Meng-yun Mo

Antioxidant superoxide dismutase: a review: its function, regulation in the testis, and role in male fertility

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD(EX)), an antioxidant enzyme, was found to be present in the testis at a relatively high concentration versus other organs. In a more detailed survey of several rat tissues and cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, it was shown that germ cells expressed approximately one-third that of Sertoli cells, suggesting both cell types are equipped with the machinery needed to defend themselves from radical-induced damage. When we used an in vitro model in which germ cells were co-cultured with Sertoli cells at a Sertoli:germ cell ratio of 1:1, we failed to detect any changes in the mRNA level of SOD(EX). However, the addition of increasing concentrations of germ cell secretory proteins into Sertoli cell cultures resulted in a decrease in Sertoli cell SOD(EX) expression, illustrating that germ cells can indeed regulate Sertoli cell SOD(EX). On the other hand, Sertoli cell SOD(EX) expression was stimulated when human recombinant interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), a germ cell product, was included into Sertoli cells in vitro. These results, taken collectively, suggest SOD(EX) is an important antioxidant molecule in the testis that is under germ cell regulation.

A 22-Amino Acid Synthetic Peptide Corresponding to the Second Extracellular Loop of Rat Occludin Perturbs the Blood-Testis Barrier and Disrupts Spermatogenesis Reversibly In Vivo

Abstract When Sertoli cells were cultured in vitro on Matrigel-coated bicameral units, the assembly of the inter-Sertoli tight junction (TJ) permeability barrier correlated with an induction of occludin expression. Inclusion of a 22-amino acid peptide, NH2-GSQIYTICSQFYTPGGTGLYVD-COOH, corresponding to residues 209–230 in the second extracellular loop of rat occludin, at 0.2–4 μM into Sertoli cell cultures could perturb the assembly of Sertoli TJs dose-dependently and reversibly. This peptide apparently exerts its effects by interfering with the homotypic interactions of two occludin molecules between adjacent Sertoli cells at the sites of TJs, thereby disrupting TJs, which, in turn, causes a decline in transepithelial electrical resistance across the Sertoli cell epithelium. When similar experiments were performed using a 22-amino acid myotubularin peptide, NH2-TKVNERYELCDTYPALLAVPAN-COOH (residues 156–177), no effects on the assembly of inter-Sertoli TJs in vitro were noted. When a single dose of this synthetic occludin peptide was administered to adult rats intratesticularly at 1.5–10 mg/testis, germ cells began to deplete from the seminiferous epithelium within 8–16 days. By 27 days, virtually all tubules were devoid of germ cells. This antispermatogenic effect was reversible, because germ cells progressively repopulated the epithelium thereafter. Treated testes were indistinguishable from normal or control testes by 68 days post-occludin peptide treatment when assessed using histological analysis. In contrast, control rats receiving either no treatment, vehicle alone, or a 22-amino acid synthetic peptide of myotubularin displayed no changes in the testicular morphology at all time points. The occludin peptide-induced germ cell depletion was also accompanied by a disruption of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) when assessed by micropuncture techniques quantifying [125I]-BSA in rete testis fluid and seminiferous tubular fluid following i.v. administration of [125I]-BSA through the jugular vein. These results illustrate that the occludin peptide-induced disruption of the BTB may possibly affect the underlying adherens junctions, which causes premature release of germ cells from the epithelium and reversible infertility.

Indazole carboxylic acids in male contraception

Two new chemical entities, 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-indazole-3-carbohydrazide and 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-indazole-3-acrylic acid, were synthesized based on the core structure of lonidamine (1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-indazole-3-carboxylic acid). These compounds apparently exert their effects in the testis by perturbing the Sertoli-germ cell adherens junctions causing germ cell loss from the seminiferous epithelium. Recently completed studies in the rat have demonstrated the efficacy, reversibility, and potential use of these two compounds as oral contraceptives for men. Neither compound affected the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis, and both compounds were neither hepatotoxic nor nephrotoxic. These results suggest that these two compounds are safe for further development.

Differential expression of multiple cathepsin mRNAs in the rat testis during maturation and following lonidamine induced tissue restructuring

In the seminiferous epithelium, germ cell development behind the blood‐testis barrier involves continual degradation and renewal of inter‐testicular cell junctions. This allows: (i) the translocation of developing germ cells from the basal lamina to the adluminal compartment during spermatogenesis, and (ii) the eventual release of mature spermatids into the tubular lumen during spermiation. Throughout spermatogenesis, cellular debris must also be removed from the epithelium. Thus, it is conceivable that proteases, protease inhibitors, and cell junctional components are involved in these events. The present study sought to examine whether testicular cells can express multiple cathepsin mRNAs given that these proteases are involved in the degradation and processing of proteins as well as in tissue regeneration. By using total RNA isolated from primary cultures of Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells for reverse‐transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), the mRNAs of cathepsin B, C, D, H, L, and S were shown to be expressed by Sertoli and Leydig cells, whereas germ cells isolated from adult rats expressed all of the above cathepsin mRNAs except cathepsin D. Throughout postnatal development and maturation, the testicular steady‐state mRNA levels of cathepsin B, C, D, L, and S remain relatively unchanged with the exception of cathepsin H whose mRNA level increased during maturation and peaked at 45‐60 days of age. Using lonidamine, an anti‐spermatogenic drug which is known to induce premature release of germ cells without affecting Leydig cell function by disrupting the inter‐Sertoli‐germ cell junctions, we have examined the differential expression of these cathepsin mRNAs in the testis at the time of extensive tissue restructuring. It was noted that the expression of cathepsin L and S in the testis increased significantly concomitant with the disappearance of elongate spermatids whereas the expression of cathepsin B, C, D, and H increased significantly when most of the round spermatids and spermatocytes were depleted. These results illustrate the intricate inter‐relationship between these proteases in the testis during maturation and tissue restructuring.

Micropurification of two human cerebrospinal fluid proteins by high performance electrophoresis chromatography.

Abstract: Using C8 reversed‐phase HPLC in conjunction with sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have fractionated proteins contained in human CSFs obtained from patients with schizophrenic disorders. When these proteins were electrophoretically blotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane for direct N‐terminal amino acid sequencing, several CSF proteins were identified; these included albumin, transferrin, apolipoprotein A‐l, β2‐microglobulin, and prealbumin. We have also identified two structurally related human CSF proteins designated cerebrin 28 (Mr 28,000) and cerebrin 30 (Mr 30,000) that have an N‐terminal amino acid sequence of NH2‐APPAQVSVQPNF and NH2‐APEAQVSVQPLFXQ, respectively. Comparison of these sequences with existing database at Protein Identification Resource (R 32.0), GenBank (R 72.0), SWISS‐PROT (R 22.0), and EMBL (R 31.0) indicated that they are unique proteins. These proteins were subsequently purified by high performance electrophoresis Chromatography (HPEC) using an Applied Biosystems 230A HPEC system. A specific polyclonal antibody was prepared and an ELISA was established for cerebrin 30. It was noted that HPEC is a powerful tool to purify microgram quantities of proteins from human, rabbit, and rat CSFs. Using such a system, we have been able to micropurify as many as 10 proteins simultaneously in a single experiment because the elution of proteins occurred strictly according to their molecular weights. More importantly, we routinely obtained a recovery of >90%. The potential use of this technology for micropurification of proteins was discussed.

An increase in the carbohydrate moiety of α2-macroglobulin is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Using lectin blots in conjunction with peptide mapping, α2‐macroglobulin micropurified from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients was shown to become abnormally glycosylated suggesting the occurrence of complex glycosylation in this pathological condition. To confirm there is indeed a quantitative increase in specific monosaccharides in this protein; α2‐macroglobulin was micropurified from a battery of 37 serum samples which included 6 normal donors (3 male and 3 female), 23 SLE patients, 6 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 1 mixed connective tissue disease patient, and 1 Sjogrens syndrome patient; for carbohydrate analysis. It was noted that the concentration of total monosaccharides in α2‐macroglobulin micropurified from serum samples of SLE patients is significantly higher than normal donors with a mean±SD of 188±410 μg/mg protein (SLE, n=23) versus 14.5±4 μg/mg protein (normal, n=6) even though there was a high variation in the level of monosaccharides among the SLE patients. An increase in oligosaccharides in α2‐macroglobulin from SLE patients compared to normal subjects was confirmed by concanavalin A (Con A) blots using peptide fragments derived from the micropurified protein. Since the interaction of peptide fragments derived from α2‐macroglobulin with Con A requires the presence of mannose and/or glucose residues, we have also examined if there are any correlations between the levels of mannose and glucose in α2‐macroglobulin and SLE. The concentration of mannose (38±60 μg/mg protein) in α2‐macroglobulin derived from SLE patients was significantly higher than normal donors (mannose, 4.8±1 μg/mg protein) however, the concentration of glucose in α2‐macroglobulin derived from SLE patients when compared to normal donors was not statistically significant, 18±20 μg/mg protein in SLE versus 2±0.5 μg/mg protein in normal donors due to high variation between samples. Also, the concentration of galactose in α2‐macroglobulin from SLE patients was significantly higher than normal donors (45.7±173 μg/mg protein versus 0.13±0.03 μg/mg protein). These results illustrate quantification of carbohydrate in selected glycoproteins such as α2‐macroglobulin may be a novel and alternative clinical marker for SLE.