镉对雄性小鼠生精细胞的影响

为了研究镉对小鼠生殖力和生精细胞的作用,本文对氯化镉处理后的雄性小鼠进行了交配实验,以观察其对怀孕率、每窝产仔数及子代性比的影响。测定比较了注射镉后,小鼠成熟精子的总LDH酶和LDH-X酶的活性;还用双向电泳方法分析了成熟精子的蛋白质变化。结果表明,处理组在怀孕率、每窝产仔数及子代性比方面无统计学意义的差异。成熟精子的总LDH活性经镉处理后未发现明显变化,但镉能显著地抑制与精子运动的能量有关的LDH-X酶的活性。双向电泳图谱表示,镉处理后,精子中含量较少的三组蛋白质或消失不见,或发生明显变化。     

豚鼠不同部位精子乳酸脱氢酶同工酶-X活性的比较

Blanco和Goldberg首先在青春期后的人睾丸组织和精子中发现乳酸脱氢酶同工酶-X(LDH-X),后来相继证明这种同工酶存在于多种哺乳动物和鸟类的成熟睾丸及精子中,以精子中的含量最高,定位于精子中段线粒体基质中的LDH-X占精子总LDH-X活性的41％,可能与精子的代谢有关。LDHX的合成受C基因位点的控制。一般认为,     

大鼠精原干细胞的高效分离和纯化方法

精原干细胞是精子发生的基础,是永久分化成精子的克隆源,它既可以自我更新维持体内干细胞的数量,又可以增殖分化形成各阶段的生精细胞直至成熟精子。本文以22～25日龄Wistar-Iamichi大鼠为研究对象,利用两步酶消化法分离得到睾丸曲细精管细胞悬液,根据精原干细胞与曲细精管细胞悬液中体细胞(支持细胞及少量的管周细胞)及各级分化的生精细胞贴壁能力及对细胞外基质粘附力的不同,将大鼠精原干细胞进行纯化。经纯化后,5只大鼠的睾丸可以得到约3×10~5个精原干细胞,该精原干细胞在体外培养可形成克隆,并且该克隆可表达精原干细胞特异的标记基因GFRα1和CDH1。本文所介绍的高效分离和纯化大鼠精原干细胞的方法,操作简便,且得到的精原干细胞具有很高的活力和增殖能力,该方法为今后大鼠精原干细胞的长期培养及操作研究奠定了基础。     

砷对大鼠生精细胞凋亡的影响

砷是已肯定的生殖毒物之一,但关于砷对雄（男）性生殖系统的毒性作用的分子机制尚不清楚。本实验通过检测慢性砷中毒大鼠睾丸脏器系数、精子头数、每日精子生成量（DSP）及生精细胞凋亡情况,探讨砷对精子发生的影响,为进一步探讨砷致雄（男）性生殖毒性机制提供基础资料。结果显示,随染砷剂量的增加,大鼠出现睾丸生精上皮结构变疏松,生精上皮细胞层次紊乱,甚至部分生精小管基膜溶解、管腔中成熟精子减少、小管间隙增宽、细胞体积缩小、间质出现水肿、渗出等病理改变;睾丸精子头计数及DSP逐渐减少,中、高剂量组变化尤其明显。     

Rab13 GTPase在大鼠睾丸中的表达及其与生精上皮周期的关系

目的初步明确Rab13 GTPase在大鼠精子发生及成熟过程中的表达情况和可能发挥的作用。方法首先通过RT-PCR技术检测了Rab13 GTPase在不同日龄大鼠睾丸组织中的表达,又利用RT-PCR和Western-blot检测了Rab13在大鼠不同组织中的表达情况,最后采用免疫组化技术检测Rab13 GTPase在大鼠不同期别生精上皮中的分布。结果 RT-PCR显示Rab13 GTPase mRNA水平在40日龄大鼠睾丸组织中表达达到最高峰;在40日龄大鼠,Rab13 GTPase在心、脑、肺、脾、睾丸等5种组织中均有表达,在肺组织中表达量最多;在精子细胞成熟过程中,Rab13在生精上皮基底部及生精细胞周围都有分布,在精子释放前则主要集中分布于生精上皮基底部。结论 Rab13 GTPase的分布,可能随生精上皮周期的变化而对精子发生过程具有一定的调节作用。     

