Expression of the retinoic acid-metabolizing enzymes RALDH2 and CYP26b1 during mouse postnatal testis development / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the expression pattern of the retinoic acid metabolizing enzymes RALDH2 and CYP26b1 during mouse postnatal testis development at both mRNA and protein levels.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the relative quantity of RALDH2 and CYP26b1 at both mRNA and protein levels at postnatal day 1, 5, 10, 20, and in adult mice (70 days testes). Testicular localization of RALDH2 and CYP26b1 during mouse postnatal development was examined using immunohistochemistry assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aldh1a2 transcripts and its protein RALDH2 began to increase at postnatal day 10, and remained at a high level through postnatal day 20 to adulthood. Cyp26b1 transcripts and CYP26b1 protein did not change significantly during mouse postnatal testis development. RALDH2 was undetectable in the postnatal 1, 5 and 10 day testes using immunohistochemistry assay. At postnatal day 20 it was detected in pachytene spermatocytes. Robust expression of RALDH2 was restricted in round spermatids in the adult mouse testis. In the developing and adult testis, CYP26b1 protein was confined to the peritubular myoepithelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results indicate that following birth, the level of retinoic acid in the seminiferous tubules might begin to increase at postnatal day 10, and maintain a high level through postnatal day 20 to adulthood.</p>

Estrogens affect Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier in pubertal rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation of exogenous estrogens with the expression of FasL in Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier during the differentiation and maturation period of Sertoli cells, and to discuss the related factors that influence the blood-testis barrier of pubertal rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Super-physiological doses of exogenous estrogenic compounds (diethylstilbestrol and estradiol) were administered to pubertal Sprague-Dawley rats in vitro and in vivo, the FasL expression in the Sertoli cells of the rats detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, and the changes in the blood-testis barrier observed with the electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the exposure to exogenous estrogens, the FasL expression was markedly up-regulated in the immature Sertoli cells (P < 0.05) as well as in the Sertoli cell membrane and the blood-testis barrier of the epithelium. The tracer lanthanum passed through the blood-testis barrier and reached the whole layer of the epithelium at 18 days.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Super-physiological dose of exogenous estrogens can change the expression and distribution of FasL in immature Sertoli cells and affect the structure of the blood-testis barrier.</p>

Age-dependent expression of the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic (Cres) gene in mouse testis and epididymis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the spatial and temporal expression of the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic (Cres) gene in mouse testis and epididymis during postnatal development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The QuantiGene assay and indirect immunofluorescence technique were used to examine the Cres mRNA and Cres protein level in mouse testis and epididymis on postnatal days 14, 20, 22, 28, 35, 49, 70 and 420.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In both the testis and epididymis, Cres mRNA was first detected on day 20, then it increased gradually from day 20 to day 70, and the high expression level maintained till day 420. (2) In the testis, the Cres protein was exclusively localized to the elongating spermatids and was first detected on day 22. The number of Cres-positive spermatids increased progressively till day 49. From day 49 to day 420, the number of Cres-positive cells was almost stable. (3) The Cres protein was first detected on day 20 in the proximal caput epididymal epithelium. By day 35, the expression level of the Cres protein increased dramatically and the high level was maintained till day 420. Moreover, the luminal fluid of the midcaput epididymis was also stained Cres-positive from day 35 on. No Cres-positive staining was observed in distal caput, corpus and cauda epididymis throughout.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Cres gene displays a specific age-dependent expression pattern in mouse testis and epididymis on both the mRNA and protein level.</p>

Spatial and temporal expression of germ cell nuclear factor in murine epididymis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the spatial and temporal expression of germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) in mouse and rat epididymis during postnatal period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The epididymal sections from different postnatal days were stained for GCNF by the indirect immunofluorescence technique and digital photographs were taken by a Carl Zeiss confocal microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>GCNF was first detected on day 12 in mouse epididymis and day 14 in rat epididymis. The highest expression of GCNF was observed on day 35 in both mouse and rat epididymis. In adults, GCNF exhibited a region-specific expression pattern, i.e., it was expressed predominantly in the initial segment, caput and proximal corpus of rat epididymis and was abundant in the proximal corpus of mouse epididymis. GCNF could be found in the nuclei of the principal, apical, narrow, clear and halo cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GCNF may play an important role in epididymal differentiation and development and in sperm maturation.</p>

Expression of germ cell nuclear factor in mouse germ cells and sperm during postnatal period / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the spatial and temporal expression of germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) in male mouse germ cells during postnatal development and in sperm before and after capacitation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The indirect immunofluorescence method with anti-GCNF antiserum was used to investigate the GCNF expression in mice at day 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 28, 35, 70, and 420 after birth and in sperm before and after capacitation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the proceeding of spermatogenesis, GCNF was first detected in the nuclei of spermatogonia and a few early stage primary spermatocytes at day 8, which was increased gradually at day 10 to 14 inclusive. From day 17 to day 20, the GCNF was concentrated in round spermatids, while both spermatogonia and early stage primary spermatocytes became GCNF negative. From day 28 until day 420, strong GCNF expression was shown in round spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia, early primary spermatocytes and elongating spermatids were all GCNF negative. In addition, it was also found that GCNF was localized on the acrosomal cap region of spermatozoa and there was a big change in GCNF expression during capacitation, from 98 % GCNF positive before capacitation to about 20 % positive following capacitation. The localization of GCNF in caput and cauda spermatozoa was similar.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GCNF may play important roles in spermatogenesis, capacitation and fertilization.</p>