scholarly journals Distinct purinergic signaling pathways in prepubescent mouse spermatogonia

2016 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Fleck ◽  
Nadine Mundt ◽  
Felicitas Bruentgens ◽  
Petra Geilenkirchen ◽  
Patricia A. Machado ◽  
...  

Spermatogenesis ranks among the most complex, yet least understood, developmental processes. The physiological principles that control male germ cell development in mammals are notoriously difficult to unravel, given the intricate anatomy and complex endo- and paracrinology of the testis. Accordingly, we lack a conceptual understanding of the basic signaling mechanisms within the testis, which control the seminiferous epithelial cycle and thus govern spermatogenesis. Here, we address paracrine signal transduction in undifferentiated male germ cells from an electrophysiological perspective. We identify distinct purinergic signaling pathways in prepubescent mouse spermatogonia, both in vitro and in situ. ATP—a dynamic, widespread, and evolutionary conserved mediator of cell to cell communication in various developmental contexts—activates at least two different spermatogonial purinoceptor isoforms. Both receptors operate within nonoverlapping stimulus concentration ranges, display distinct response kinetics and, in the juvenile seminiferous cord, are uniquely expressed in spermatogonia. We further find that spermatogonia express Ca2+-activated large-conductance K+ channels that appear to function as a safeguard against prolonged ATP-dependent depolarization. Quantitative purine measurements additionally suggest testicular ATP-induced ATP release, a mechanism that could increase the paracrine radius of initially localized signaling events. Moreover, we establish a novel seminiferous tubule slice preparation that allows targeted electrophysiological recordings from identified testicular cell types in an intact epithelial environment. This unique approach not only confirms our in vitro findings, but also supports the notion of purinergic signaling during the early stages of spermatogenesis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin V. Joseph ◽  
Capucine R. Magaut ◽  
Simon Storevik ◽  
Luiz H. Geraldo ◽  
Thomas Mathivet ◽  
...  

AbstractMicrotubes (MTs), cytoplasmic extensions of glioma cells, are important cell communication structures promoting invasion and treatment resistance through network formation. MTs are abundant in chemoresistant gliomas, in particular glioblastomas (GBMs), while they are uncommon in chemosensitive IDH-mutant and 1p/19q co-deleted oligodendrogliomas. To identify potential signaling pathways involved in MT formation we performed a bioinformatics analysis of TCGA data showing that the TGF-β pathway is highly activated in GBMs compared to oligodendroglial tumors. In particular we observed that signaling pathways involved in extracellular matrix organization are differentially expressed between these tumor entities. Using patient-derived GBM stem cell lines, we demonstrated that TGF-β1 stimulation promotes enhanced MT formation and communication via Calcium signaling. Inhibition of the TGF-β pathway significantly reduced MT formation and its associated invasion in vitro and in vivo. Downstream of TGF-β, we identified thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) as a potential mediator of MT formation in GBM through SMAD activation. TSP1 was upregulated upon TGF-β stimulation and enhanced MT formation, which was inhibited by TSP1 shRNAs in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, TGF-β and its downstream mediator TSP1 are important mediators of the MT network in GBM and blocking this pathway could potentially help to break the complex MT driven invasion/ resistance network.


Development ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L. Brice ◽  
J.E. Cheetham ◽  
V.N. Bolton ◽  
N.C. Hill ◽  
P.N. Schofield

The insulin-like growth factors are broadly distributed in the human conceptus and are thought to play a role in the growth and differentiation of tissues during development. Using in situ hybridization we have shown that a wide variety of specific cell types within tissues express the gene for insulin-like growth factor II at times of development from 18 days to 14 weeks of gestation. Examination of blastocysts produced by in vitro fertilization showed no expression, thus bracketing the time of first accumulation of IGF-II mRNA to between 5 and 18 days postfertilization. The pattern of IGF-II expression shows specific age-related differences in different tissues. In the kidney, for example, expression is found in the cells of the metanephric blastema which is dramatically reduced as the blastema differentiates. The reverse is also seen, and we have noted an increase in expression of IGF-II in the cytotrophoblast layer of the placenta with gestational age. The sites of expression do not correlate with areas of either high mitotic activity or specific types of differentiation, but the observed pattern of expression in the kidney, adrenal glands and liver suggests an explanation for the abnormally high IGF-II mRNA expression in developmental tumours such as Wilms' tumour.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (6) ◽  
pp. R1815-R1822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier E. Stern ◽  
Mike Ludwig