醋酸棉酚对大鼠睾丸HCG反应性及其受体功能的影响

给大鼠灌服醋酸棉酚30 mg/kg/d,每周6次,持续4周。给药2周后,血浆睾酮水平显著下降并持续至第4周,同时间质细胞呈萎缩性改变。醋酸棉酚明显抑制成年大鼠对HCG反应性,使睾丸LH/HCG受体亲和力下降,受体数目略有减少。结果提示,醋酸棉酚抑制大鼠睾丸酮的产生及降低成年大鼠睾丸对HCG的反应性,推测其机制是由于醋酸棉酚干扰了睾丸HCG受体功能而造成的。     

LDH-C：睾丸重要的特异表达基因

乳酸脱氢酶C(LDHC)是目前已知的最早在男性生精细胞中发现的睾丸特异同功酶。LDHC最早通过凝胶电泳技术在人精子及睾丸生精细胞中被发现。免疫组化结果显示LDHC最早出现在早期的粗线期初级精母细胞中,其数量随着减数分裂逐渐增加。成熟精子中LDHC主要定位在精子尾部的主段区域。研究显示,乳酸脱氢酶家族的同功酶在哺乳动物细胞中无所不在,他们受到发育的调控,具有组织细胞的特异性,且功能多样。本文就LDHC的发展史及他们在帮助精子完成受精过程中的作用作一综述。     

LDH—C：睾丸重要的特异表达基因

乳酸脱氢酶C（u）Hc）是目前已知的最早在男性生精细胞中发现的睾丸特异同功酶。LDHC最早通过凝胶电泳技术在人精子及睾丸生精细胞中被发现。免疫组化结果显示LDHC最早出现在早期的粗线期初级精母细胞中,其数量随着减数分裂逐渐增加。成熟精子中LDHC主要定位在精子尾部的主段区域。研究显示,乳酸脱氢酶家族的同功酶在哺乳动物细胞中无所不在,他们受到发育的调控,具有组织细胞的特异性,且功能多样。本文就LDHC的发展史及他们在帮助精子完成受精过程中的作用作一综述。     

黄芩苷通过增强抗氧化和抑制细胞凋亡减轻哮喘小鼠雄性生殖损伤

生殖健康是人口与健康领域的重要议题。作为全球最常见的呼吸道疾病哮喘会影响男性生殖功能,但相关机制鲜有报道。本文研究了黄酮类化合物黄芩苷(baicalin,BA)对哮喘小鼠睾丸损伤的干预作用及相关机制。选择雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组(CK组)、卵清蛋白(ovalbumin,OVA)致敏的哮喘组(OVA组)和黄芩苷干预哮喘组(OVA+BA组)。结果发现,3组小鼠体重无明显差异。OVA组小鼠睾丸系数和精子数量显著降低(P < 0.05),精子畸形率显著增加(P < 0.05);黄芩苷干预组小鼠睾丸系数显著增加(P < 0.05),精子畸形率显著降低(P < 0.05)。HE染色观察到OVA组小鼠睾丸组织生精小管结构损伤,精子发生异常,生精细胞减少,Johnson得分显著降低;BA干预组生精小管直径及生精上皮细胞高度显著增加,生精小管基膜结构较完整,Johnson得分显著提高(P < 0.05);试剂盒法检测氧化还原指标发现,OVA组睾丸组织过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著增加(P < 0.05),总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著降低(P < 0.05);OVA+BA组睾丸组织H₂O₂和MDA含量显著降低(P < 0.05),T-SOD活性显著增加(P < 0.05);实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测发现,OVA组睾丸组织中促凋亡基因p53、Casp-3转录上调,抗凋亡基因Bcl2转录显著下调,胱天蛋白酶3(caspase-3)活性显著增加(P < 0.05);OVA+BA组p53和Casp-3转录下调,Bcl2转录上调,胱天蛋白酶3活性显著降低(P < 0.05)。结果表明,哮喘小鼠睾丸组织发生了氧化应激和结构损伤,细胞凋亡途径被激活,BA干预可有效减轻哮喘小鼠睾丸组织的氧化胁迫,抑制凋亡通路,保护睾丸组织的功能和结构。结果提示,黄芩苷能缓解哮喘小鼠的生殖毒性,该效应与机体抗氧化能力提高、细胞凋亡途径抑制有关。     

