Localization of angiotensin converting enzyme (dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase) in swine sperm by immufluorescence

Testis and epididymis are known to have high amounts of angiotensin converting enzyme (dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase, EC 3.4.15.1). We investigated the localization of the enzyme in these tissues by an immunofluorescent technique and found that the enzyme was localized in the spermatids and residual bodies in the Sertoli cells of the testis. Furthermore, the enzyme was shown to be present in the cytoplasmic droplet of epididymal sperm and also in detached cytoplasmic droplets in semen. The enzyme was not detected in the interstitium of testis and epididymis except for the endothelial cells of the vessel.     

Cell shape and organelle modification in apoptotic U937 cells

U937 cells induced to apoptosis, progressively and dramatically modified their cell shape by intense blebbing formation, leading to the production of apoptotic bodies. The blebs evolved with time; milder forms of blebbing involving only a region or just the cortical part of the cytoplasm were observed within the first hour of incubation with puromycin; blebbing involving the whole cell body with very deep constrictions is the most frequent event observed during late times of incubation. The ultrastructural analysis of apoptotic cells revealed characteristic features of nuclear fragmentation (budding and cleavage mode) and cytoplasmatic modifications. The cytoplasm of blebs does not contain organelles, such as ribosomes or mitochondria. Scarce presence of endoplasmic reticulum can be observed at the site of bleb detachment. However, blebbing is a dispensable event as evaluated by using inhibitor of actin polymerization. In the present study, the progressive modifications of the nucleus, mitochondria, nuclear fragmentation, cytoplasmic blebs formation and production of apoptotic bodies in U937 monocytic cells induced to apoptosis by puromycin (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) were simultaneously analyzed.     

Spermiogenesis in the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana): a study of cytoplasmic events including cell volume changes and cytoplasmic elimination

The process by which spermatid cytoplasmic volume is reduced and cytoplasm eliminated during spermiogenesis was investigated in the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. At early phases of spermiogenesis, newly formed, rounded spermatids were found within spermatocysts. As acrosomal development, nuclear elongation, and chromatin condensation occurred, spermatid nuclei became eccentric within the cell. A cytoplasmic lobe formed from the caudal spermatid head and flagellum and extended toward the seminiferous tubule lumen. The cytoplasmic lobe underwent progressive condensation whereby most of its cytoplasm became extremely electron dense and contrasted sharply with numerous electron-translucent vesicles contained therein. At the completion of spermiogenesis, many spermatids with their highly condensed cytoplasm still attached were released from their Sertoli cell into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. There was no evidence of the phagocytosis of residual bodies by Sertoli cells. Because spermatozoa are normally retained in the testis in winter and are not released until the following breeding season, sperm were induced to traverse the duct system with a single injection of hCG. Some spermatids remained attached to their cytoplasm during the sojourn through the testicular and kidney ducts; however, by the time the sperm reached the Wolffian duct, separation had occurred. The discarded cytoplasmic lobe (residual body) appeared to be degraded with the epithelium of the Wolffian duct. It was determined that the volume of the spermatid was reduced by 87% during spermiogenesis through a nuclear volume decrease of 76% and cytoplasmic volume decrease of 95.3%.     

Selective resorption in nutritive phagocytes of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina

Phagocytic resorption during spermatogenesis was studied in the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina. Nutritive phagocytes in gonad absorbed both waste sperm cells and residual bodies discarded from maturing spermatids, and these materials were subsequently compartmented in heterophagosomes. Based on 180 heterophagosomes examined by transmission electron microscopy, over 99% of heterophagosomes contained either residual bodies or sperm cells only. Simultaneous resorption of sperm cells and residual bodies in a heterophagosome was uncommon, with only approximately 0.56% occurrence, suggesting that heterophagosomes have a selective resorption ability in nutritive phagocytes.     

