Male germ cells experience a drastic chromatin remodeling through the nucleo-histone to nucleo-protamine (NH-NP) transition necessary for proper sperm functionality. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of H4 Lys5, such as acetylation (H4K5ac), play a crucial role in epigenetic control of nucleosome disassembly facilitating protamine incorporation into paternal DNA. It has been shown that butyrylation on the same residue (H4K5bu) participates in temporal regulation of NH-NP transition in mice, delaying the bromodomain testis specific protein (BRDT)-dependent nucleosome disassembly and potentially marking retained nucleosomes. However, no information was available so far on this modification in human sperm. Here, we report a dual behavior of H4K5bu and H4K5ac in human normal spermatogenesis, suggesting a specific role of H4K5bu during spermatid elongation, coexisting with H4K5ac although with different starting points. This pattern is stable under different testicular pathologies, suggesting a highly conserved function of these modifications. Despite a drastic decrease of both PTMs in condensed spermatids, they are retained in ejaculated sperm, with 30% of non-colocalizing nucleosome clusters, which could reflect differential paternal genome retention. Whereas no apparent effect of these PTMs was observed associated with sperm quality, their presence in mature sperm could entail a potential role in the zygote.
- MeSH
- acetylace MeSH
- chromatin * metabolismus MeSH
- histony metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nukleozomy * metabolismus MeSH
- posttranslační úpravy proteinů MeSH
- protaminy metabolismus MeSH
- restrukturace chromatinu MeSH
- sperma metabolismus MeSH
- spermatidy metabolismus MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- spermie metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) support the germline by suppressing retrotransposons. Studies of the pathway in mice have strongly shaped the view that mammalian piRNAs are essential for male but not for female fertility. Here, we report that the role of the piRNA pathway substantially differs in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the piRNA pathway setup of which more closely resembles that of other mammals, including humans. The loss of the Mov10l1 RNA helicase-an essential piRNA biogenesis factor-leads to striking phenotypes in both sexes. In contrast to mice, female Mov10l1-/- hamsters are sterile because their oocytes do not sustain zygotic development. Furthermore, Mov10l1-/- male hamsters have impaired establishment of spermatogonia accompanied by transcriptome dysregulation and an expression surge of a young retrotransposon subfamily. Our results show that the mammalian piRNA pathway has essential roles in both sexes and its adaptive nature allows it to manage emerging genomic threats and acquire new critical roles in the germline.
- MeSH
- křečci praví MeSH
- křeček rodu Mesocricetus metabolismus MeSH
- malá interferující RNA genetika MeSH
- oocyty metabolismus patologie MeSH
- retroelementy fyziologie MeSH
- RNA-helikasy genetika MeSH
- spermatogeneze genetika fyziologie MeSH
- spermatogonie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- testis metabolismus MeSH
- umlčování genů fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- křečci praví MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Multisubunit cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4)-DCAF12 recognizes the C-terminal degron containing acidic amino acid residues. However, its physiological roles and substrates are largely unknown. Purification of CRL4-DCAF12 complexes revealed a wide range of potential substrates, including MOV10, an "ancient" RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) complex RNA helicase. We show that DCAF12 controls the MOV10 protein level via its C-terminal motif in a proteasome- and CRL-dependent manner. Next, we generated Dcaf12 knockout mice and demonstrated that the DCAF12-mediated degradation of MOV10 is conserved in mice and humans. Detailed analysis of Dcaf12-deficient mice revealed that their testes produce fewer mature sperms, phenotype accompanied by elevated MOV10 and imbalance in meiotic markers SCP3 and γ-H2AX. Additionally, the percentages of splenic CD4+ T and natural killer T (NKT) cell populations were significantly altered. In vitro, activated Dcaf12-deficient T cells displayed inappropriately stabilized MOV10 and increased levels of activated caspases. In summary, we identified MOV10 as a novel substrate of CRL4-DCAF12 and demonstrated the biological relevance of the DCAF12-MOV10 pathway in spermatogenesis and T cell activation.