棉酚抗生育作用的研究——Ⅳ.大白鼠长期服棉酚睾丸退化的观察

选用出生1月龄大白鼠按20毫克/公斤体重/日灌服棉酚,每周5次,连续1个月和2个月取材;性成熟大白鼠每天服棉酚5毫克/只,每周6次,给药3、4、6个月和停药1、2、3个月分别取材,睾丸称重后固定、制片作比较观察。实验结果表明,棉酚对幼龄大白鼠睾丸的发育没有影响,但使发育到变态后期的精子细胞受损伤,附睾中出现断头坏死的精子。长期服抗生育有效剂量棉酚的大白鼠中,有相当一部分出现不同程度的睾丸退化。退化通常在睾网附近最先出现,并和死精子在曲精细管中积聚相关连。第Ⅶ—Ⅷ期生精上皮退化的过程是自上皮游离缘18—19期精子细胞开始渐进地向基膜方向推进,直至上皮完全剥落或仅留以个别精原细胞和较多的媬育细胞。停服棉酚后恢复1—3个月的结果指出,已开始退化的睾丸在停药后有继续退化的趋势。严重退化的睾丸经停药3个月,虽然曲精细管排列较整齐,部分留有精原细胞的曲精细管中精原细胞显示增加数目并有B 型精原细胞,但尚未见进一步发展。对于睾丸退化可能与死精子在曲精细管内积聚有关,而不是由于棉酚对整个生精上皮的损伤问题进行了讨论。     

Inhibition of testicular LDH-X from laboratory animals and man by gossypol and its isomers

The inhibitory effect of (+)-, (-)-, (+/-)-gossypol and (+/-)-gossypol acetic acid upon testicular cytosolic LDH-X was measured in vitro. Gossypol acetic acid (0-100 mumol/l) inhibited LDH-X prepared from the testes of the mouse greater than rabbit greater than human greater than rat greater than hamster. There was no relationship between inhibition and in-vivo antifertility activity. LDH activity measured in vitro in serum of men and hamsters was unaffected by gossypol. Gossypol and its isomers were non-competitive inhibitors of human and hamster LDH-X with respect to the coenzyme NADH, competitive inhibitors of human LDH-X and noncompetitive-competitive inhibitors of hamster LDH-X with respect to the substrate alpha-ketobutyrate. Co-incubation with human serum albumin or poly-L-lysine but not lysine protected human and hamster LDH-X from gossypol.     

Ultrastructural, fertility, and spermicidal studies with isomers and derivatives of gossypol in male hamsters

The effects of fourteen new, orally administered synthetic analogs of gossypol on testicular ultrastructure and fertility in hamsters and the spermicidal properties of these compounds, as well as of the optical isomers of gossypol against hamster and human sperm in vitro, are reported in this study. Test compounds were administered to adult male hamsters by daily gavage for 9 weeks at doses ranging from 15 to 50 mg/kg. The results of this study have demonstrated that the fourteen new gossypol analogs evaluated herein are not effective as male antifertility agents and their in vitro activity or lack of activity as spermicides is unrelated to their in vivo contraceptive potential. In addition, the results of the study suggest that (1) the isopropyl moiety of the gossypol molecule, like the aldehyde group, is essential for its mechanism of action and (2) the pathognomonic defect in the mitochondrial sheath induced by gossypol appears to be related to its unique activity as a male antifertility agent. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Gossypol modulation of nucleotide metabolizing enzymes in the reproductive tract of male rats

