外源性促性腺激素诱导日本鳗鲡精子发生和成熟的作用机制

用兔抗血清对抗促黄体素生成素受体（LHR）或称绒毛膜促性腺激素受体（CGR）和雄激素受体（AR）进行LHR和AR免疫组织化学定位,以揭示外源性促性腺激素（鲤脑垂体激素和hCG）诱发日本鳗鲡精子发生及其内分泌机制。结果表明,经过注射激素处理后的实验组与注射前的对照组相比较,其精巢发育和精子发生出现十分显著的变化。组织学切片观察显示,激素处理前鳗鲡精巢处于精原细胞增殖期,而两种激素混合注射后第10天,实验组可见精小叶中精原细胞的有丝分裂和初级与次级精母细胞的数量显著的增加。注射后第35天,靠近生殖上皮除有少量精原细胞外,精小叶中有大量初级精母细胞和次级精母细胞和少数精子细胞以及管腔中存在少量精子。在注射后第83天,日本鳗鲡完成了精子发生和精巢发育成熟以及释精。免疫组织化学染色结果进一步揭示,激素处理前,LH受体免疫活性分布在生殖上皮,显示强的免疫阳性反应;激素处理后,LH受体定位在Sertoli细胞和间质细胞以及精原细胞和初级与次级精母细胞的胞膜上,均显示强的免疫阳性反应。激素处理前,雄激素受体定位在生殖上皮和早期生精细胞的胞膜上;激素处理后,AR则定位在这些生精细胞的核或胞质,而精子细胞和精子显示免疫阴性反应。这些结果首次证明了这两种激素诱导鳗鲡精子发生和成熟的作用机制是通过LH受体和雄激素受体的介导。     

Testicular responsiveness to gonadotropic hormonein vitro and Leydig and Sertoli cell ultrastructure during pubertal development of male African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The gonadotropin (GTH)-stimulated testicular androgen secretionin vitro and the ultrastructure of Leydig and Sertoli cells was studied during the pubertal development in male African catfish. Testicular weight increased from less than 1 mg in the ninth week of age to nearly 600 mg in the 28th week. Immature testes (stage I: spermatogonia) were highly sensitive to GTH and secreted very high amounts of androgens per mg of tissue. The secretion per mg tissue decreased gradually in stages II (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) and III (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids), but precipitously in stage IV (all germ cell stages, including spermatozoa). However, due to the testicular weight gain, the total androgen output per pair of testes increased slightly in stage III and strongly in stage IV. The sensitivity to GTH decreased with the appearance of haploid germ cells in stage III. Leydig cells but not Sertoli cells showed the ultrastructural characteristics of steroid producing cells. Leydig cell morphology did not change in stages I–III, while in stage IV, more smooth endoplasmic reticulum was present. The ultrastructural characteristics of Sertoli cells did not change prominently. Thus, spermatogonial multiplication and spermatocyte formation takes place when the testicular steroidogenic system is highly active and responsive to GTH; whereas the differentiation of haploid germ cells is accompanied by a reduced responsiveness to GTH and by the secretion of several-fold lower androgen amounts per mg of tissue.     

Pubertal development of male African catfish,Clarias gariepinus. In vitro steroidogenesis by testis and interrenal tissue and plasma levels of sexual steroids

