Determination of mTOR signal pathway in MMTV-TGFα mice ovary at different ages.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα), a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and development, and involves follicular development and viability. In ovaries, TGFα is shown localized in granulosa cells (GCs) of primary follicles, theca cells (TCs) of pre-antral, antral and pre-ovulatory follicles. TGFα overexpression in mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV-TGFα) transgenic mice causes mammary tumor after 50 weeks. However, follicular development and preservation of the ovarian follicle reserve-mediating follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) response are unknown. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator for cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, and important for ovarian folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. The study aim determines TGFα overexpression during folliculogenesis via mTOR signaling pathway in ovaries from 10-, 18-, 50-, and 82-week-old MMTV-TGFα mice. Histological analysis was performed, along with western blot for mTOR, p-mTOR, P70S6K, PCNA, and Caspase-3, and quantitative RNA (qRT-PCR) for mTOR and P70S6K. Developing follicles number decreased and atretic follicles number increased with aging in MMTV-TGFα mice ovary. Ovaries at 18 and 82 weeks had decreased PCNA and increased Caspase-3 protein expression levels as compared to 10-week ovaries. Protein expression levels of mTOR and p-mTOR decreased gradually from ovaries at 10-18 weeks, increased at 50 weeks and decreased again at 82 weeks. These results indicate that TGFα may be one regulator of healthy follicular development and affect mTOR signaling pathway during ovarian aging. Thus, over-expression of TGFα might lead to reduced ovarian reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency.

Expression of aquaporin-7 and aquaporin-9 in tanycyte cells and choroid plexus during mouse estrus cycle.

Tanycytes are special ependymal cells located in the ventrolateral wall and floor of the third ventricle having processes extending nuclei that regulate reproductive functions and around of vessels in median eminance. The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of transmembrane proteins that transport water and glycerol. AQP-7 and -9 are permeable to other small molecules as glycerol and therefore called aquaglyceroporins. In this study, we aimed to show localization of AQP-7 and -9 in epithelial cells of choroid plexus and tanycytes during female mouse estrus cycle. AQP-7 and -9 proteins were detected in α2 and ß1 tanycytes in prœstrus stage. Interestingly, there is no staining in estrus stage in any type of tanycytes. We observed weak immunoreactivity in α1, α2 and ß1 tanycyte cells in metestrus stage for AQP-7 and α1 for AQP-9 protein. AQP-7 and -9 showed intense immunoreactivity in α2, ß1 and ß2 tanycyte cells during diestrus stage. Consequently, AQP-7 and -9 showed differential staining pattern in different stages of mouse estrus cycle. In the light of our findings and other recent publications, we suggest that AQP-7 and -9-mediated glycerol transport in tanycyte cells might be under hormonal control to use glycerol as a potential energy substrate during mouse estrus cycle.

mTOR expression in human testicular seminoma.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (TOR) has been implicated in the control of different stressors, growth factors, nutrients and hormones, participating in the control of key cellular functions. Controlling this many pathways poses mTOR signalling as a potential new target in new treatment strategies for multiple cancer types. mTOR components could potentially mislocated in tumour cells, which could lead to activation of signalling pathway that should not be active. Therefore, we aimed to show localisation of mTOR signal proteins in testicular seminoma. Tumoural testicular tissues were obtained from 10 patients with unilateral classic seminoma undergoing to therapeutic orchidectomy and compared with control human testicular tissues. Upon immunohistochemical evaluation, we detected mTOR and p-mTOR (serine 2448), P70S6K, p-P70S6K, PKCalpha and p-PKCalpha, CD36 and MAPLC3 proteins in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. We also showed cytoplasmic perinuclear staining in seminoma cells. This study demonstrated the interaction of mTOR signalling pathway and testicular seminoma by showing intense cytoplasmic mTOR pathway proteins immunoreactivity in the seminoma, for the first time in humans. Therefore, we suggested that mTOR signalling components could create new clinical targets for treatment of testicular seminoma patients and male infertility in the future.