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Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications

In a recent study, we reported that acute ethanol exposure enhanced autophagy in Sertoli cells (SCs) of adult rats. However, further research is needed to clarify the specific spermatogenic stage exhibiting the highest autophagic response, the mechanisms behind such specificity, and the related rele...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Horibe, Akio, Eid, Nabil, Ito, Yuko, Otsuki, Yoshinori, Kondo, Yoichi
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337509/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30621351
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20010184
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author Horibe, Akio
Eid, Nabil
Ito, Yuko
Otsuki, Yoshinori
Kondo, Yoichi
author_facet Horibe, Akio
Eid, Nabil
Ito, Yuko
Otsuki, Yoshinori
Kondo, Yoichi
author_sort Horibe, Akio
collection PubMed
description In a recent study, we reported that acute ethanol exposure enhanced autophagy in Sertoli cells (SCs) of adult rats. However, further research is needed to clarify the specific spermatogenic stage exhibiting the highest autophagic response, the mechanisms behind such specificity, and the related relevance to sperm. This brief report provides results indicating that stages VII–VIII (androgen-dependent or spermiation stages) of the spermatogenic cycle exhibited more marked autophagic response in acute-ethanol treated rats (ETRs) than other stages based on suppression of androgen receptor (AR), analysis of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) (an autophagosomal marker) immunostaining in SCs, double labeling of LC3 and lysosomal proteins and electron microscopy. Ultrastructural observations and TUNEL method revealed a notable presence of phagocytosed apoptotic germ cells and retained sperm in SCs of ETRs at these specific stages—a finding rarely observed in control testes. In addition, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 ( PINK1) (a sensor of mitochondrial damage and mitophagy) and giant lipid droplets were found to have accumulated in SCs of ETRs at same stages. Our data show novel findings indicating that stages VII–VIII of the spermatogenic cycle exhibit high levels of autophagy, specifically under stress conditions, as expressed by the term autophagic stages. This stage-specific upregulation of autophagy in SCs may be related to AR suppression, mitochondrial damage, lipid accumulation, and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. The phenomenon may be an essential part of ensuring the viability of SCs and supporting germ cells in toxic environments.
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spelling pubmed-63375092019-01-22 Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications Horibe, Akio Eid, Nabil Ito, Yuko Otsuki, Yoshinori Kondo, Yoichi Int J Mol Sci Communication In a recent study, we reported that acute ethanol exposure enhanced autophagy in Sertoli cells (SCs) of adult rats. However, further research is needed to clarify the specific spermatogenic stage exhibiting the highest autophagic response, the mechanisms behind such specificity, and the related relevance to sperm. This brief report provides results indicating that stages VII–VIII (androgen-dependent or spermiation stages) of the spermatogenic cycle exhibited more marked autophagic response in acute-ethanol treated rats (ETRs) than other stages based on suppression of androgen receptor (AR), analysis of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) (an autophagosomal marker) immunostaining in SCs, double labeling of LC3 and lysosomal proteins and electron microscopy. Ultrastructural observations and TUNEL method revealed a notable presence of phagocytosed apoptotic germ cells and retained sperm in SCs of ETRs at these specific stages—a finding rarely observed in control testes. In addition, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 ( PINK1) (a sensor of mitochondrial damage and mitophagy) and giant lipid droplets were found to have accumulated in SCs of ETRs at same stages. Our data show novel findings indicating that stages VII–VIII of the spermatogenic cycle exhibit high levels of autophagy, specifically under stress conditions, as expressed by the term autophagic stages. This stage-specific upregulation of autophagy in SCs may be related to AR suppression, mitochondrial damage, lipid accumulation, and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. The phenomenon may be an essential part of ensuring the viability of SCs and supporting germ cells in toxic environments. MDPI 2019-01-06 /pmc/articles/PMC6337509/ /pubmed/30621351 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20010184 Text en © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Communication
Horibe, Akio
Eid, Nabil
Ito, Yuko
Otsuki, Yoshinori
Kondo, Yoichi
Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications
title Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications
title_full Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications
title_fullStr Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications
title_full_unstemmed Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications
title_short Ethanol-Induced Autophagy in Sertoli Cells Is Specifically Marked at Androgen-Dependent Stages of the Spermatogenic Cycle: Potential Mechanisms and Implications
title_sort ethanol-induced autophagy in sertoli cells is specifically marked at androgen-dependent stages of the spermatogenic cycle: potential mechanisms and implications
topic Communication
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337509/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30621351
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20010184
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