In fish, sex steroids initiate and/or accelerate the maturation of the brain-pituitary-gonad axis. In order to obtain information on the steroid milieu during the pubertal development of male African catfish, we have monitored the conversion of [³H]-pregnenolone and [³H]-androstenedione by testis and [³H]-pregnenolone by interrenal tissue fragmentsin vitro. Pubertal development occurs between two and six months of age. Testicular development proceeds through four main stages that are characterised histologically by the presence of spermatogonia (stage I), spermatogonia and spermatocytes (stage II), spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids (stage III), and all germ cells including spermatozoa (stage IV). 11β-Hydroxyandrostenedione and cortisol were the main products of testes and interrenal tissue, respectively, in all stages of the pubertal development; a change in the steroidogenic pattern was not observed during this period. The interrenal tissue displayed no significant conversion of [³H]-pregnenolone to 11-oxygenated androgens. Blood plasma was analyzed for the presence of five androgens; testosterone, 11β-hydroxytestosterone, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, androstenetrione, and 11-ketotestosterone. 11-Ketotestosterone was the quantitatively dominating androgen in the circulation at all stages of development, which was more pronounced in stages III and IV. The obvious differences between thein vitro andin vivo results, namely 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione being the main testicular productvs. 11-ketotestosterone dominating in the blood, may indicate that 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione is converted to 11-ketotestosterone at extratesticular sites.     

Cell-cell interactions in the testis of the dogfish: stage-related changes in protein synthesis

Previous studies have shown that the testis of Selachians is a very suited model to study stage-dependent changes in Sertoli cells during spermatogenesis (Dubois and Callard 1989; Sourdaine et al. 1990). In the dogfish testis (here: Scyliorhinus canicula), germ cells, at an identical stage of spermatogenesis, are associated with Sertoli cells to form spermatocysts, which are arranged in zones corresponding to the different stages of spermatogenesis. Using previously described methods for the isolation and culture of spermatocysts from four spermatogenic stages (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, early spermatids and late spermatids; Sourdaine and Jégou 1989; Sourdaine and Garnier 1992) and electrophoresis techniques (1D and 2D-SDS-PAGE) we have investigated the [³⁵S] methionine incorporation into proteins in the dogfish testis. Our results indicate that protein synthesis reaches a maximum in spermatocysts with spermatocytes. Marked stage-related changes of protein synthesis and secretion were also observed on the autoradiograms of 1D and 2D-SDS-PAGE. Further investigations of the paracrine control of germ cells on Sertoli cell protein synthesis requires the identification of specific Sertoli cell proteins in the dogfish.     

Food-deprivation-induced suppression of pituitary–testicular-axis in the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus

In the present study, the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus were exposed to food deprivation for a period of 6 or 12 days and changes in the luteinizing hormone (LH) immunoreactivity in the proximal pars distalis (PPD) of the pituitary gland and the testicular activity were examined. Intensely immunoreactive LH content was noticed in the PPD of the pituitary gland in the initial controls, controls on days 6 and 12, and fasting fish on day 6, whereas the LH immunoreactivity was moderate or weak in fasting fish on day 12. In addition, although the mean gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices among different experimental groups did not show any statistically significant difference, the mean numbers of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids were significantly lower in food-deprived fish on days 6 or 12 compared to those of controls. The inhibition of the spermatogenesis was accompanied by the presence of abundant spermatozoa in the lumen of seminiferous tubules of the testis in food-deprived fish, whereas the occurrence of spermatozoa was relatively infrequent in initial controls and controls. Furthermore, refeeding to food-deprived fish on day 6 onwards resulted in occurrence of few intensely stained LH secreting cells and significantly higher numbers of spermatocytes and spermatids concomitant with sparse spermatozoa in majority of tubules compared to those of food-deprived fish. These results suggest that prolonged exposure to food-deprivation causes suppression of the LH secretory activity in the pituitary gland and disruption in the spermatogenesis in O. mossambicus.

     

New insights into the evolution,hormonal regulation,and spatiotemporal expression profiles of genes involved in the Gfra1/Gdnf and Kit/Kitlg regulatory pathways in rainbow trout testis

The present study aimed to investigate whether the Gfra1/Gdnf and/or Kit/Kitlg regulatory pathways could be involved in the regulation of spermatogonial cell proliferation and/or differentiation in fish. Homologs of the mammalian gfra1, gdnf, kitr, and kitlg genes were identified in gnathostomes and reliable orthologous relationships were established using phylogenetic reconstructions and analyses of syntenic chromosomal fragments. Gene duplications and losses occurred specifically in teleost fish and members of the Salmoninae family including rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Some duplicated genes exhibited distinct spatiotemporal expression profiles and were differently regulated by hormones in rainbow trout. Undifferentiated type A spermatogonia expressed higher levels of kitrb and kitra2 making them possible target cells for the gonadal kitlgb and somatic kitlga before the onset of spermatogenesis. Interestingly, gdnfa and gdnfb ohnologous genes were poorly expressed before the onset of spermatogenesis. The expression level of gdnfb was correlated with that of the vasa gene suggesting that the late increased abundance of gdnfb during spermatogenesis onset was due to the increased number of spermatogonial cells. gfra1a2 was expressed in undifferentiated type A spermatogonia whereas gfra1a1 was mainly detected in somatic cells. These observations indicate that the germinal gdnfb ligand could exert autocrine and paracrine functions on spermatogonia and on testicular somatic cells, respectively. Fsh and androgens inhibited gfra1a2 and gdnfb whereas gfra1a1 was stimulated by Fsh, androgens, and 17α, 20β progesterone. Finally, our data provide evidences that the molecular identity of the male germ stem cells changes during ontogenesis prior to spermatogenesis onset.     

中华绒螯蟹组蛋白H2A基因的克隆及其在精子发生中的定位

精子发生是指由精原细胞发育为成熟精子的过程。在大多数的物种中,此过程涉及到与DNA结合的碱性蛋白的变化。体细胞类型的组蛋白全部或者部分被过渡蛋白替代,随后又被碱性更强的鱼精蛋白替代,伴随蛋白的逐级替换,此类动物精子核为浓缩的,染色质包装紧密。中华绒螯蟹的精子染色质呈松散的结构,其具体机制尚不明确。本实验利用PCR技术克隆了中华绒螯蟹组蛋白H2A基因的编码区,制备了其多克隆抗体,通过免疫荧光检测了组蛋白H2A在精子发生中的变化特征。结果显示,中华绒螯蟹组蛋白H2A基因编码区为369 bp,编码123个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量为13.1 ku。氨基酸序列比对发现,H2A与凡纳滨对虾和斑节对虾的同源性极高,均为99.19%。免疫荧光显示,H2A存在于中华绒螯蟹精子发生的整个过程,精原细胞和精母细胞的H2A在细胞核和细胞质均有表达,在精细胞和成熟的精子中的H2A主要存在于细胞核。中华绒螯蟹成熟精子核内组蛋白H2A的保留可能与其非浓缩核有一定关联。     

In vitro effects of estradiol-17β on myoid and fibroblastic cell proliferation in the immature rainbow trout testis

This study sought to determine whether estradiol-17β (E₂) could induce proliferation of interstitial cells (fibroblasts and myoid cells) in the immature rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) testis. To investigate this, a floating organ culture system was utilized. The results showed that a dose of 18.3n M E₂ added to the medium significantly increased interstitial cell proliferation. Pretreatment of the tissue with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 nullifies this proliferative effect. These results show that E₂ can enhance interstitial cell proliferation in the immature rainbow trout testis before spermatogenesis begins.     

Spermatogenesis in teleost: insights from the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) model

The morphometric study of spermatogenic cysts in sexually mature tilapias, during the evolution of spermatogenesis, showed a dramatic increase in both number of germ cells and cyst volume. However, the opposite trend was observed for germ cell size. Nevertheless, the number of Sertoli cells increased gradually up to leptotene/zygotene cysts, stabilizing thereafter. Based on the number of spermatids supported by each Sertoli cell and compared to mammals, Sertoli cell efficiency in tilapias is remarkably high. Sertoli cell proliferation was frequently observed, mainly in spermatogonial cysts, and probably is the major factor related to the testis growth and the increase in sperm production that normally occurs in adult tilapias. The combined duration of spermatocytes (5 days) and spermiogenic (5–6 days) phases of spermatogenesis in fish kept at 25 °C was 10–11 days. Mainly due to acceleration in meiosis, these two phases lasted a total of 6 days in tilapias kept at 30 °C, in the opposite way, at 20 °C spermatogenesis was arrested at pachytene spermatocytes. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive investigation performed up to date on testis morphometry and function in adult tilapias.     