- MeSH
- aktivace lymfocytů fyziologie MeSH
- antigeny nádorové metabolismus MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- CD4-pozitivní T-lymfocyty metabolismus MeSH
- HCT116 buňky MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- HeLa buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši knockoutované MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- NKT buňky metabolismus MeSH
- proteasomový endopeptidasový komplex metabolismus MeSH
- RNA-helikasy metabolismus MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- ubikvitin metabolismus MeSH
- ubikvitinligasy metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The spermatozoon ultrastructure of the progenetic cestode Diplocotyle olrikii (Spathebothriidea) has been examined using transmission electron microscopy and cytochemical staining with periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate (PA-TSC-SP) for glycogen. The spermatozoon is a filiform cell, tapered at both extremities. Its moderately electron-dense cytoplasm possesses two parallel axonemes of unequal lengths. New for the Cestoda is a finding of three types of the mature spermatozoa with respect to different axonemal structure. The first type has both axonemes with standard 9 + '1' trepaxonematan pattern. The second type is represented by a spermatozoon having one axoneme with 9 + '1' structure and the second one with 9 + 0 pattern. The third type includes the two axonemes with 9 + 0 pattern. Microtubule doublets of the 9 + 0 axonemes contain either inner dynein arms or no dynein arms. In addition to the two axonemes, all three types of the mature sperm cells contain parallel nucleus, parallel cortical microtubules, four electron-dense plaques/attachment zones, and glycogen. The anterior extremity of the gamete exhibits a centriole surrounded by a semiarc of up to five electron-dense tubular structures. The distal end of the first type spermatozoa exhibits two morphological variants, represented either by (i) nucleus or (ii) remnants of the disorganized axoneme. Distal extremity of the spermatozoa of the second and third types contains doublets and singlets of disorganized axoneme. The ultrastructural characters of the spermatozoon of progenetic D. olrikii support the basal position of the Spathebothriidea within the Eucestoda.
- MeSH
- axonema ultrastruktura MeSH
- buněčné jádro ultrastruktura MeSH
- centrioly ultrastruktura MeSH
- Cestoda ultrastruktura MeSH
- cytoplazma ultrastruktura MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- spermie ultrastruktura MeSH
- transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Spermiogenesis in the progenetic spathebothriidean cestode Diplocotyle olrikii has been examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the first time. Along with the typical features of spermatozoon cytodifferentiation (e.g., the electron-dense material in the apical region of the differentiation zone in the early stage of spermiogenesis, the intercentriolar body which is composed of three electron-dense plates and two electron-lucent zones, the orthogonal development of the two flagella, a flagellar rotation, proximo-distal fusion, the presence of two pairs of electron-dense attachment zones), new for the Eucestoda is detection of the formation of two types of free flagella during spermiogenesis in progenetic D. olrikii, exhibiting either standard 9 + '1' trepaxonematan pattern, or atypical 9 + 0 structure. Various combinations of these two types of flagella resulted in the production of three types of male gametes during spermiogenesis in this spathebothriidean cestode. The first type is represented with the two axonemes of the 9 + '1' structure; the second type exhibits two different axonemes, i.e., one with 9 + '1' and the other of 9 + 0 pattern; and the third type has two axonemes with atypical 9 + 0 structure. The occurrence of three sperm types in progenetic D. olrikii is associated with typical spermiogenesis and has never been described previously in the Platyhelminthes. We suppose that heteromorphism of male gametes in D. olrikii might be linked to progenesis, i.e., the programmed sexual maturation detected during the larval/developmental stage of an organism.
- MeSH
- axonema metabolismus MeSH
- Cestoda fyziologie MeSH
- flagella fyziologie MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- spermie cytologie MeSH
- transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- MeSH
- autoimunita MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlavní orgány * imunologie MeSH
- sperma fyziologie imunologie MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- spermie růst a vývoj MeSH
- testis fyziologie růst a vývoj MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
Chronic stress is a crucial public issue that occurs when a person is repetitively stimulated by various stressors. Previous researches have reported that chronic stress induces spermatogenesis dysfunction in the reproductive system, but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The nectin protein family, including nectin-1 to nectin-4, is Ca(2+)-independent immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules, that are widely expressed in the hippocampus, testicular tissue, epithelial cells and other sites. Nectin-3 contributes to the sperm development at the late stage, and the abnormal expression of nectin-3 impairs spermatogenesis. Some recent studies have demonstrated that stress induces a decrease in nectin-3 expression in the hippocampus via corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) pathway. Here, we tested whether chronic stress also caused a reduction in nectin-3 expression in the testis. We established a chronic social defeat stress paradigm, which provides naturalistic and complex chronic stress inmale C57BL/6 mice. After 25 days of chronic social defeat stress, the mice showed weight loss, thymic atrophy and some other typical symptoms of chronic stress (e.g.anxiety-like behavior and social avoidance behavior). We found gonad atrophy, testicular histological structure changes and semen quality reductions in the stressed mice. The stressed male mice significantly spent more time to impregnate the female mice than the control male mice. Moreover, nectin-3 protein levels in stressed mice were significantly decreased in the testes compared with those in control mice. In addition, we found that the CRHR1 expression level was increased in the testes of stressed mice. Therefore, we demonstrated a decreased level of nectin-3 expression and an increase in CRHR1 expression in the testis after exposure to chronic stress, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for the spermatogenesis dysfunction induced by chronic stress.
- MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nektiny biosyntéza MeSH
- psychický stres metabolismus patofyziologie MeSH
- receptory hormonu uvolňujícího kortikotropin biosyntéza metabolismus MeSH
- sociální interakce MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- testis metabolismus patofyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- MeSH
- fertilita fyziologie MeSH
- folikuly stimulující hormon * fyziologie MeSH
- kardiovaskulární systém MeSH
- kosti a kostní tkáň fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- receptory FSH fyziologie MeSH
- reprodukční systém - fyziologické jevy * MeSH
- Sertoliho buňky fyziologie MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- tuková tkáň fyziologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Successful derivation and cultivation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) opened the way to efficient transgenesis and genome editing in the chicken. Furthermore, implantation of male PGCs from non-chicken galliform species into the chicken embryos resulted in cross-species germline chimeras and viable offspring. We have recently improved the PGC technology by demonstrating that chicken male PGCs transplanted into the testes of adult cockerel recipients mature into functional sperms. However, the availability of this orthotopic transplantation for cross-species transfer remains to be explored. Here we tested the capacity of genetically distant male PGCs to mature in the microenvironment of adult testes. We derived PGCs from the Chinese black-bone Silkie and transplanted them into infertile White Leghorn cockerels. Within 15-18 weeks after transplantation, we observed restoration of spermatogenesis in recipient cockerels and production of healthy progeny derived from the transplanted PGCs. Our findings also indicate the possibility of cross-species orthotopic transplantation of PGCs. Thus, our results might contribute to the preservation of endangered avian species and maintaining the genetic variability of the domestic chicken.
- MeSH
- chiméra genetika MeSH
- chov metody MeSH
- křížení genetické MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- kur domácí * klasifikace genetika MeSH
- kuřecí embryo MeSH
- ohrožené druhy MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- spermie cytologie transplantace MeSH
- testis cytologie MeSH
- transplantace heterologní veterinární MeSH
- zachování plodnosti metody veterinární MeSH
- zachování přírodních zdrojů * metody MeSH
- zárodečné buňky transplantace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- kuřecí embryo MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
A hallmark of meiosis is the rearrangement of parental alleles to ensure genetic diversity in the gametes. These chromosome rearrangements are mediated by the repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) as genetic crossovers between parental homologs. In mice, humans, and many other mammals, meiotic DSBs occur primarily at hotspots, determined by sequence-specific binding of the PRDM9 protein. Without PRDM9, meiotic DSBs occur near gene promoters and other functional sites. Studies in a limited number of mouse strains showed that functional PRDM9 is required to complete meiosis, but despite its apparent importance, Prdm9 has been repeatedly lost across many animal lineages. Both the reason for mouse sterility in the absence of PRDM9 and the mechanism by which Prdm9 can be lost remain unclear. Here, we explore whether mice can tolerate the loss of Prdm9 By generating Prdm9 functional knockouts in an array of genetic backgrounds, we observe a wide range of fertility phenotypes and ultimately demonstrate that PRDM9 is not required for completion of male meiosis. Although DSBs still form at a common subset of functional sites in all mice lacking PRDM9, meiotic outcomes differ substantially. We speculate that DSBs at functional sites are difficult to repair as a crossover and that by increasing the efficiency of crossover formation at these sites, genetic modifiers of recombination rates can allow for meiotic progression. This model implies that species with a sufficiently high recombination rate may lose Prdm9 yet remain fertile.
- MeSH
- chromozom X MeSH
- fertilita genetika fyziologie MeSH
- histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa genetika fyziologie MeSH
- meióza * MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši knockoutované MeSH
- myši MeSH
- spermatogeneze fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH
