to provide new ideas for understanding the regulatory pathway of seasonal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang An
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Baohui Yao
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yuchen Tan
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yukun Kang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Junhu Su
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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Massoud D, Bin-Meferij MM, El-Kott AF, Abd El-Maksoud MM, Negm S. Histology and histochemistry of the major salivary glands in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor). Anat Histol Embryol 2023; 52:254-261. [PMID: 36271751 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the major salivary glands in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) histologically and histochemically. Five adult males were included in this study. The results showed that anatomically the shape of the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands of the Erinaceus concolor was respectively almost pear, elliptical to pyramidal and oval. Histologically, the parotid gland had serous acini and secretory cells showed negative reaction to alcian blue (AB) (pH = 2.5) and negative response to aldehyde fuchsin (AF), methylene blue (MB) and PAS stains. The submandibular gland was a mixed gland of mucous and serous acini. The mucous acini were strongly positive for PAS, AB, MB and AF. However, serous acini were week for PAS and negative against AB, MB and AF stains. The sublingual gland was purely composed of mucous acini. The mucous acini of the sublingual gland were strongly positives for PAS, AB and MB methods. While their reaction to the AF staining was negative. In conclusion, the histological and histochemical observations of the major salivary glands of the southern white-breasted hedgehog (E. concolor) indicated that these glands shown similarities and some special different histochemical features as compared to other mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diaa Massoud
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Mashael M Bin-Meferij
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Histopathology Unit, Research Department, Health Sciences Research Center (HSRC), College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Attala F El-Kott
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Mona M Abd El-Maksoud
- Department of Community Health Nursing, Nursing College, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt
| | - Sally Negm
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Art Mahail, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.,Unit of Food Bacteriology, Central Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Ministry of Health, Sharkia, Egypt
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Massoud D, Fouda MMA, Sarhan M, Salama SG, Khalifa HS. Topical application of Aloe gel and/or olive oil combination promotes the wound healing properties of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:59727-59735. [PMID: 35394628 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20100-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic wounds are characterized by a delayed closure rate due to the excess inflammation and the inhibition of angiogenesis. Natural products derived from Aloe vera have shown great promise due to their healing magnificent properties. Olive oil is another natural product with anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that may contribute to the healing process. In the present investigation, we tried to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of Aloe gel and/or olive oil in the enhancement of diabetic wounds using histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Excisional wounds were created on the back skin of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Topical treatments of Aloe gel and/or olive oil were applied separately and in a combination (AVO) daily for experimental groups. Macroscopic and microscopic observations of the excision wounds were monitored at time intervals (3, 6, 9, 14 days) post-wounding. Macroscopic observations of the AVO group exhibited almost complete healing at day 14, while other groups were still in progress. Similarly, immunohistochemical analysis of the AVO group showed a mild expression pattern of NF-κB.. While, the cell proliferation (Ki-67), and angiogenesis (CD34) markers were upregulated. Conclusively, the obtained results showed that the AVO combination effectively improved the healing process in diabetic excisional wounds with significant differences in the healing kinetics compared to wounds that received Aloe gel or olive oil separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diaa Massoud
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
| | - Maged M A Fouda
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Moustafa Sarhan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa Gamal Salama
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Heba Saied Khalifa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
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Beltrán-Frutos E, Seco-Rovira V, Martínez-Hernández J, Ferrer C, Serrano-Sánchez MI, Pastor LM. Cellular Modifications in Spermatogenesis during Seasonal Testicular Regression: An Update Review in Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131605. [PMID: 35804504 PMCID: PMC9265002 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The most common form of reproduction in mammals is seasonal reproduction. This ensures that offspring are born at the most suitable time for survival, due to the abundance of food and the optimal temperatures for early postnatal development. In males, one way to achieve this is to decrease or lose fertility over a given period. This loss is associated with a greater or lesser degree of spermatogenesis modification that affects both germ and Sertoli cells. This paper reviews the different cellular mechanisms that have been postulated in recent years to explain how the activity of the seminiferous epithelium decreases during the non-reproductive period. Abstract Testicular regression occurs during the non-breeding season in many mammals. This affects spermatogenesis, resulting in decreased or arrested activity. Both lead to a decrease or cessation in sperm production. In recent years, the cellular mechanisms that lead to infertility in males in non-reproductive periods have been studied in very different species of mammals. At the start of the present century, the main mechanism involved was considered as an increase in the apoptotic activity of germ cells during the regression period. The loss of spermatogonia and spermatocytes causes not only a decrease in spermatogenesis, but an arrest of the seminiferous epithelium activity at the end of regression. Recently, in some mammal species, it was found that apoptosis is the usual mechanism involved in epithelium activity arrest, although it is firstly atrophied by massive desquamation of the germ cells that are released from their binding with the Sertoli cells, and which are shed into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. In other species, it has been shown that not only germ cell apoptosis, but also Sertoli cell apoptosis, including decreased proliferative activity, spermatophagy or autophagy, are involved in testicular regression. Furthermore, the most recent studies indicate that there are multiple patterns of seminiferous epithelium regression in seasonally breeding animals, which may not only be used by different species, but also by the same ones to reproduce in the best conditions, ensuring their survival. In conclusion, at this time, it is not possible to consider the existence of a paradigmatic cellular mechanism in the involution of the seminiferous epithelium applicable to all male mammals with seasonal reproduction, rather the existence of several mechanisms which participate to a greater or lesser extent in each of the species that have been studied to date.