Spermatogenesis and its endocrine regulation

Three major phases compose spermatogenesis: mitotic proliferation of spermatogonia, meiosis of spermatocytes, and spermiogenesis, the restructuring of spermatids into flagellated spermatozoa. The process is fuelled by stem cells that, when dividing, either self-renew or produce spermatogonia that are committed to proliferation, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During all phases, germ cells are in close contact with and require the structural and functional support of Sertoli cells. In contrast to germ cells, these somatic cells express receptors for sex steroids and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the most important hormones that regulate spermatogenesis. A typical Sertoli cell response to an endocrine stimulus would be to change the release of a growth factor that would then mediate the hormone's effect to the germ cells. Recent studies in the Japanese eel have shown, for example, that in the absence of gonadotropin Sertoli cells produce a growth factor (an orthologue of anti-Müllerian hormone) that restricts stem cell divisions to the self-renewal pathway; also estrogens stimulate stem cell renewal divisions but not spermatogonial proliferation. Gonadotropin or 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) stimulation, however, induces spermatogonial proliferation, which is in part mimicked by another Sertoli cell-derived growth factor (activin B). Since FSH (besides luteinizing hormone, LH) stimulates steroidogenesis in fish, and since FSH is the only gonadotropin detected in the plasma of sexually immature salmonids, increased FSH signalling may be sufficient to initiate spermatogenesis by activating both Sertoli cell functions and 11-KT production. Another important androgen is testosterone (T), which seems to act via feedback mechanisms that can compromise FSH-dependent signalling or steroidogenesis. The testicular production of T and 11-KT therefore needs to be balanced adequately. Further research is required to elucidate in what way(s) 11-KT stimulates later stages of development, such as entry into meiosis and spermiogenesis. At this period, LH becomes increasingly important for the regulation of androgen production. Results from mammalian models suggest that during the later phases, the control of germ cell apoptosis via Sertoli cell factors is an important regulatory mechanism. In many species, sperm cells cannot fertilize eggs until having passed a maturation process known as capacitation, which includes the acquisition of motility. Progestins that are produced under the influence of LH appear to play an important role in this context, which involves the control of the composition of the seminal plasma (e.g., pH values). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

达氏鲟dmc1基因的克隆及在精子生成中的表达分析

DNA减数分裂重组酶1基因(disrupted meiotic cDNA,dmc1)是一个在减数分裂时期特异表达的基因,为减数分裂同源染色体配对所必需。为研究dmc1基因在达氏鲟(Acipenser dabryanus)不同组织的表达特征,从达氏鲟性腺转录组数据库搜索得到该基因并设计引物,克隆获得达氏鲟dmc1的编码区序列,其中开放阅读框(ORF)为1 029 bp,编码342个氨基酸。运用生物信息学方法分析达氏鲟dmc1基因编码的蛋白序列和系统进化关系,推测达氏鲟Dmc1蛋白的分子量为82.696 kDa,理论等电点(PI)为5.04;多重序列比对发现,Dmc1氨氮酸序列在进化中可能比较保守。系统进化分析显示,AdDmc1属于RecA家族Dmc1蛋白分支,且与四足动物类聚为一支。RT-PCR结果表明,dmc1基因在精巢和卵巢中特异表达。结合组织学结果通过实时荧光定量PCR研究dmc1基因在精子生成过程中的表达特征发现,dmc1基因在0~Ⅰ期精巢中不表达;在Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ期精巢中,其表达量逐渐升高并在Ⅳ期精巢中达到最高;在Ⅴ期精巢中,其表达量显著性下降(P<0.05),因此推断达氏鲟dmc1基因可能是减数分裂时期特异表达的基因,研究结果可为后续达氏鲟初级和次级精母细胞的鉴定奠定基础。     

