血管内皮生长因子蛋白在大鼠睾丸和附睾的表达和定位研究

为探讨血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在雄性生殖系精子发生发育和成熟过程中的调控作用,应用免疫组化、Periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)染色及蛋白质免疫印迹技术,检测VEGF蛋白在成年大鼠睾丸和附睾的表达和定位情况。Western-blots显示,在大鼠睾丸和附睾内均有VEGF蛋白(约45kD)的表达;免疫组化显示,睾丸内VEGF见于圆形和长形精子细胞、Sertoli细胞和Leydig细胞,免疫阳性产物位于细胞质内。精子细胞的VEGF表达伴随精子细胞顶体发育的全过程,精子残余体呈强阳性。附睾内VEGF表达于附睾管上皮,且有区域和细胞特异性。附睾起始段的所有上皮主细胞内都有VEGF阳性颗粒;头、体、尾各段的VEGF阳性细胞多数与含PAS阳性颗粒的细胞重合,证明为亮细胞;近端附睾的管腔内可见精子头部呈VEGF阳性染色。睾丸、附睾间质血管内皮为VEGF阴性。上述结果表明,VEGF蛋白可由生殖细胞和附睾管上皮细胞直接产生,它可能以自分泌和/或旁分泌的形式共同作用于睾丸和附睾的生殖细胞和血管内皮,直接或间接影响精子的发生、发育和成熟过程,特别是精子顶体的形成过程,并可能与精子在附睾内的成熟有关。     

血管内皮生长因子蛋白在大鼠睾丸和附睾的表达和定位研究

为探讨血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在雄性生殖系精子发生发育和成熟过程中的调控作用,应用免疫组化、Periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)染色及蛋白质免疫印迹技术,检测VEGF蛋白在成年大鼠睾丸和附睾的表达和定位情况。Western-blots显示,在大鼠睾丸和附睾内均有VEGF蛋白(约45kD)的表达;免疫组化显示,睾丸内VEGF见于圆形和长形精子细胞、Sertoli细胞和Leydig细胞,免疫阳性产物位于细胞质内。精子细胞的VEGF表达伴随精子细胞项体发育的全过程,精子残余体呈强阳性。附睾内VEGF表达于附睾管上皮,且有区域和细胞特异性。附睾起始段的所有上皮主细胞内都有VEGF阳性颗粒;头、体、尾各段的VEGF阳性细胞多数与含PAS阳性颗粒的细胞重合,证明为亮细胞;近端附睾的管腔内可见精子头部呈VEGF阳性染色。睾丸、附睾间质血管内皮为VEGF阴性。上述结果表明,VEGF蛋白可由生殖细胞和附睾管上皮细胞直接产生,它可能以自分泌和／或旁分泌的形式共同作用于睾丸和附睾的生殖细胞和血管内皮,直接或间接影响精子的发生、发育和成熟过程,特别是精子顶体的形成过程,并可能与精子在附睾内的成熟有关。     

VEGF、VEGFR2在青春期大鼠睾丸、附睾及附睾精子上的表达

目的通过对血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及其受体VEGFR2在青春期大鼠睾丸及附睾表达的研究,探讨其在雄性生殖器官中的作用。方法采用免疫组化法检测VEGF、VEGFR2在SD大鼠睾丸和附睾的表达定位,用免疫荧光法检测它们在大鼠附睾精子上的表达定位。结果VEGF及VEGFR2在青春期大鼠睾丸和附睾组织中均有表达。在睾丸中,VEGF主要表达于精原细胞胞质、精子细胞发育中的顶体、Sertoli细胞胞质及精子残余体内,Leydig细胞胞质也有阳性表达;VEGFR2主要表达于精子细胞发育中的顶体和间质细胞胞质。在附睾中,VEGF表达于附睾管上皮所有主细胞胞质内;而VEGFR2表达于附睾管头段和尾段上皮主细胞胞质内,体段免疫染色阴性。免疫荧光显示,VEGF与VEGFR2都与精子头部顶体、尾部颈段、中段和主段相结合,末段未见阳性荧光。结论VEGF及VEGFR2在大鼠的睾丸和附睾中均有表达,其表达定位具有细胞特异性和区域特异性,提示其可能在大鼠睾丸精子发生和附睾精子成熟中发挥重要作用。     