To study modulatory actions of nitric oxide (NO) on GABAergic synaptic activity in hypothalamic magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological recordings were obtained from identified oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were obtained in vitro from immunochemically identified oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. GABAergic synaptic activity was assessed in vitro by measuring GABAA miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). The NO donor and precursor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and l-arginine, respectively, increased the frequency and amplitude of GABAA mIPSCs in both cell types ( P ≤ 0.001). Retrodialysis of SNP (50 mM) onto the SON in vivo inhibited the activity of both neuronal types ( P ≤ 0.002), an effect that was reduced by retrodialysis of the GABAA-receptor antagonist bicuculline (2 mM, P≤ 0.001). Neurons activated by intravenous infusion of 2 M NaCl were still strongly inhibited by SNP. These results suggest that NO inhibition of neuronal excitability in oxytocin and vasopressin neurons involves pre- and postsynaptic potentiation of GABAergic synaptic activity in the SON.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (5) ◽  
pp. H1694-H1704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indroneal Banerjee ◽  
John W. Fuseler ◽  
Arti R. Intwala ◽  
Troy A. Baudino

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine responsible for many different processes including the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis, differentiation, and survival in various cell types and organs, including the heart. Recent studies have indicated that IL-6 is a critical component in the cell-cell communication between myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. In this study, we examined the effects of IL-6 deficiency on the cardiac cell populations, cardiac function, and interactions between the cells of the heart, specifically cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes. To examine the effects of IL-6 loss on cardiac function, we used the IL-6 −/− mouse. IL-6 deficiency caused severe cardiac dilatation, increased accumulation of interstitial collagen, and altered expression of the adhesion protein periostin. In addition, flow cytometric analyses demonstrated dramatic alterations in the cardiac cell populations of IL-6 −/− mice compared with wild-type littermates. We observed a marked increase in the cardiac fibroblast population in IL-6 −/− mice, whereas a concomitant decrease was observed in the other cardiac cell populations examined. Moreover, we observed increased cell proliferation and apoptosis in the developing IL-6 −/− heart. Additionally, we observed a significant decrease in the capillary density of IL-6 −/− hearts. To elucidate the role of IL-6 in the interactions between cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes, we performed in vitro studies and demonstrated that IL-6 deficiency attenuated the activation of the STAT3 pathway and VEGF production. Taken together, these data demonstrate that a loss of IL-6 causes cardiac dysfunction by shifting the cardiac cell populations, altering the extracellular matrix, and disrupting critical cell-cell interactions.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chulin Yu ◽  
Meiling Li ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Chengzhi Yan ◽  
...  

The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) signaling system is involved in numbers of stress-related physiological and pathological responses, including its inhibiting effects on estradiol (E2) synthesis and follicular development in the ovary. In addition, there are reports that microRNAs (miRNAs) can control the function of animal reproductive system. The aim of present study was to investigate the functions of miR-375 and the relationship between miR-375 and CRH signaling molecules in the porcine ovary. First, our common PCR results show that miR-375 and the CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) are expressed in porcine ovary, whereas CRH receptor 2 (CRHR2) is not detected. We further have located the cell types of miR-375 and CRHR1 by in situ hybridization (ISH), and the results show that miR-375 is located only in the granulosa cells, whereas CRHR1 is positive in all of granulosa cells and oocytes, inferring that miR-375 and CRHR1 are co-localized in granulosa cells. Second, we show that overexpression of miR-375 in cultured granulosa cells suppresses the E2 production, whereas miR-375 knockdown demonstrates the opposite result. Besides, our in vitro results demonstrate that miR-375 mediates the signaling pathway of CRH inhibiting E2 synthesis. Finally, our data show that the action of miR-375 is accomplished by directly binding to the 3′UTR of specificity protein1 (SP1) mRNA to decrease the SP1 protein level. Thus, we conclude that miR-375 is a key factor in regulating E2 synthesis by mediating the CRH signaling pathway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 141-151
Author(s):  
Jacek Sikora