Elevated serum levels of alpha foetoprotein (AFP)-like immunoreactivity in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), with aflatoxin B1 induced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract. Alpha foetoprotein (AFP)-like immunoreactivity was detected by double immunodiffusion in thesera of adult rainbow trout, Oncorhyachus mykiss (Walbaum) with histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma experimentally induced in microinjection of embryos with aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Partial characterization indicated that this AFP-like immunoreactivity gave immunologic cross-reaction of partial identity with human AFP. had alpha₁ electrophorctic mobility, and an estimated molecular weight of 72kDa. Elevated serum AFP-like immunoreactivity levels were also measured by RIA in seven out of eight adult rainbow trout with hepatocellular carcinoma, and in three out of 17 AFB₁-exposed trout without demonstrable grosws or microscopic evidence for hepatocellular neoplasms. No serum AFP-like immunoreactivity was detected or measured in normal healthy age matched DMSO-control rainbow trout. These data are consistent with the following conelusions: (1) AFP-like immunoreactivity detected and measured in the sera of rainbow trout with hepaloecllular careinoma is an analogue to human AFP; and (2) the elevated serum AFP levels measured in adult rainbow trout wilh hepatocellular careinoma resrmble those found in humans with this same malignancy. These data further suggest that serum AFP measurements might be useful to confirm the appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma in experimental fish carcinogen-assay systems, and to detect hepatocellular neoplasia in high-risk wild fish populations exposed to carcinogenie pollutants.     

尼罗罗非鱼Smoothened的鉴定、表达模式及在精巢中的作用

为探究Smoothened (Smo)信号在精巢不同细胞增殖与存活中的作用,实验分离鉴定了尼罗罗非鱼smo (命名为Onsmo),检测了其在不同组织中的表达分布及在精巢中的细胞表达模式,在尼罗罗非鱼精巢组织的体外培养体系中,用Smo特异性激动剂SAG或抑制剂环巴胺分别进行处理,EdU掺入法及TUNEL法检测了处理后生殖细胞(Vasa⁺)、Sertoli细胞(Amh⁺)与Leydig细胞(Cyp17a1⁺)增殖或凋亡情况。结果显示,Onsmo开放阅读框全长2 478 bp,编码825个氨基酸,含有7次跨膜结构域,与人SMO氨基酸一致性达77%;Onsmo表达于包括精巢在内的多个组织;在精巢中,Onsmo在多种不同类型细胞表达,包括精原细胞、精母细胞、Sertoli细胞以及Leydig细胞;在精巢组织的体外培养体系中,SAG处理对精原细胞增殖具有显著促进作用,而环巴胺处理对Sertoli细胞、Leydig细胞凋亡具有显著促进作用。研究表明,On Smo信号在尼罗罗非鱼精巢精原细胞增殖与体细胞存活中具有重要作用。该研究首次证实...     

Variations in hepatic metallothionen,zinc and copper levels during an annual reproductive cycle in rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri

The normal variations in hepatic levels of metallothionein, zinc and copper were studied during an annual reproductive cycle in rainbow trout of both sexes. In female fish, the total hepatic zinc levels closely followed the estradiol-17 and the LSI levels. Hence, the zinc levels rose in September, peaked in December and dropped in January. No distinct peaks were, however, observed in the whole-liver copper content. The hepatic metallothionein levels in female fish began to increase at the onset of exogenous vitellogenesis. Maximum levels were reached after estradiol-17 and LSI levels had dropped in January. In male fish no distinct peaks in either zinc or copper levels were observed. The metallothionein levels increased somewhat during the time of spermatogenesis. It is suggested that metallothionein may regulate the hepatic zinc distribution during the annual reproductive cycle in female rainbow trout, thereby ensuring the organism of a control mechanism to keep the pool of available zinc at an appropriate level.