双峰驼睾丸和隐睾细胞外基质相关蛋白的组织化学特征及超微结构比较

为探索细胞外基质相关蛋白在隐睾双峰驼的分布情况及其组织化学特征,应用电镜技术和多种组织化学方法比较了隐睾和正常睾丸的超微结构,组织化学特点及层粘连蛋白（LN）、Ⅳ型胶原（Col Ⅳ）和硫酸乙酰肝素糖蛋白（HSPG）的分布特征。结果显示：(1)与正常睾丸间质结构相比,光镜下隐睾生精小管发育不全,间质内胶原纤维稀疏,网状纤维分布明显,间质血管及生精小管固有膜PAS及AB-PAS阳性反应较弱。电镜下,隐睾生精上皮基膜明显增生,外围I型胶原纤维较少,管周肌样细胞不典型;间质毛细血管及Leydig细胞周围纤维细胞多见,而正常睾丸在间质毛细血管及Leydig细胞周围多分布有成纤维细胞。(2) 免疫组织化学染色显示,正常睾丸组织的Col Ⅳ、LN及HSPG在Leydig细胞内均为强阳性表达,Col Ⅳ和LN在毛细血管内皮细胞强阳性表达,后者在Sertoli细胞的表达尤为明显,HSPG在精原细胞无表达;隐睾时Col Ⅳ、LN及HSPG在Leydig细胞内阳性表达均明显减弱,Col Ⅳ、LN在管周肌样细胞及毛细血管内皮细胞阳性表达也减弱明显,HSPG在精原细胞较强阳性表达,且在精子细胞呈强阳性表达。免疫组织化学图像分析结果显示,双峰驼正常睾丸组织中Col Ⅳ和LN的分布显著高于隐睾组织（P<0.05）,HSPG检测结果在正常睾丸与隐睾之间无统计学差异（P>0.01）。该研究表明,双峰驼隐睾生精小管发育异常,间质组织中合成胶原纤维的能力下降,睾丸细胞外基质的重要成分Col Ⅳ,LN与正常组差异显著与生精小管及Leydig细胞异常发育有关,而HSPG在隐睾生精上皮的强阳性表达与精原细胞发育不成熟密切相关。     

Bcl-2和Bax在吗啡依赖雄性大鼠生殖细胞中的表达

目的：探讨B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2和人Bcl-2相关x蛋白（Bcl-2、Bax）在吗啡依赖大鼠睾丸生殖细胞中的表达及细胞凋亡可能机制,为治疗阿片类毒品造成的男性性功能减退提供理论依据。方法：以递增法每日给予雄性大鼠皮下注射盐酸吗啡针剂,建立吗啡依赖组。空白对照组注射等量生理盐水。实验成功后将两组大鼠睾丸组织作常规HE染色和免疫组化染色。结果：吗啡依赖组大鼠生精管壁细胞明显地出现上皮层次减少,仅有2~3层,细胞排列疏松,界限模糊,精子细胞和精子数目减少,并发现曲细精管腔内有脱落的生精细胞;免疫组化结果：吗啡依赖组大鼠生殖细胞中bcl-2的阳性表达率明显低于对照组（P〈0.01）,而生殖细胞中bax蛋白的阳性表达率明显高于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：吗啡依赖可造成雄性大鼠生殖细胞凋亡数量显著增加,其机制可能是通过下调抑凋亡因子Bcl-2,上调促凋亡因子Bax,促进生殖细胞凋亡来实现的。     

促甲状腺激素释放激素受体-1(TRH-R1)蛋白在大鼠出生后睾丸不同发育阶段的表达和定位

目的研究促甲状腺激素释放激素受体-1(thyrotrophin-releasing hormone receptor type-1, TRH-R1)在大鼠睾丸出生后不同发育阶段的表达,探讨其在生殖发育调节中的作用.方法应用蛋白质免疫印迹杂交技术以及免疫组织化学ABC法检测TRH-R1在8d、15d、20d、35d、60d和90d大鼠睾丸中的表达和定位,并结合图像分析技术对免疫组化结果进行统计学分析观察其在发育过程中的变化.结果免疫印迹杂交发现TRH-R1蛋白表达于15d以后各阶段的大鼠睾丸;而运用免疫组化在第8d即检测到TRH-R1的表达,以后发育过程中的各个阶段均有阳性反应细胞, TRH-R1定位于大鼠睾丸的间质细胞;免疫反应阳性物均位于胞膜和胞质,胞核区为阴性;图像分析结果表明,随着大鼠睾丸的发育,TRH-R1表达量呈增多趋势,且具有统计学差异(P＜0.01).结论本实验证明TRH-R1在出生后8d大鼠的睾丸内即有表达,并持续表达于其后各个发育阶段;TRH-R1定位于睾丸的间质细胞,其表达量随着增龄变化呈增多趋势,即同发育过程相关.     