Proceedings: The role of the Sertoli cell in phagocytosis of the residual bodies of spermatids

The fate of residual bodies which form as spermatids are released from the seminiferous epithelium has been studied as part of a cytological investigation of the Sertoli cells during the stages of rat spermatogenesis. Testes from normal adult rats were fixed by whole body perfusion. All 14 stages of rat spermatogenesis were identified and studied by light and electron microscopy. Residual bodies are released at Stage 8 and are found in the luminal spaces of the seminiferous epithelium. During Stage 9 they appear to migrate peripherally in channels of the Seroli cell cytoplasm. During this migration, lysosomal-like bodies surround the residual bodies and appear to be involved in the degradative process. A considerable proportion of the lipid material persists and forms basal collections in the Sertoli cells. The lipid inclusions reach a peak at Stages 13 and 14 of the cycle and persist until Stage 2 and 3. Some lipid inclusions persist until Stage 4 to 7 when noticeable decrease occurs corresponding to the peripheral migration of maturing spermatids.     

Degeneration of the midgut epithelium in Allacma fusca L. (Insecta, Collembola, Symphypleona): apoptosis and necrosis

Apoptotic and necrotic changes in the midgut epithelium cells of Allacma fusca (Collembola, Symphypleona) are described at the ultrastructural level. The morphological sign indicating the beginning of the apoptotic process in these cells is their shrinkage and the transformation of their mitochondria. The nucleus assumes a lobular shape and finally undergoes fragmentation. The intercellular junctions between an apoptotic cell and adjacent epithelial cells gradually disappear. Apoptotic cells are discharged into the midgut lumen just beneath the peritrophic membrane, where they are initially distributed singly but ultimately form a single layer. No phagocytosis was observed, so no apoptotic bodies are formed. Only young midgut epithelium shows apoptosis; as cells age, necrosis accompanies apoptosis, and necrosis finally completely replaces apoptosis.     

Spermatogenesis in the inseminating African butterflyfish Pantodon buchholzi (Teleostei: Osteoglossiformes: Pantodontidae) with the revision of residual bodies formation

The aim of this study was to analyse spermatogenesis in the African butterflyfish, Pantodon buchholzi, using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. P. buchholzi is the most basal teleost that exhibits insemination and produces a highly complex introsperm with the most elongate midpiece known in teleost fishes. Their early stages (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) do not differ greatly from those of other fishes, with the exception of Golgi apparatus degradation appearing as spindle-shaped bodies (SSBs). In round, early spermatids, the development of the flagellum begins after the migration of the centriolar complex towards the nucleus. Later, the elongation of the midpiece coincides with the displacement of the mitochondria and their fusion to produce nine mitochondrial derivatives (MDs). In these spermatids, the nucleus is situated laterally to the midpiece, with condensing chromatin in the centre of the nucleus. Within the midpiece, the flagellum is located within a cytoplasmic canal and is surrounded by a cytoplasmic sleeve containing fibres, MDs and a great amount of cytoplasm located on one side. During the next phase, nuclear rotation, the highly condensed chromatin is displaced to a position above the centriolar apparatus, whereas chromatin-free nucleoplasm is transferred to the cytoplasm. Later, this nucleoplasm, still surrounded by the nuclear membrane, is eliminated into the cyst lumen as the nucleoplasmic packet. Within the highly elongate spermatids, other excess organelles (SSBs, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria) are eliminated as residual bodies (RBs). Fully developed spermatozoa, which contain conical-shaped nuclei, eventually coalesce to form unencapsulated sperm packets (spermatozeugmata) that are surrounded by RBs at the level of the extremely elongate midpieces. Later, RBs are removed at the periphery of the cyst by means of phagocytosis by Sertoli cells.     

Ultrastructure of spermatogenesis and mature spermatozoa in the flatworm Prosthiostomum siphunculus (Polycladida,Cotylea)

This is the first study investigating spermatogenesis and spermatozoan ultrastructure in the polyclad flatworm Prosthiostomum siphunculus. The testes are numerous and scattered as follicles ventrally between the digestive ramifications. Each follicle contains the different stages of sperm differentiation. Spermatocytes and spermatids derive from a spermatogonium and the spermatids remain connected by intercellular bridges. Chromatoid bodies are present in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia up to spermatids. During early spermiogenesis, a differentiation zone appears in the distal part of spermatids. A ring of microtubules extends along the entire sperm shaft just beneath the cell membrane. An intercentriolar body is present and gives rise to two axonemes, each with a 9 + “1” micro‐tubular pattern. Development of the spermatid leads to cell elongation and formation of a filiform, mature spermatozoon with two free flagella and with cortical microtubules along the sperm shaft. The flagella exit the sperm shaft at different levels, a finding common for acotyleans, but so far unique for cotylean polyclads. The Golgi complex produces numerous electron‐dense bodies of two types and of different sizes. These bodies are located around a perinuclear row of mitochondria. The elongated nucleus extends almost along the entire sperm body. The nucleus is wide in the proximal part and becomes narrow going towards the distal end. Thread‐like chromatin mixed with electron‐dense intranuclear spindle‐shaped bodies are present throughout nucleus. The general sperm ultrastructure, the presence of intranuclear bodies and a second type of cytoplasmic electron‐dense bodies may provide characters useful for phylogenetic analysis.     

Rearrangement of nuclear ribonucleoproteins and extrusion of nucleolus-like bodies during apoptosis induced by hypertonic stress

Short-term hypertonic (HT) stress induces apoptotic cell death in human EUE cells in culture, as observed by electron microscopy, agarose-gel electrophoresis of low-molecular-weight DNA, DNA flow cytometry and annexin-V-propidium iodide double-staining. During HT-induced apoptosis, nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-containing structures undergo rearrangement, with the formation of Heterogeneous Ectopic RNP-Derived Structures (HERDS) which pass into the cytoplasm, as already reported for other examples of spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis. Of special interest was the observation that nucleolus-like bodies (NLBs) which resemble morphologically nuclear functional nucleoli may be extruded into the cytoplasm of apoptotic cells and are observed inside the cytoplasmic fragments blebbing-out at the cell surface; these NLBs still contain immunodetectable nucleolar proteins (such as fibrillarin). This is an additional example of RNP-containing structures of nuclear origin which are extruded from the nucleus, in an almost "native" form, during apoptosis.     

Farnesylpyridinium, an analog of isoprenoid farnesol, induces apoptosis but suppresses apoptotic body formation in human promyelocytic leukemia cells

1-Farnesylpyridinium (FPy), an analog of isoprenoid farnesol, initially induced morphological changes similar to those of typical apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells but FPy-treated cells were characterized by the absolute absence of final apoptotic events such as fragmentation into apoptotic bodies. FPy-induced cell death was considered to be apoptotic on the basis of the induction of DNA fragmentation and the protection against these events by the coaddition of a pan-caspase inhibitor. The increase in the cytoplasmic cytochrome c level supported the possibility that FPy-treated cells should have the ability to complete the entire apoptotic process ending in cell fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. At concentrations too low to induce apoptosis, FPy could suppress the induction of apoptotic body formation in HL-60 cells by typical inducers of apoptosis such as actinomycin D or anisomycin. FPy exhibited a cytochalasin-like effect on spatial arrangement of actin filament independent of its apoptosis-inducing activity.     

三尖杉酯碱诱导HL-60细胞程序性死亡过程中的细胞质和细胞核出泡与染色质凝集

本文利用视频显微影像反差增强技术(VideoEnhancement Contrast,VEC)对三尖杉酯碱诱导的单个HL-60活细胞程序死亡(Apo-ptosis,Apo)全过程进行了观察,结果表明每个Apo细胞在染色质凝集前都要发生细胞核的出泡,而每一个核出泡又都是由相应的质出泡所诱导的,但并不是每个质出泡都能诱导核出泡,质出泡的次数远远高于核出泡,提示核、质出泡可能与染色质凝集有关,并且核、质出泡是程序死亡细胞形成Apo小体所必需的。进一步研究则说明核、质出泡与微丝解聚和重组有关。核、质出泡虽可加速细胞程序死亡过程中的染色质凝集,但并不是程序死亡细胞染色质凝集所必需的,提示HL-60细胞程序死亡过程中的核变化和质变化可能是相对独立的。     

