SPAG4L在人类睾丸中的表达研究

目的:观察人类睾丸新基因SPAG4L在人类不同发育阶段睾丸及隐睾中的表达,为了解该基因在精子发生中的功能奠定基础;方法:收集流产胎儿、成年人、老年人及隐睾患者的睾丸组织,应用RT-PCR和组织原位杂交技术检测SPAG4L mRNA的表达;结果:RT-PCR和组织原位杂交技术检测结果发现,SPAG4L在胎儿睾丸中几乎检测不到,在成年及老年男性睾丸中均有高表达,主要在精母细胞和圆形精子细胞中表达;在隐睾患者的睾丸中,精母细胞大量凋亡,SPAG4L表达明显下调;结论:SPAG4L主要在精子发生减数分裂阶段表达,受生长发育调控,提示该基因可能在精子发生减数分裂阶段发挥着重要的生理功能.     

小鼠睾丸生精细胞凋亡相关基因SRG2的分子克隆及其在隐睾中的表达特征

从已获得的在隐睾和正常睾丸对照中表达量有明显差异的EST片段(BE644542)入手,利用网上生物信息学克隆了SRG2基因全长,GenBank登录号为AF395083。从小鼠睾丸cDNA文库中分离出该基因完整阅读框cDNA,SRG2基因的cDNA全长为1088bp,为编码295个氨基酸、分子量为33579kD、等电点为9．64的蛋白质,与人类同源基因TSARG2相似性为78％,而与其他已知蛋白质无明显同源性。RT-PCR结果表明：该基因只在睾丸中有高表达。应用新型的分子信标检测该基因在不同时期隐睾中的mRNA表达水平,发现该基因呈明显上调,证明该基因在隐睾的发生发展中具重要作用。     

出生后小鼠睾丸不同发育期TIMP-4的表达

金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-4(TIMP-4)是TIMP家族的最新成员。已有研究表明,TIMP-4mRNA大量表达于成年小鼠的睾丸中。为了证实TIMP-4基因在出生后小鼠睾丸中的表达是否具有发育依赖性,本实验利用RT-PCR、Western blotting和间接免疫荧光染色三种方法,分别检测了TIMP-4mRNA和蛋白在出生后小鼠睾丸不同发育期中的时空表达方式。RT-PCR和Western blotting结果分别显示,TIMP-4mRNA和蛋白均只在成年小鼠睾丸中表达,而在出生后的其它各阶段都不表达;间接免疫荧光染色进一步证实TIMP-4蛋白只定位在成年小鼠睾丸的Leydig细胞中。结果提示,TIMP-4在出生后小鼠睾丸中的表达具有显著的发育依赖性.     

隐睾小鼠与正常成年小鼠睾丸蛋白表达谱的差异分析

为使精原干细胞（spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs）在体外大量扩增,需要阐明SSCs自增殖机制。为筛选SSCs自增殖相关因子,探索SSCs自增殖机制,本研究选取10日龄昆明乳鼠行隐睾手术,术后35d分别取小鼠两侧睾丸。组织学分析结果显示,实验性隐睾中生殖细胞的分化停滞在精母细胞阶段,且只有少量的精母细胞出现,精原细胞的比例高于正常成年雄性小鼠（45日龄）。应用双向凝胶电泳分析隐睾小鼠与正常成年小鼠睾丸差异表达蛋白。结果显示,与正常成年小鼠相比,隐睾小鼠睾丸中有9种蛋白表达发生了显著变化,其中6种蛋白表达下调,3种上调。对9种差异表达蛋白点胶内酶切后进行质谱分析,其中4种蛋白分别鉴定为磷脂酰乙醇胺结合蛋白1（phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein1,PEBP1）,HES—related basic helix-100p-helix protein（HERP）,Stathmin蛋白和一种未命名蛋白。本研究通过制作有效的隐睾动物模型,运用蛋白组学的技术方法,成功筛选并鉴定了4种隐睾相关蛋白,有助于探讨SSCs自增殖及隐睾引起雄性不育的机制。     

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。     

小鼠生精相关基因SRG4的cDNA克隆及在小鼠各发育阶段的表达

从大鼠精子尾部基因Spag4出发,在dbEST数据库中同源搜寻与大鼠Spag4基因编码氨基酸同源性较高的表达序列标签(Expressed Sequence Tag,EST),找到两个在小鼠精母细胞中表达的ESTs,BG101130和BG100990。通过电子杂交得到1155bp的片段,包含了小鼠假想基因AK006225的全部序列,定位于2H1-H2,其开放阅读框为87～1133bp,并被RT-PCR所证实,将该基因命名为小鼠生精相关基因4(Sperrnatogenesis Related Gene4,SRG4,GenBank登录号为AY307077)。SRG4基因推定编码348个氨基酸,有一个coiled-coil区,可能是一个跨膜蛋白。该基因与人类同源基因TSARG4同源性为74％(277／374),与大鼠Spag4同源性为45％(103／224)。多组织RT-PCR和Northern blot结果显示,SRG4在睾丸中特异性表达。RT-PCR结果发现,小鼠出生后2周内,SRG4表达量极低;3周开始时SRG4大量表达,到4∽5周时表达量最高。该结果提示。SRG4基因可能在小鼠精子形成过程中发挥着重要的作用。     