重复热处理对大鼠精子发生的影响研究:光学和电子显微镜观察

大鼠睾丸每月重复接受43℃热处理(每次处理25分钟)。第一次加温后24小时,光学和电镜观察指出,生殖细胞对加热反应并非是一种特异性效应。电镜观察指出,所有发育期的生殖细胞的胞核均受损伤,但其他细胞器,如细胞膜和线粒体却很完整。本实验表明,加热原初损伤是细胞核,而不是胞质的膜系统。 首次加温后24小时,具空泡化胞核的早期精细胞已有一个小顶体,而胞质的特征却相似于分裂的精母细胞。表明加热能引起精母细胞的核——质非同步发育,即加速胞核分裂和分化。 每月一次,二次加温后182天,绝大多数精小管内无生殖细胞,但在一些部分恢复的精细管中,还发现空泡化的多核巨细胞,本结果表明,一些休止期精原细胞也受潜在损伤,并能生存相当长时间;一旦细胞进行分裂之后,就出现退行性交。     

FasL在睾丸细胞的定位

FasL/Fas系统介导的胞外信号凋亡途径是哺乳动物睾丸生殖细胞凋亡的一条主要途径,然而,关于FasL在睾丸细胞中的定位却存在争议。本文对近年来国内外关于FasL在睾丸中的细胞定位研究进行了综述,为阐明FasL/Fas系统介导生殖细胞凋亡的机制提供资料,对深入理解睾丸中Sertoli细胞和生殖细胞间的调控关系及临床实践具有一定的指导作用。     

检控蛋白Rad17在小鼠睾丸精子发生过程中的表达及其磷酸化变化

Rad17是细胞周期检控点信号转导过程中的一个关键检控蛋白,在DNA损伤检控和DNA复制检控中具有重要功能。但Rad17在细胞减数分裂中的检控作用还不是很清楚。因细胞减数分裂在睾丸组织中非常活跃,应用Western印迹检测Rad17在不同发育时期的小鼠睾丸组织中的表达及其磷酸化水平,并应用免疫组化的方法检测小鼠睾丸组织不同时期生殖细胞内Rad17的表达变化。结果显示Rad17在小鼠睾丸组织内高表达,而在肝、肾等组织中表达水平较低;Rad17在不同周龄的小鼠睾丸组织中均高水平表达,但在4周龄以后的小鼠睾丸组织中其磷酸化水平明显升高;免疫组化结果显示Rad17在精原细胞、精母细胞的细胞核中高表达,但在成熟精子细胞中消失。这些结果提示Rad17在小鼠睾丸生殖细胞减数分裂过程中也起重要检控作用。     

大鼠睾丸曲细精管组织支持细胞/生殖细胞长期共培养与精子发生分析

睾丸体外生殖模型的发展为体外研究睾丸的精子发生分子机制和睾丸毒理学提供了实验工具。很多报道的模型都无法真正地模拟体内复杂的生化分子及功能性相互作用从而导致研究价值有限。该实验拟建立一个体外长期维持睾丸生殖细胞存在,并能持续产生精子细胞的支持细胞/生殖细胞共培养体系。体系中的支持细胞和生殖细胞均由曲细精管组织块迁移到培养皿上,在不添加任何生长因子的情况下维持体外精子发生至圆形精子细胞超过2个月。RT-PCR分析显示,共培养细胞稳定表达cdh1、scp3、tnp2;免疫荧光染色结果显示,CDH1、PLZF、SCP3以及SOX9阳性细胞存在。这些结果例证了体系中同时存在精原干细胞、精母细胞、精子细胞和支持细胞。简单高效的支持细胞/生殖细胞体外共培养体系可用于雄性生殖的分子机制和毒理学研究。     

The site of aromatization in the mouse cryptorchid testis

Using the mouse cryptorchid model, degenerations of germ cells were observed as well as a reduced size of seminiferous tubules, while the area of the interstitial tissue increased. Aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgens into oestrogens, was immunolocalized in Leydig cells and in germ cells from both scrotal and abdominal testes, and in Sertoli cells only in a control testis. In the cryptorchid testis, aromatase was strongly expressed in a few tubules, including those spermatids that were still present. Other cells inside the tubules were negative for aromatase. In both testes, oestrogen receptors alpha were expressed only in Leydig cells. Strong aromatase expression in germ cells indicates an additional source of oestrogens in the testis besides the interstitial tissue.     