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Real FM, Lao-Pérez M, Burgos M, Mundlos S, Lupiáñez DG, Jiménez R, Barrionuevo FJ. Cell adhesion and immune response, two main functions altered in the transcriptome of seasonally regressed testes of two mammalian species. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2022; 340:231-244. [PMID: 35535962 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In species with seasonal breeding, male specimens undergo substantial testicular regression during the nonbreeding period of the year. However, the molecular mechanisms that control this biological process are largely unknown. Here, we report a transcriptomic analysis on the Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis, in which the desquamation of live, nonapoptotic germ cells is the major cellular event responsible for testis regression. By comparing testes at different reproductive states (active, regressing, and inactive), we demonstrate that the molecular pathways controlling the cell adhesion function in the seminiferous epithelium, such as the MAPK, ERK, and TGF-β signaling, are altered during the regression process. In addition, inactive testes display a global upregulation of genes associated with immune response, indicating a selective loss of the "immune privilege" that normally operates in sexually active testes. Interspecies comparative analyses using analogous data from the Mediterranean pine vole, a rodent species where testis regression is controlled by halting meiosis entry, revealed a common gene expression signature in the regressed testes of these two evolutionary distant species. Our study advances in the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms associated to gonadal seasonal breeding, highlighting the existence of a conserved transcriptional program of testis involution across mammalian clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca M Real
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.,RG Development & Disease, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miguel Lao-Pérez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Burgos
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- RG Development & Disease, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Darío G Lupiáñez
- Epigenetics and Sex Development Group, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rafael Jiménez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco J Barrionuevo
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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Gumułka M, Hrabia A, Rozenboim I. Annual changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis and expression of connexin 43 in the testes of domestic seasonal breeding ganders. Theriogenology 2022; 186:27-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Poissenot K, Chorfa A, Moussu C, Trouillet AC, Brachet M, Chesneau D, Chemineau P, Ramadier E, Pinot A, Benoit E, Lattard V, Dardente H, Drevet J, Saez F, Keller M. Photoperiod is involved in the regulation of seasonal breeding in male water voles (Arvicola terrestris). J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272112. [PMID: 34494651 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Mammals living at temperate latitudes typically display annual cyclicity in their reproductive activity: births are synchronized when environmental conditions are most favorable. In a majority of these species, day length is the main proximate factor used to anticipate seasonal changes and to adapt physiology. The brain integrates this photoperiodic signal through key hypothalamic structures, which regulate the reproductive axis. In this context, our study aimed to characterize regulations that occur along the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in male fossorial water voles (Arvicola terrestris, also known as Arvicola amphibius) throughout the year and to further probe the implication of photoperiod in these seasonal regulations. Our monthly field monitoring showed dramatic seasonal changes in the morphology and activity of reproductive organs, as well as in the androgen-dependent lateral scent glands. Moreover, our data uncovered seasonal variations at the hypothalamic level. During the breeding season, kisspeptin expression in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) decreases, while RFRP3 expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) increases. Our follow-up laboratory study revealed activation of the reproductive axis and confirmed a decrease in kisspeptin expression in males exposed to a long photoperiod (summer condition) compared with those maintained under a short photoperiod (winter condition) that retain all features reminiscent of sexual inhibition. Altogether, our study characterizes neuroendocrine and anatomical markers of seasonal reproductive rhythmicity in male water voles and further suggests that these seasonal changes are strongly impacted by photoperiod.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Poissenot
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Areski Chorfa
- GReD Laboratory, CNRS UMR 6293 - INSERM U1103 - Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 place Henri Dunant, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France
| | - Chantal Moussu
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne-Charlotte Trouillet
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Morgane Brachet
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Didier Chesneau
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Philippe Chemineau
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Etienne Ramadier
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Université de Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Adrien Pinot
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Université de Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Etienne Benoit
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Université de Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Virginie Lattard
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Université de Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Hugues Dardente
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Joël Drevet