The activities of several pivotal nucleotide metabolizing enzymes from the testis and vasal sperm of rats treated for 7 wk with 0, 20 or 30 mg X kg X day gossypol acetic acid were examined. Total testicular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased 40% above control in the highest treatment group examined. However, the specific activity of the testis-specific isozyme of LDH, LDH-C4, decreased to 50 and 20% of control in the 20 and 30 mg X kg X day treatment groups, respectively. Basal soluble adenylate cyclase from a 100,000 X g supernatant of testis homogenate exhibited a 25% decrease in activity only in the 30-mg treatment group. Basal adenylate cyclase activity in the testicular membrane fraction increased 20 to 30% above control in response to gossypol administration. Testis membranes from the 20- and 30-mg treatment group exhibited a 2- and 4-fold greater activation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides. In vitro dose-response curves showed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for inhibition of soluble testicular adenylate cyclase by gossypol of 400 microM in each treatment group. Caudal epididymal sperm adenylate cyclase activity decreased to 25% of control levels in gossypol-treated animals, and the in vitro sensitivity of the enzyme to the inhibitory effects of gossypol increased 4-fold. IC50 values for gossypol inhibition of sperm adenylate cyclase decreased from 200 microM in control animals to 75 and 50 microM in the 20 and 30 mg X kg X day treatment groups, respectively. Cyclic adenosine 3':5' monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity in caudal sperm increased 6-fold in the 20- and 30-mg treatment groups. These results demonstrate that nucleotide metabolizing enzymes in sperm are major targets for the actions of gossypol and provide a possible mechanism for the inhibition of normal sperm function by this compound.     

Gossypol inhibition of acrosin and proacrosin, and oocyte penetration by human spermatozoa

Gossypol, a known antispermatogenic agent, was found to effectively inhibit the highly purified boar sperm proacrosin-acrosin proteinase enzyme system by irreversibly preventing the autoproteolytic conversion of proacrosin to acrosin and reversibly inhibiting acrosin activity. The agent appears to prevent the self-catalyzed by not the acrosin-catalyzed activation of proacrosin. In additional experiments, brief exposure of human semen to concentrations of gossypol, which did not visibly alter spermatozoal motility or forward progression, was found to irreversibly inhibit the conversion of proacrosin to acrosin although the activity of the nonzymogen acrosin was not decreased, and also to prevent the human spermatozoa from penetrating denuded hamster oocytes. Gossypol inhibition of proacrosin conversion to acrosin closely paralleled the decline in oocyte penetration. Racemic (+/-) gossypol was equally as effective as the enantiomer (+) gossypol. The results suggest that the inhibition of proacrosin conversion to acrosin is a mechanism by which gossypol exerts its antifertility effect at nonspermicidal concentrations and that low levels of gossypol should be tested for their contraceptive action when placed vaginally.     

Impaired spermatogenesis and fertility in mice carrying a mutation in the Spink2 gene expressed predominantly in testes

Spermatogenesis is a complex process involving an intrinsic genetic program composed of germ cell-specific and -predominant genes. In this study, we investigated the mouse Spink2 (serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 2) gene, which belongs to the SPINK family of proteins characterized by the presence of a Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor-pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor domain. We showed that recombinant mouse SPINK2 has trypsin-inhibitory activity. Distribution analyses revealed that Spink2 is transcribed strongly in the testis and weakly in the epididymis, but is not detected in other mouse tissues. Expression of Spink2 is specific to germ cells in the testis and is first evident at the pachytene spermatocyte stage. Immunoblot analyses demonstrated that SPINK2 protein is present in male germ cells at all developmental stages, including in testicular spermatogenic cells, testicular sperm, and mature sperm. To elucidate the functional role of SPINK2 in vivo, we generated mutant mice with diminished levels of SPINK2 using a gene trap mutagenesis approach. Mutant male mice exhibit significantly impaired fertility; further phenotypic analyses revealed that testicular integrity is disrupted, resulting in a reduction in sperm number. Moreover, we found that testes from mutant mice exhibit abnormal spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis accompanied by elevated serine protease activity. Our studies thus provide the first demonstration that SPINK2 is required for maintaining normal spermatogenesis and potentially regulates serine protease-mediated apoptosis in male germ cells.     