Intratubular localization of 4-ene-5 beta-reductase and 17 beta-hydroxy-dehydrogenase in immature golden hamster testis

We have reported [1,2] in immature golden hamster testis that 5 beta-reductase is localized in the seminiferous tubules, while 5a-reductase is present in the interstitial tissue and that the 17 beta-ol-dehydrogenase activity is found predominantly in the seminiferous tubules. In the present study, we show the intratubular localization of these enzymes. The left testis of golden hamster was irradiated with 2000R or 8000R of X-rays at 22 days of age. The hamsters were killed at 28 days of age. Homogenates of the left irradiated and right intact testes were incubated with [14C]-4-androstone-3,17-dione and NADPH, and enzyme activity was estimated. Both testes were also examined histologically. The X-irradiation of the testis resulted in an almost complete disappearance of germ cells with a significant decrease in testis weight, but the interstitial tissue and tubular nongerm cells including Sertoli cells remained almost unchanged. However, the activities of 5 beta-reductase and 17 beta-ol-dehydrogenase expressed as nmol formed/testis/h did not decrease at all. These results show that 5 beta-reductase is localized in the tubular nongerm cells including the Sertoli cells and 17 beta-ol-dehydrogenase is present in the tubular nongerm cells and interstitial tissue in immature golden hamster testis.     

Testis morphology in rats chronically treated with letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the long-term treatment of rats with letrozole on the testis morphology. The pharmacologically induced estrogen deficiency caused statistically significant decreases of both intratesticular and serum levels of estradiol, and morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium and in the interstitial tissue of the testes. Six months of treatment resulted in the sloughing of premature germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium into the tubular lumen and in intraepithelial vacuolization. Multinucleated giant cells composed of premature germ cells, conglomerates of various cell nuclei and cell debris as well as irregularities and infoldings of the tubular basement membrane were also seen. Moreover, deep invaginations of the lamina propria with myoid cells were observed. Cells in the interstitial tissue showed changes similar to that observed in aging processes. The cytoplasm of LH-R-positive Leydig cells was loaded with lipofuscin granules. The number of lipofuscin-loaded cells was significantly increased in the interstitial tissue of testis in letrozole-treated rats. The results indicate the direct influence of estrogens on seminiferous tubules and the interstitial tissue morphology.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Mitochondrial Fatty Acid ��-Oxidation Enzymes in Rat Testis

The testis consists of two types of tissues, the interstitial tissue and the seminiferous tubule, which have different functions and are assumed to have different nutritional metabolism. The localization of enzymes of the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation system in the testis was investigated to obtain a better understanding of nutrient metabolism in the testis. Adult rat testis tissues were subjected to immunoblot analysis for quantitation of the amounts of enzyme proteins, to DNA microarray analysis for gene expression, and to immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy for localization. Quantitative analysis by immunoblot and DNA microarray revealed that enzymes occur abundantly in Leydig cells in the interstitial tissue but much less so in the seminiferous tubules. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Leydig cells in the interstitial tissue and Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules contain a full set of mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation enzymes in relatively plentiful amounts among the cells in the testis, but that this is not so in spermatogenic cells. This characteristic localization of the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation system in the testis needs further elucidation in terms of a possible role for it in the nutritional metabolism of spermatogenesis. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:195–206, 2010)     

Expression pattern of asialoglycoprotein receptor in human testis

During acute or chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the virus can invade the male reproductive system, pass through the blood–testis barrier and integrate into the germ line, resulting in abnormal spermatozoa. However, the pathway remains unclear. The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGR), a potential receptor for HBV, is mainly distributed in hepatocytes. We have examined the distribution of ASGR in human testis and found it in the seminiferous tubules and interstitial region but its enrichment in human testis is much lower than that in liver. By multiple immunoenzyme histochemistry staining, ASGR was precisely co-localized with vimentin (Sertoli cell marker) but not proliferating cell nuclear antigen (spermatogonial cell marker) in testis tissue. ASGR was expressed in human Leydig cells, stromal cells in the seminiferous tubules and Sertoli cells but seldom in spermatogonial cells. Therefore, ASGR could provide HBV with access to the luminal compartment of human testis. The mechanism by which HBV invades germ cells remains unknown.     