- GReD Laboratory, CNRS UMR 6293 - INSERM U1103 - Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 place Henri Dunant, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France
| | - Fabrice Saez
- GReD Laboratory, CNRS UMR 6293 - INSERM U1103 - Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 place Henri Dunant, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France
| | - Matthieu Keller
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
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Martínez-Hernández J, Seco-Rovira V, Beltrán-Frutos E, Ferrer C, Serrano-Sánchez MI, Pastor LM. Proliferation, apoptosis, and number of Sertoli cells in the Syrian hamster during recrudescence after exposure to short photoperiod†‡. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:588-597. [PMID: 31621831 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sertoli cell (Sc) has been described as a quiescent cell once the animal has reached sexual maturity. Syrian hamster is an animal that displays testicular regression due to short photoperiod, during which process germ cells and Sc are removed through apoptosis. The aim of this work was to investigate histochemically whether the spontaneous testicular recrudescence processes after exposure to a short photoperiod lead to an increase in Sc proliferative activity in order to restore the normal population. Three spontaneous recrudescence groups were established: initial (IR), advanced (AR), and total (TR) recrudescence, which were compared with animal undergoing the regression process (mild: MRg, strong: SRg, and total: TRg) and animals in long photoperiod (Controls). Histological sections were submitted to histochemical techniques for detecting apoptotic and proliferative Sc with bright-field and fluorescence microscopy. For each group, the proliferative Sc index (PScI) and apoptotic Sc index (AScI), and the total number of Sc were obtained. The results revealed the existence of Vimentin+/TUNEL+ as well as Vimentin+/PCNA+ cells. The PScI was significantly higher in TRg and IR than in the other groups. The AScI was only significantly higher in MRg and SRg with respect to the other groups. The total number of Sc increased among TRg, IR, and AR, reaching values similar to those of the Controls. In conclusion, the increase in Sc proliferation from final regression and recrudescence, accompanied by a similar rate of apoptosis to the Control group, is the cause of the restoration of the Sc population during spontaneous recrudescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Martínez-Hernández
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Medical School, IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Vicente Seco-Rovira
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Medical School, IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ester Beltrán-Frutos
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Medical School, IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Concepción Ferrer
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Medical School, IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - María Isabel Serrano-Sánchez
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Medical School, IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Pastor
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Medical School, IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Mediterranean Pine Vole, Microtus duodecimcostatus: A Paradigm of an Opportunistic Breeder. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061639. [PMID: 34205873 PMCID: PMC8228771 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In temperate zones of the Earth, some mammalian species reproduce seasonally whereas others do it continuously. Other species are summer breeders in the north and winter breeders in the south. Thus, the reproductive pattern seems not to be a species-specific but a population-specific trait. We investigated the reproduction pattern of the Mediterranean pine vole, Microtus duodecimcostatus, in the area around the city of Granada in Southern Spain, and found that individuals living in wastelands reproduce seasonally whereas those living in close poplar plantations (just 8 km apart) reproduce throughout the year, as did voles captured in wastelands and kept in captivity. These animals represent thus a paradigm of an opportunistic breeder as particular individuals stop breeding or not, depending on the environmental conditions they face at any moment. Sexually inactive male voles undergo complete testis inactivation and their sperm production is halted. The immune system in active testes is depressed, a phenomenon known as “immune privilege” that protect germ cells from autoimmune attack. We studied gene activity in active and inactive testes and our results indicate that such an immune privilege is lost in inactive testes, suggesting an important role for this process during testis regression. Abstract Most mammalian species of the temperate zones of the Earth reproduce seasonally, existing a non-breeding period in which the gonads of both sexes undergo functional regression. It is widely accepted that photoperiod is the principal environmental cue controlling these seasonal changes, although several exceptions have been described in other mammalian species in which breeding depends on cues such as food or water availability. We studied the circannual reproductive cycle in males of the Mediterranean pine vole, Microtus duodecimcostatus, in the Southeastern Iberian Peninsula. Morphological, hormonal, functional, molecular and transcriptomic analyses were performed. As reported for populations of other species from the same geographic area, male voles captured in wastelands underwent seasonal testis regression in summer whereas, surprisingly, those living either in close poplar plantations or in our animal house reproduced throughout the year, showing that it is the microenvironment of a particular vole subpopulation what determines its reproductive status and that these animals are pure opportunistic, photoperiod-independent breeders. In addition, we show that several molecular pathways, including MAPK, are deregulated and that the testicular “immune privilege” is lost in the inactive testes, providing novel mechanisms linking seasonal testosterone reduction and testis regression.
