Adipocytokines may delay pubertal maturation of human Sertoli cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1395 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Wagner ◽  
P. Yango ◽  
K. Svechnikov ◽  
N. D. Tran ◽  
O. Söder

Reproduction is an important target of obesity complications, including adverse effects on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. Adipocytokines are key mediators in various complications of obesity. Our aim was to study the potential of adipocytokines to affect Sertoli cell function, which is crucial for spermatogenesis, and possibly link these findings to the observed attenuation of spermatogenesis in obese males. Testicular biopsies were obtained from healthy donors. Highly purified adult human Sertoli cells (HSCs) were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Cells were cultured and exposed to different concentrations of adipocytokines (10–1000ngmL−1) for 2–7 days. Expression of selected Sertoli cell genes was quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Long-term treatment (7 days) of HSCs with higher concentrations of chemerin, irisin, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), resistin and progranulin significantly suppressed FSH receptor expression (by 79%, 83%, 64%, 71% and 26% respectively; P<0.005 for all) and significantly upregulated cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily A member 1 (CYP26A1) expression (by 48%, 90%, 126%, 126% and 153% respectively P<0.005 for all), comparable to what is found in the prepubertal state. Further, these adipocytokines significantly attenuated the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-4, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, leukaemia inhibitory factor and fibroblast growth factor-2 by HSCs. We propose that adipocytokines, at high concentrations, which are often observed in obese males when tested invitro, may negatively affect Sertoli cell maturation and retain these cells in a more prepubertal stage. This could negatively affect testis function and add to fertility problems in obese adults.

1998 ◽  
Vol 157 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
SB Meroni ◽  
DF Canepa ◽  
EH Pellizzari ◽  
HF Schteingart ◽  
SB Cigorraga

To study the role of extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides in the regulation of Sertoli cells, the effects of agonists which occupy A1 and P2 purinergic receptors on aromatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) activities and on transferrin secretion were tested. Sertoli cell treatment with purinergic agonists for a prolonged period of time (72 h) resulted in an increase in aromatase activity under basal conditions. In cultures stimulated with FSH, purinergic agonists counteracted the inhibitory effect on aromatase activity that long-term treatment with FSH promoted. The effects of prolonged treatments with purinergic agonists on the other two parameters of Sertoli cell function were less pronounced. Neither gamma-GTP activity nor transferrin secretion was modified under basal conditions. On the other hand, under conditions where cell differentiation was favored by FSH treatment, reductions in gamma-GTP activity and transferrin secretion were usually observed. The results obtained in dbcAMP-stimulated cultures suggested that A1 agonists exert their regulatory function at the level of cAMP formation while P2 agonists act at a more distal point. The fact that morphological changes induced by FSH were reversed by both types of agonists, while those induced by dbcAMP were only abrogated by P2 agonists, supports this hypothesis. In summary, these results demonstrate that purinergic agonists may be important in the regulation of Sertoli cell function.


1987 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Papadopoulos ◽  
P. Kamtchouing ◽  
M. A. Drosdowsky ◽  
M. T. Hochereau de Reviers ◽  
S. Carreau

ABSTRACT Production of testosterone and oestradiol-17β by Leydig cells from adult rats was stimulated by LH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10 and 2·5-fold respectively). The addition of spent medium from normal, hemicastrated or γ-irradiated rat seminiferous tubule cultures, as well as from Sertoli cell cultures, to purified Leydig cells further enhanced both basal (44 and 53% for testosterone and oestradiol-17β respectively) and LH-stimulated (56 and 18%) steroid output. Simultaneously, a decrease (20–30%) in intracellular cyclic AMP levels was observed. This stimulating factor (or factors) secreted by the Sertoli cells is different from LHRH, is of proteinic nature and has a molecular weight ranging between 10 000 and 50 000; its synthesis is not controlled by FSH nor by testosterone. This factor(s) involved in rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis, at a step beyond the adenylate cyclase, does not require protein synthesis for testosterone formation whereas it does for oestradiol-17β production. It should be noted that a germ cell–Sertoli cell interaction modulates the synthesis of this factor(s). J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 459–467


Endocrinology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 975-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
J P de Winter ◽  
H M Vanderstichele ◽  
M A Timmerman ◽  
L J Blok ◽  
A P Themmen ◽  
...  

Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (11) ◽  
pp. 4244-4256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heling Dong ◽  
Zhenguo Chen ◽  
Caixia Wang ◽  
Zhi Xiong ◽  
Wanlu Zhao ◽  
...  

Maintenance of cell polarity is essential for Sertoli cell and blood-testis barrier (BTB) function and spermatogenesis; however, the signaling mechanisms that regulate the integrity of the cytoskeleton and polarity of Sertoli cells are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that rapamycin-insensitive component of target of rapamycin (TOR) (Rictor), a core component of mechanistic TOR complex 2 (mTORC2), was expressed in the seminiferous epithelium during testicular development, and was down-regulated in a cadmium chloride-induced BTB damage model. We then conditionally deleted the Rictor gene in Sertoli cells and mutant mice exhibited azoospermia and were sterile as early as 3 months old. Further study revealed that Rictor may regulate actin organization via both mTORC2-dependent and mTORC2-independent mechanisms, in which the small GTPase, ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1, and phosphorylation of the actin filament regulatory protein, Paxillin, are involved, respectively. Loss of Rictor in Sertoli cells perturbed actin dynamics and caused microtubule disarrangement, both of which accumulatively disrupted Sertoli cell polarity and BTB integrity, accompanied by testicular developmental defects, spermiogenic arrest and excessive germ cell loss in mutant mice. Together, these findings establish the importance of Rictor/mTORC2 signaling in Sertoli cell function and spermatogenesis through the maintenance of Sertoli cell cytoskeletal dynamics, BTB integrity, and cell polarity.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1691
Author(s):  
Rong-Ge Yan ◽  
Qi-Lin Yang ◽  
Qi-En Yang

In the mammalian testes, Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules that provide structural, nutritional and regulatory support for developing spermatogenic cells. Sertoli cells only proliferate during the fetal and neonatal periods and enter a quiescent state after puberty. Functional evidences suggest that the size of Sertoli cell population determines sperm production and fertility. However, factors that direct Sertoli cell proliferation and maturation are not fully understood. Transcription factor E4F1 is a multifunctional protein that serves essential roles in cell fate decisions and because it interacts with pRB, a master regulator of Sertoli cell function, we hypothesized that E4F1 may have a functional role in Sertoli cells. E4f1 mRNA was present in murine testis and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that E4F1 was enriched in mature Sertoli cells. We generated a conditional knockout mouse model using Amh-cre and E4f1flox/flox lines to study E4F1 fucntion in Sertoli cells and the results showed that E4f1 deletion caused a significant reduction in testis size and fertility. Further analyses revealed that meiosis progression and spermiogenesis were normal, however, Sertoli cell proliferation was impaired and germ cell apoptosis was elevated in the testis of E4f1 conditional knockout mice. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that E4F1 was expressed in murine Sertoli cells and served important functions in regulating Sertoli cell proliferation and fertility.


Peptides ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo-jiang Hou ◽  
Cai-na Li ◽  
Shuai-nan Liu ◽  
Yi Huan ◽  
Quan Liu ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (2) ◽  
pp. E396-E404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmani Hazra ◽  
Dannielle Upton ◽  
Reena Desai ◽  
Omar Noori ◽  
Mark Jimenez ◽  
...  

Recently, we created a unique gain-of-function mouse model with Sertoli cell-specific transgenic androgen receptor expression (TgSCAR) showing that SCAR activity controls the synchronized postnatal development of somatic Sertoli and Leydig cells and meiotic-postmeiotic germ cells. Moderate TgSCAR (TgSCARm) expression reduced testis size but had no effect on male fertility. Here, we reveal that higher TgSCAR expression (TgSCARH) causes male infertility. Higher SCAR activity, shown by upregulated AR-dependent transcripts ( Rhox5, Spinw1), resulted in smaller adult TgSCARH testes (50% of normal) despite normal or elevated circulating and intratesticular testosterone levels. Unlike fertile TgSCARm males, testes of adult TgSCARH males exhibited focal regions of interstitial hypertrophy featuring immature adult Leydig cells and higher intratesticular dihydrotestosterone and 5α-androstane 3α,17β-diol levels that are normally associated with pubertal development. Mature TgSCARH testes also exhibited markedly reduced Sertoli cell numbers (70%), although meiotic and postmeiotic germ cell/Sertoli cell ratios were twofold higher than normal, suggesting that elevated TgSCAR activity supports excessive spermatogenic development. Concurrent with the higher germ cell load of TgSCARH Sertoli cells were increased levels of apoptotic germ cells in TgSCARH relative to TgSCARm testes. In addition, TgSCARH testes displayed unique morphological degeneration that featured accumulated cellular and spermatozoa clusters in dilated channels of rete testes, consistent with reduced epididymal sperm numbers. Our findings reveal for the first time that excessive Sertoli cell AR activity in mature testes can reach a level that disturbs Sertoli/germ cell homeostasis, impacts focal Leydig cell function, reduces sperm output, and disrupts male fertility.


Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1476-1488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Na Sun ◽  
Xiao-Long Jiang ◽  
Qing-Ping Xie ◽  
Jing Yuan ◽  
Bao-Feng Huang ◽  
...  

Females with differentiated ovary of a gonochoristic fish, Nile tilapia, were masculinized by long-term treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (Fadrozole) in the present study. The reversed gonads developed into functional testes with fertile sperm. The longer the fish experienced sex differentiation, the longer treatment time was needed for successful sex reversal. Furthermore, Fadrozole-induced sex reversal, designated as secondary sex reversal (SSR), was successfully rescued by supplement of exogenous 17β-estradiol. Gonadal histology, immunohistochemistry, transcriptome, and serum steroid level were analyzed during SSR. The results indicated that spermatogonia were transformed from oogonia or germline stem cell-like cells distributed in germinal epithelium, whereas Leydig and Sertoli cells probably came from the interstitial cells and granulosa cells of the ovarian tissue, respectively. The transdifferentiation of somatic cells, as indicated by the appearance of doublesex- and Mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (pre-Sertoli cells) and cytochrome P450, family 11, subfamily B, polypeptide 2 (pre-Leydig cells)-positive cells in the ovary, provided microniche for the transdifferentiation of germ cells. Decrease of serum 17β-estradiol was detected earlier than increase of serum 11-ketotestosterone, indicating that decrease of estrogen was the cause, whereas increase of androgen was the consequence of SSR. The sex-reversed gonad displayed more similarity in morphology and histology with a testis, whereas the global gene expression profiles remained closer to the female control. Detailed analysis indicated that transdifferentiation was driven by suppression of female pathway genes and activation of male pathway genes. In short, SSR provides a good model for study of sex reversal in teleosts and for understanding of sex determination and differentiation in nonmammalian vertebrates.


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