血清抑制素B评估成年隐睾患者术后睾丸功能恢复的临床价值

目的:探讨血清抑制素B(InhB)用于评价成年隐睾患者术后睾丸功能恢复的临床价值。方法:收集2011年10月~2015年9月于我科就诊的138例成年隐睾患者作为观察组,另收集100例健康志愿者作为正常对照组。用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法检测观察组患者术前、术后30天和90天及正常对照组的血清InhB水平,并参照WHO人类精液检查与处理实验室手册(第五版)方法进行精液常规检查。结果:与正常对照组比较,观察组患者术前、术后30天和90天血清InhB水平、精子活率、精子密度均明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组术后30天血清InhB水平、精子活率、精子密度与术前比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组术后90天血清InhB水平、精子活率、精子密度明显高于术前,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组组术前、术后30天和90天的精液量与正常对照组对比差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组术前、术后30天和90天及正常对照组血清InhB水平与精子浓度均呈正相关(观察组术前:r=0.81,P0.05,观察组术后30天:r=0.78,P0.05,观察组术后90天:r=0.84,P0.05,正常对照组:r=0.77,P0.05)。结论:血清InhB用于评估成年隐睾患者术后睾丸功能恢复具有一定的临床应用价值。     

蛋白质组学在哺乳动物睾丸和精子发生中的应用

“蛋白质组学”一词由Wilkins在1994年提出,被称作后基因组时代一个新兴的研究手段.它从整体水平上对组织或者细胞的蛋白质表达、功能、相互作用进行研究,现在成为生命科学未来发展的主要分支之一.睾丸是哺乳动物雄性生殖系统中的一个重要的器官,由曲精小管和间质细胞组成.蛋白质组学在睾丸和精子发生研究上的应用及其技术手段的不断创新,对睾丸功能、生殖机理、生殖疾病的研究起到了极其重要的作用.所以,从蛋白质水平对睾丸和精子发生进行研究,为更好地理解雄性哺乳动物的生殖机理和疾病提供了一个新思路.     

人DDX36和小鼠Ddx36基因在成年睾丸组织中的表达研究

果蝇是结构基因组学和功能基因组学研究的最为理想的一种模式生物,采用同源克隆的策略,应用生物信息学分析和实验技术相结合的方法分别从人和小鼠中克隆了同源于果蝇MLE蛋白的新基因DDX36和Ddx36。为进一步研究DDX36和Ddx36基因与精子发生的关系,再应用Northrn blotting,RT-PCR和组织原位杂交技术探讨了DDX36和Ddx36基因的表达情况,结果发现人DDX36和小鼠Ddx36基因在成年睾丸组织中高表达。初步证明DDX36和Ddx36基因在精子发生中亦可能发挥重要作用。     

孤儿受体TR3在小鼠睾丸中的定位和表达

本文采用原位杂交和免疫组织化学技术,观察孤儿受体ＴＲ３及其ｍＲＮＡ在小鼠睾丸中的表达及细胞定位。结果表明,在小鼠睾丸中有显著量的孤儿受体ＴＲ３ ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白表达,其表达量在不同曲细精管有明显的差异;孤儿受体ＴＲ３蛋白主要定位于生精细胞,其ｍＲＮＡ在生精细胞特异表达,主要在精原细胞和发育早期的初级精母细胞表达,提示孤儿受体ＴＲ３在小鼠曲细精管精子发生的早期阶段中起着调控作用。     

Identification of a novel gene SRG4 expressed at specific stages of mouse spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a complex process. Duringspermatogenesis, the production of sperm occurs withinthe testicular seminiferous tubules through three separatedphases. First of all, diploid germ cells, primitivespermatogonia, will self renew to amplify and producetypes A and B spermatogonia. Type B spermatogonia willdifferentiate into primary spermatocytes. Then, meioticdivisions of spermatocytes will produce round spermatids.Finally, after a series of biochemical and morphologicalchanges, sper…     

Molecular cloning and characterization of SRG-L, a novel mouse gene developmentally expressed in spermatogenic cells

Full-length cDNA of a novel mouse gene upregulated in late stages of spermatogenic cells was cloned from mouse testis using overlapping RT-PCR and RACE. The mRNA of the gene was expressed mainly in diplotene/pachytene spermatocytes, round and elongating spermatids. We named this gene as SRG-L (Spermatogenesis Related Gene expressed in late stages of spermatogenic cells, GenBank Accession No. AY352586). The tissue-specific analysis showed a higher expression level in testis and spleen. The gene is mapped on chromosome 8q33.1 and contains 18 exons. The full-length of cDNA is 2,843 bp with an open reading frame (ORF) of 2,625 bp that encodes a 104 kDa protein (874 amino acids) with a putative transmembrane region. The bioinformatics analysis revealed that the SRG-L has two conserved regions, transglutaminase-like homologues domain and D-serine dehydratase domain, rich phosphorylation sites and methylation sites. The SRG-L protein was detected in diplotene/pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The results suggest that SRG-L may play definite roles regulating differentiation of germ cells during spermatogenesis, particularly during meiosis and spermiogenesis.     