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Jeon GH, Lee SH, Cheon YP, Choi D. Blood-Testis Barrier and Sperm Delayed in the Cauda Epididymis of the Reproductively Regressed Syrian Hamsters. Dev Reprod 2021; 25:1-14. [PMID: 33977170 PMCID: PMC8087257 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2021.25.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Syrian (golden) hamsters are seasonal breeders whose reproductive functions
are active in summer and inactive in winter. In experimental facility mimicking
winter climate, short photoperiod (SP) induces gonadal regression. The
blood-testis barrier (BTB) of the sexually involuted animals have been reported
to be permeable, allowing developing germ cells to be engulfed or sloughed off
the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. The expressions of genes related to
the tight junction composing of BTB were investigated in the reproductive active
and inactive testes. Claudin-11, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule
(JAM) were definitely expressed in the active testes but not discernably
detected in the inactive testes. And spermatozoa (sperm) were observed in the
whole lengths of epididymides in the active testes. They were witnessed in only
cauda region of the epididymides but not in caput and corpus regions in animals
with the inactive testes. The results imply that the disorganization of BTB is
associated with the testicular regression. The developing germ cells are
swallowed into the Sertoli cells or travel into the lumen, as supported by the
presence of the sperm delayed in the last region of the epididymis. These
outcomes suggest that both apoptosis and desquamation are the processes that
eliminate the germ cells during the regressing stage in the Syrian hamsters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geon Hyung Jeon
- Dept. of Life Science, College of Public Health and Welfare Sciences, Yong-In University, Yongin 17092, Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Dept. of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Korea
| | - Yong-Pil Cheon
- Division of Developmental Biology and Physiology, Dept. of Biotechnology, Sungshin University, Seoul 02844, Korea
| | - Donchan Choi
- Dept. of Life Science, College of Public Health and Welfare Sciences, Yong-In University, Yongin 17092, Korea
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Massoud D, Lao-Pérez M, Ortega E, Burgos M, Jiménez R, Barrionuevo FJ. Divergent Seasonal Reproductive Patterns in Syntopic Populations of Two Murine Species in Southern Spain, Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020243. [PMID: 33498171 PMCID: PMC7908971 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In temperate zones of the Earth, most species reproduce in seasons providing the most favourable environmental conditions. Producing gametes is expensive in energetical terms, so both males and females either reduce or abolish gametogenesis during the non-breeding period. We thoroughly studied the testes of sexually inactive males of two rodents, the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and the Algerian mouse, Mus spretus, in southern Iberian peninsula. These populations are syntopic, that is, animals of the two species share their territories and resources, so one would expect them to show similar or identical seasonal reproduction patterns. Contrarily, we found that both species reproduce during most of the year, but wood mice stop breeding in the summer whereas Algerian mice do it in winter. These divergent seasonal breeding patterns imply that either very subtle animal features and/or environmental cues operate to determine reproduction timing and support the notion that multiple models of circannual reproduction patterns are possible for different populations of the same species, showing that the mechanisms controlling seasonal reproduction are in fact very plastic and fast evolving. Hence, small mammals probably have multiple ways available to get adapted to the unstable environmental conditions derived from the ongoing global climate change. Abstract In most mammals with seasonal reproduction, males undergo testis regression during the non-breeding period. We performed a morphological, hormonal, functional, and molecular study of the testes of sexually inactive males of two species of murine rodents, the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and the Algerian mouse, Mus spretus, in syntopic populations of southern Iberian peninsula. Both species reproduce during most of the year, but wood mice stop breeding in the summer whereas Algerian mice do it in winter. Sexually inactive males of A. sylvaticus show complete testis regression with reduced levels of serum testosterone and abnormal distribution of cell-adhesion molecules. Contrarily, inactive males of M. spretus maintain almost normal spermotogenesis despite a significant reduction of androgenic function. The lack of an evident explanation for the divergent seasonal breeding patterns found in southern populations of A. sylvaticus and M. spretus, compared with northern ones, implies that very subtle species/population-specific features and/or non-conspicuous environmental cues probably operate to determine their seasonal breeding pattern. These results also support the notion that multiple models of circannual testis variation are possible for different populations of the same species, showing that the mechanisms controlling seasonal reproduction are in fact very plastic and fast evolving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diaa Massoud
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento S/N, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (D.M.); (M.L.-P.); (M.B.); (F.J.B.)