Development of the rete testis in the prenatal ontogeny of rodents and effect of prolactin and thyrotropin on its cellular differentiation

The development of rete testis in the rat, rabbit and guinea pig foetuses has been studied, as well as the influence of prolactin and thyrotropin on differentiation of its cells. It was shown that the rete testis tubules, as well as the seminiferous tubules develop from sex cords, which were derived from coelomic epithelium cells and gonocytes. The development of seminiferous tubules and rete testis was described at various stages of prenatal ontogenesis. Thyrotropin and prolactin exert different effects on differentiation of the rete testis cells: the former increases the mitotic activity of gonocytes and the latter increases that of epithelial cells and enhances degenerative processes in primary germ cells.     

Endogenous steroid production in cellular and subcellular fractions of rat testis after prolonged treatment with gonadotropins.

Steroid production and enzyme activities were examined in preparations of whole testis tissue, isolated interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules obtained from adult rats with intact pituitaries receiving daily subcutaneous injections of 100 I.U. human chorionic gonadotropin for 5 days and from control animals. After human chorionic gonadotropin administration testosterone concentrations were increased in total homogenates of whole testis tissue, interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules. The testosterone production from endogenous precursors was enhanced only in total homogenates of whole testis tissue and interstitial tissue obtained from testes of human chorionic gonadotropin-treated rats. The production of testosterone in the corresponding homogenates of isolated seminiferous tubules was very low. The specific activity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was increased in total homogenates of whole testis tissue, isolated interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules. No effect was observed on the specific activities of marker enzymes such as cytochrome c oxidase, monoamine oxidase, steroid sulfatase and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas the specific activities of carboxyl esterase were decreased in homogenates of whole testis tissue and interstitial tissue. Total activity of monoamine oxidase was increased in homogenates of interstitial tissue of tests from human chorionic gonadotropin treated rats. After the same prolonged human chorionic gonadotropin treatment the concentration of pregnenolone was increased in mitochondrial fractions of whole testis tissue, interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules, and the amount of protein isolated in the mitochondrial fraction of interstitial tissue increased by 40%. Steroid production (estimated as pregnenolone) from endogenous precusors by mitochondrial fractions of whole testis tissue and interstitial tissue were increased after human chorionic gonadotropin treatment, for whole testis from 580 pmol/mg mitochondrial protein per h to 1420 pmol/mg per h; and for interstitial tissue from 2665 pmol/mg per h to 7050 pmol/mg per h. The production of pregnenolone in mitochondrial fractions obtaine from isolated seminiferous tubules was very low and contributed hardly at all to the total pregnenolone production in mitochondrial fractions of whole testis tissue from normal rats as well as from human chorionic gonadotropin-treated rats.     

Subcutaneous grafts of fresh or cryopreserved testis in castrated rats and mice: comparison of the histologic aspects of the grafts

In the castrated rat, only testis taken in one to two week-old donors observed three months after sub-cutaneous isograft contain a well developed interstitial tissue and some seminiferous tubules with germinal cells. On the contrary in castrated mice, testicular grafts taken in adult animals show some Leydig cells and degenerating seminiferous tubules. These grafts permit the restoration of androgenic activity in previously castrated recipients.     

In situ demonstration of both TUNEL-labeled germ cell and Sertoli cell in the cimetidine-treated rats

Cimetidine has caused dysfunction in the male reproductive system. In the rat testis, intratubular alterations and loss of peritubular tissue due to peritubular myoid cell death by apoptosis have been recently shown. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate which cells of the seminiferous epithelium have been affected and/or died by apoptosis after the treatment with cimetidine. For this purpose, an experimental group containing five male albino Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injections of cimetidine (50 mg/kg body weight) during 52 days. The testes were fixed with 4% buffered formaldehyde and were embedded in paraffin. For detection of DNA breaks (apoptosis) in the cells of the seminiferous epithelium, the testicular sections were treated by the TUNEL method (Apop-Tag Plus Peroxidase Kit). In the tubules affected by cimetidine, altered peritubular tissue, including the presence of TUNEL labeling in the myoid peritubular cells, were usually found. In these tubules, the seminiferous epithelium exhibited low density of germ cells and TUNEL-positive labeling in the germ cells of the basal compartment. The concomitant staining in both germ cells of the basal compartment and late spermatids suggest a sensitivity of these cells in the damaged tubules. Besides germ cells, TUNEL-positive Sertoli cells were also found in the injured seminiferous tubules. Thus, a relationship between dying germ cells and Sertoli cell damage and/or death must be considered in tubules where peritubular tissue has been affected by toxicants.