NYD-SP16, a novel gene associated with spermatogenesis of human testis

By hybridizing human adult testis cDNA microarrays with human adult and embryo testis cDNA probes, a novel human testis gene NYD-SP16 was identified. NYD-SP16 expression was 6.44-fold higher in adult testis than in fetal testis. NYD-SP16 contains 1595 base pairs (bp) and a 762-bp open reading frame encoding a 254-amino acid protein with 73% amino acid sequence identity with the mouse testis homologous protein. The NYD-SP16 gene was localized to human chromosome 5q14. The deduced structure of the NYD-SP16 protein contains one transmembrane domain, which was confirmed by GFP/NYD-SP16 fusion protein expression in the cytomembrane of the transfected human choriocarcinoma JAR cells, suggesting that it is a transmembrane protein. Multiple tissue distribution indicated that NYD-SP16 mRNA is highly expressed in the testes and pancreas, with little or no expression elsewhere. Further analysis of abnormal expression in infertile male patients revealed complete absence of NYD-SP16 in the testes of patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and variable expression in patients with spermatogenic arrest. Homologous gene expression in mouse testis was confirmed in spermatogenic cells by in situ hybridization. The results of cDNA microarray, in situ hybridization, and semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction in mouse testis of different stages indicated that NYD-SP16 expression is developmentally regulated. These results suggest that the putative NYD-SP16 protein may play an important role in testicular development/spermatogenesis and may be an important factor in male infertility.     

Mice lacking the UBC4-testis gene have a delay in postnatal testis development but normal spermatogenesis and fertility

Activation of ubiquitination occurs during spermatogenesis and is dependent on the induction of isoforms of the UBC4 family of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. The UBC4-testis isoform is testis specific, is induced in round spermatids, and demonstrates biochemical functions distinct from a ubiquitously expressed isoform UBC4-1. To explore further the function of UBC4-testis, mice bearing inactivation of this gene were produced. Homozygous (-/-) mice showed normal body growth and fertility. Although testis weight and morphology were normal in testes from adult mice, examination of young mice during the first wave of spermatogenesis revealed that testes were approximately 10% smaller in weight at 40 and 45 days of age but had become normal at 65 days of age. Overall protein content, levels of ubiquitinated proteins, and ubiquitin-conjugating activity did not differ between wild-type and homozygous (-/-) mice. Spermatid number, as well as the motility of spermatozoa isolated from the epididymis, was also normal in homozygous (-/-) mice. To determine whether the germ cells lacking UBC4-testis might be more sensitive to stress, testes from wild-type and knockout mice were exposed to heat stress by implantation in the abdominal cavity. Testes from both strains of mice showed similar rates of degeneration in response to heat. The lack of an obvious phenotype did not appear to be due to induction of other UBC4 isoforms, as shown by two-dimensional gel immunoblotting. Our data indicate that UBC4-testis plays a role in early maturation of the testis and suggest that the many UBC4 isoforms have mixed redundant and specific functions.     

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.     

Identification and characterization of TSAP, a novel gene specifically expressed in testis during spermatogenesis

Through in silico screens, we have identified many previously uncharacterized genes that display similar expression patterns as the mouse Dazl gene, a germ line-specific marker. Here, we report the identification and characterization of one of these novel genes. TSAP gene encodes a protein with 350 amino acids and contains five ankyrin repeats and a PEST sequence motif. Furthermore, we have generated an anti-TSAP antibody and have used three different approaches (RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry) to investigate the expression profiles of TSAP mRNAs and proteins. TSAP is specifically expressed in testis, but not in other tissues such as ovary. Within the testis, TSAP is detected 10 days after birth and is mainly expressed in spermatocytes (ST) and later stage of germ cells, but not in spermatogonia (SG) or sertoli cells. Therefore, TSAP protein likely plays a role in spermatogenesis.     

Improvement of spermatogenesis in adult cryptorchid rat testis by intratesticular infusion of lactate.

In order to test the hypothesis that a lack of energy could be a cause of germ cell death at high temperatures, cryptorchid rats testes were infused with lactate, delivered by osmotic pumps over 3-15 days. In cryptorchid testes, the spermatids and spermatocytes were lost between 3 and 8 days. In cryptorchid testes supplemented with lactate, elongated spermatids persisted in a few seminiferous tubules at Day 15. Elimination of round spermatids occurred progressively between 3 and 15 days, mostly at stage VIII. The loss of spermatocytes increased after 8 days, and 30% of seminiferous tubules still contained meiotic or meiotic plus spermiogenetic cells at Day 15. After 8 days, the chromatin of step 8 round spermatids was abnormal and nuclear elongation did not commence. The Sertoli cell cytoplasm that was retracted toward the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium could not hold the germ cells of the adluminal compartment. Therefore, attachment of germ cells to Sertoli cells and the supply of lactate seem necessary for the development of germ cells at high temperatures. The improvement in spermatogenesis in cryptorchid supplemented testes for several days is a new finding.