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Gamma St., Keman Square, Fayoum 63514, Egypt
| | - Miguel Lao-Pérez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento S/N, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (D.M.); (M.L.-P.); (M.B.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Esperanza Ortega
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular III e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Avenida de la Investigación 11, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Miguel Burgos
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento S/N, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (D.M.); (M.L.-P.); (M.B.); (F.J.B.)
| | - Rafael Jiménez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento S/N, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (D.M.); (M.L.-P.); (M.B.); (F.J.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Francisco J. Barrionuevo
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Lab. 127, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento S/N, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (D.M.); (M.L.-P.); (M.B.); (F.J.B.)
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13
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Haggag T, Mahmoud EF, Salem ZA, AbuBakr N. Comparative evaluation of the ultrastructural morphology and distribution of filiform and fungiform tongue papillae in Egyptian mice, fruit bats and long-eared hedgehogs. Anat Cell Biol 2020; 53:493-501. [PMID: 33051405 PMCID: PMC7769099 DOI: 10.5115/acb.20.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The tongue is a specialized vital organ. It aids in mastication, deglutition and food digestion. It also shares in the perception of taste sensation as it possesses various gustatory papillae. It is being subjected to numerous anatomical and histological examinations aiming at exploring the correlation between its morphological features and animal adaptations to various types of nutrition and environmental conditions. The goal of the present work was to compare the ultrastructural features of the filiform and fungiform papillae of three various mammals possessing different feeding habits; Egyptian mice, fruit bats and long-eared hedgehogs. Specimens were obtained from the tongues of four healthy adult animals from each mammalian type. Tongues were fixed and all the appropriate procedures were done to perform scanning electron microscopic investigation. Scanning electron microscopic examination demonstrated that in mice, there were four different sub-types of filiform papillae (spike, leaf, conical and tongue-shaped). In bats, there were two sub-types (flower and leaf-like) and in hedgehogs, there was only one type (tongue-like). These filiform papillae showed different distribution and orientation. As for the fungiform papillae, they were cylindrical in mice, rounded or conical in bats and dome-shaped in hedgehogs. Fungiform papillae possessed taste pores containing taste buds. Ultrastructural variations of the filiform and fungiform papillae were suggested to be probably due to adaptation to various feeding habits and different environmental conditions of these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahany Haggag
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Elham F Mahmoud
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismaelia, Egypt
| | - Zeinab A Salem
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.,Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Ahram Canadian University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nermeen AbuBakr
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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14
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Regional differences in the skin of the desert hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) with special reference to hair polymorphism. ZOOL ANZ 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Apoptosis of germ cells in the normal testis of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Tissue Cell 2020; 67:101450. [PMID: 33091765 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2020.101450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It has been established that excess germ cells in normal and in pathological conditions are removed from testicular tissue by the mechanism of apoptosis. Studies on germ cell apoptosis in avian species are grossly lacking, and there are only a few reports on induced germ cell degenerations in the testis tissue of birds. This study was designed to investigate the process of apoptosis of germ cells in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Germ cell degenerations were investigated in birds of all age groups, namely pre-pubertal, pubertal, adult, and aged. Apoptosis of germ cells in the quails, as shown by hematoxylin & eosin (H&E), TdT dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay and electron microscopy, was similar to that observed in previous studies of germ cells and somatic cells of mammalian species. The observed morphological features of these apoptotic cells ranged from irregular plasma and nuclear membranes in the early stage of apoptosis to rupture of the nuclear membrane, condensation of nuclear material, as well as fragments of apoptotic bodies, in later stages of apoptosis. In the TUNEL-positive cell counts, there was a significant difference between the mean cell counts for the four age groups (P < 0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed a highly significant difference in the aged group relative to the pubertal and adult age groups, while the cell counts of the pre-pubertal group were significantly higher than those of the pubertal group. However, there was no significant difference between cell counts of the pre-pubertal and the adult, and between the pre-pubertal and the aged groups.
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Massoud D, Abumandour MMA. Descriptive studies on the tongue of two micro‐mammals inhabiting the Egyptian fauna; the Nile grass rat (
Arvicanthis niloticus
) and the Egyptian long‐eared hedgehog (
Hemiechinus auritus
). Microsc Res Tech 2019; 82:1584-1592. [DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diaa Massoud
- Department of BiologyCollege of Science, Jouf University Sakaka Saudi Arabia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of ScienceFayoum University Fayoum Egypt
| | - Mohamed M. A. Abumandour
- Department of Anatomy and EmbryologyFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University Alexandria Egypt
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