Different pathways of cell killing by gossypol enantiomers

Gossypol, a polyphenolic, aldehyde-containing constituent of cottonseed, produced partial responses (>50% reduction in tumor size) in some patients with advanced cancer and suppressed sperm as an antifertility agent for men. This action in vivo and its novel side effect profile suggest a specific mechanism of the action of gossypol. Using the random homozygous knockout approach of Li and Cohen (1), we developed a cell line resistant to killing by gossypol, but sensitive to methotrexate and doxorubicin. It showed stereospecific resistance to killing by (-) gossypol (ED(50) 4.9 microM) compared with wild type (ED(50) 2.0 microM). The resistant and wild-type cells were equally sensitive to (+) gossypol (ED(50) 8.8 and 8.4 microM, respectively), methotrexate, and doxyrubicin. We conclude that gossypol affects cells by a stereospecific pathway for (-) gossypol, possibly related to its selective effects, and a nonstereospecific pathway for (+) gossypol and higher concentrations of (-) gossypol. Further knowledge about the stereospecific pathway may lead to new therapeutic drugs.     

Effect of gossypol on testicular blood flow and testosterone production in rats

Rats were treated with highly purified gossypol acetic acid at doses of 15 or 30 mg/kg day-1 for 6 weeks to produce an effect on spermatogenesis as shown by reduced sperm motility and increased sperm malformation rates. The treated rats did not differ from the controls in the body weight growth curves and reproductive organ weights. When stimulated with hCG, testicular blood flow was increased in the low dose group; the testosterone concentrations in peripheral and testicular venous blood were also increased to a greater extent than those of the control group. No difference was found between the high dose and control groups in testicular blood flow or testosterone concentrations. The morphology of the Leydig cells was apparently normal, although some degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium were observed in the high dose group. Therefore, there is no evidence in our experiment to show any anti-androgenic effect following 6-week treatment of gossypol in rats, even at the dose of 30 mg/kg day-1.     

The occurrence and distribution of alpha-hydroxy-acid dehydrogenase in some members of the order Kinetoplastida

LDH-X is the isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase found in mammalian spermatozoa, occurring in cytosolic and mitochondrial locations. Gossypol strongly inhibits it, and the spermicidal action of this compound is attributed to the disruption of a reducing shuttle. The flagellated protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, contains an enzyme activity similar to LDH-X, called alpha-hydroxy-acid dehydrogenase, which is here shown to possess cytosolic and glycosomal components. The glycosome is a microbody-like organelle containing the early glycolytic enzymes. We postulate that the inhibition of replication of T. cruzi by gossypol derives from interference with glycosomal reducing shuttles. T. lewisi resembles T. cruzi in this respect.     

Regulation of the synthesis of lactate dehydrogenase-X during spermatogenesis in the mouse

Total mouse testis RNA directs the synthesis of the sperm-specific C subunit of lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDH-X) when translated in a cell- free system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. The newly synthesized C subunits were isolated by immunoprecipitation with antibody specific for this isozyme, and quantitated by electrophoresis on SDS polyacrylamide gels. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into the enzyme subunit was directly proportional to the amount of testis RNA added to the translational system, thereby providing a sensitive and reliable method for assessing relative LDH-X mRNA activity. A combination of sucrose gradient centrifugation and oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography resulted in a 23-fold purification of LDH-X mRNA over total cytoplasmic testis RNA. Analysis of LDH-X mRNA activity in the developing testis indicated that the appearance of functional LDH-X mRNA activity coincides with the appearance of LDH-X catalytic activity at 14 d postpartum. Measurement of LDH-X mRNA levels in separated testis cell populations prepared by centrifugal elutriation demonstrated that LDH-X mRNA represents 0.17-0.18% of the total functional mRNA activity in fractions enriched in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, but only 0.09-0.10% of the translation products of elongated spermatids.