ATP release occurs in virtually all cell types and tissues. It is considered to be a key component of a ubiquitous, evolutionary ancient cell-to-cell communication system. The regulated release of ATP is also believed to be a part of a mechanism which facilitates matching tissue oxygen supply with demand. In this paper, ATP signaling is reviewed, regulation of tissue oxygen supply is outlined, and a concept attributing a role in this process to erythrocytes releasing ATP is discussed. Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in erythrocytes traveling through a tissue reflects the level of oxygen utilization of that tissue. Therefore, erythrocytes can serve as local oxygen sensors. In the proposed mechanism, upon hemoglobin deoxygenation, Gi protein in the erythrocyte plasma membrane is activated. The activation of Gi protein initiates a cAMP-dependent pathway, leading to ATP efflux through pannexin channels. Extracellular ATP triggers vasodilatation via P2Y receptors on the surface of vascular endothelial cells, increasing blood flow in tissue regions of elevated oxygen consumption. Despite the abundance of compelling evidence in support of this concept, some details remain elusive, in particular, the process of Gi protein activation in response to hemoglobin desaturation. Furthermore, the involvement of cAMP, as well as the final conduit of ATP release from erythrocytes, remains controversial. Finally, the actual physiological relevance of the proposed regulatory mechanism will require further in vivo research.


Development ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
JH Russ ◽  
JD Horton

This paper describes in vitro and in vivo attempts to deplete the 4- to 8-month-old Xenopus laevis (J strain) thymus of its lymphocyte compartment. Gamma irradiation (2-3000 rad) of the excised thymus, followed by two weeks in organ culture, is effective in removing lymphocytes, but causes drastic reduction in size and loss of normal architecture. In contrast, in vivo whole-body irradiation (3000 rad) and subsequent in situ residence for 8-14 days proves successful in providing a lymphocyte-depleted froglet thymus without loss of cortical and medullary zones. In vivo-irradiated thymuses are about half normal size, lack cortical lymphocytes, but still retain some medullary thymocytes; they show no signs of lymphocyte regeneration when subsequently organ cultured for 2 weeks. Light microscopy of 1 micron, plastic-embedded sections and electron microscopy reveal that a range of thymic stromal cell types are retained and that increased numbers of cysts, mucous and myoid cells are found in the thymus following whole-body irradiation. In vivo-irradiated thymuses are therefore suitable for implantation studies exploring the role of thymic stromal cells in tolerance induction of differentiating T lymphocytes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Valizadeh ◽  
Samira Asghari ◽  
Parinaz Mansouri ◽  
Forough Alemi ◽  
Maryam Majidinia ◽  
...  

: In recent years, knowledge of cardiac regeneration mechanisms has dramatically expanded. Regeneration can replace lost parts of organs, common among animal species. The heart is commonly considered an organ with terminal development, which has no reparability potential during post-natal life; however, some intrinsic regeneration capacity has been reported for cardiac muscle, which opens novel avenues in cardiovascular disease treatment. Different endogenous mechanisms were studied for cardiac repairing and regeneration in recent decades. Survival, proliferation, inflammation, angiogenesis, cell-cell communication, cardiomyogenesis, and anti-aging pathways are the most important mechanisms that have been studied in this regard. Several in vitro and animal model studies focused on proliferation induction for cardiac regeneration reported promising results. These studies have mainly focused on promoting proliferation signaling pathways and demonstrated various signaling pathways such as Wnt, PI3K/Akt, IGF-1, TGF-β, Hippo, and VEGF signaling cardiac regeneration. Therefore, in this review, we intended to discuss the connection between different critical signaling pathways in cardiac repair and regeneration.


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