Novel antibody to human BASP1 labels apoptotic cells post-caspase activation

Apoptosis is associated with morphological changes, including membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, and chromatin condensation. However, the molecular mechanisms of the dynamic changes in cellular components during apoptosis are largely unknown. Here we developed a new rat monoclonal antibody, 9B1, that specifically immunolabeled dying cells in tissues and in cell cultures. The 9B1 antibody labeled the cytoplasm of apoptotic cells in a caspase-dependent manner. We identified human brain abundant membrane attached signal protein 1 (hBASP1) as the 9B1 antigen using the liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method. hBASP1 was present in the nucleus of HeLa cells, but relocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after the caspase activation step of apoptosis. Immunostaining analysis revealed that 9B1 preferentially labeled this cytoplasmic form of hBASP1. Labeling by 9B1 to distinguish apoptotic changes could be a novel criterion for determining whether cells with activated caspases are fated for survival or death.     

Rho kinase regulates fragmentation and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells

During the execution phase of apoptosis, a cell undergoes cytoplasmic and nuclear changes that prepare it for death and phagocytosis. The end-point of the execution phase is condensation into a single apoptotic body or fragmentation into multiple apoptotic bodies. Fragmentation is thought to facilitate phagocytosis; however, mechanisms regulating fragmentation are unknown. An isoform of Rho kinase, ROCK-I, drives membrane blebbing through its activation of actin-myosin contraction; this raises the possibility that ROCK-I may regulate other execution phase events, such as cellular fragmentation. Here, we show that COS-7 cells fragment into a number of small apoptotic bodies during apoptosis; treating with ROCK inhibitors (Y-27632 or H-1152) prevents fragmentation. Latrunculin B and blebbistatin, drugs that interfere with actin-myosin contraction, also inhibit fragmentation. During apoptosis, ROCK-I is cleaved and activated by caspases, while ROCK-II is not activated, but rather translocates to a cytoskeletal fraction. siRNA knock-down of ROCK-I but not ROCK-II inhibits fragmentation of dying cells, consistent with ROCK-I being required for apoptotic fragmentation. Finally, cells dying in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 are not efficiently phagocytized. These data show that ROCK plays an essential role in fragmentation and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells.     

DNase II and the Chk2 DNA damage pathway form a genetic barrier blocking replication of horizontally transferred DNA

We have previously shown that DNA from dying tumor cells may be transferred to living cells via the uptake of apoptotic bodies and may contribute to tumor progression. DNA encoding H-ras(V12) and c-myc oncogenes may be transferred to the nucleus of the phagocyte but will only integrate and propagate in p53- and p21-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, whereas normal cells are resistant to transformation. Here, we show that this protective mechanism (activation of p53 and p21 after uptake of apoptotic bodies) is dependent on DNA fragmentation, where inhibition of the caspase-activated DNase in the apoptotic cells, in conjunction with genetic ablation of lysosomal DNase II in the phagocytes, completely blocks p53 activation and consequently allows DNA replication of transferred DNA. We, therefore, suggest that there is a causal relationship between DNA degradation during apoptosis and p53 activation. In addition, we could further show that Chk2-/- cells were capable of replicating the hyg(R) gene taken up from engulfed apoptotic cells, suggesting involvement of the DNA damage response. These data show that the phagocytosing cell is sensing the degraded DNA within the apoptotic cell, hence preventing these genes from being replicated, probably through activation of the DNA damage response. We, therefore, hypothesize that DNase II together with the Chk2, p53, and p21 pathway form a genetic barrier blocking the replication of potentially harmful DNA introduced via apoptotic bodies, thereby preventing transformation and malignant development.