Figla Favors Ovarian Differentiation by Antagonizing Spermatogenesis in a Teleosts, Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Figla (factor in the germ line, alpha), a female germ cell-specific transcription factor, had been shown to activate genetic hierarchies in oocytes. The ectopic expression of Figla was known to repress spermatogenesis-associated genes in male mice. However, the potential role of Figla in other vertebrates remains elusive. The present work was aimed to identify and characterize the functional relevance of Figla in the ovarian development of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Tissue distribution and ontogeny analysis revealed that tilapia Figla gene was dominantly expressed in the ovary from 30 days after hatching. Immunohistochemistry analysis also demonstrated that Figla was expressed in the cytoplasm of early primary oocytes. Intriguingly, over-expression of Figla in XY fish resulted in the disruption of spermatogenesis along with the depletion of meiotic spermatocytes and spermatids in testis. Dramatic decline of sycp3 (synaptonemal complex protein 3) and prm (protamine) expression indicates that meiotic spermatocytes and mature sperm production are impaired. Even though Sertoli cell (dmrt1) and Leydig cell (star and cyp17a1) marker genes remained unaffected, hsd3b1 expression and 11-KT production were enhanced in Figla-transgene testis. Taken together, our data suggest that fish Figla might play an essential role in the ovarian development by antagonizing spermatogenesis.

Blocking of progestin action disrupts spermatogenesis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

In vitro studies have indicated that the maturation-inducing hormone 17α,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α,20ß-DP, DHP), probably through nuclear progestin receptor (Pgr), might be involved in the proliferation of spermatogonial cells and the initiation of meiosis in several fish species. However, further in vivo evidence is required to elucidate the role of DHP in spermatogenesis during sexual differentiation in teleosts. In this study, we cloned pgr and analyzed its expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and treated XY fish with RU486 (a synthetic Pgr antagonist) from 5 days after hatching (dah) to determine the role of DHP in spermatogenesis. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Pgr identified in tilapia is a genuine Pgr. Pgr was found to be expressed in the Sertoli cells surrounding spermatogonia and spermatids in the testis of tilapia. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that the expression of pgr in the testis was significantly upregulated from 10 dah, further increased at 50 dah, and persisted until adulthood in fish. In the testis of RU486-treated fish, the transcript levels of germ cell markers and a meiotic marker were substantially reduced. However, the expression of markers in Sertoli cells remained unchanged. Moreover, the production of 11-ketotestosterone and the expression of genes encoding various steroidogenic enzymes were also not altered. In contrast, the expression of cyp17a2, encoding one of the critical steroidogenic enzymes involved in DHP biosynthesis, declined significantly, possibly indicating the inhibition of DHP production by RU486. RU486 treatment given for 2 months did not affect spermatogenesis; however, treatment given for more than 3 months resulted in a decrease in spermatogonial cell numbers and depletion of later-phase spermatogenic cells. Simultaneous excessive DHP supplementation restored spermatogenesis in RU486-treated XY fish. Taken together, our data further indicated that DHP, possibly through Pgr, might be essential for spermatogonial cell proliferation and spermatogenesis in fish.

[Study of the injury to the urinary system caused by radiological vascular interventional therapy of obstetrical and gynecological benign diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the injuries to the urinary system caused by uterine artery embolization (UAE) for treatment of obstetrical and gynecological benign diseases, including the classification, aetiology, therapy of the injuries and precaution methods. METHODS: The injuries of the urinary system were reviewed in 960 cases of obstetrical and gynecological benign diseases treated with UAE by our interventional centre. Of all 960 cases, 690 cases were myoma, 244 adenomyosis, 8 cervical pregnancy, 2 cornus pregnancy, 14 postpartum hemorrhage, 2 late postpartum hemorrhage. Meanwhile, the correlative problems of the vascular anatomy, DSA and the embolization technics of microcatheter were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Different degrees of urinary system injuries occurred in 5 of 960 cases, the rate was 0.5%. None was severe injury, one case (0.1%) was moderate injury, and the patient suffered of hydronephrosis caused by segmental necrosis of unilateral ureter. Mild injury occurred in 4 cases (0.4%), including one case of inflammation of bladder, one case of partial necrosis of bladder mucosa membrane, 2 cases of transient slight unilateral hydronephrosis. Among all the injuries, 4 occurred in myoma patients, and one occurred in adenomyosis patient. The operation procedures of all five cases were bilateral uterine artery embolization, and none used microcatheter. (2) The ureter branch arising from the middle or lower part of the uterine artery supplied the middle or lower part of ureter and the length of this part of ureter is about 4 cm, the bladder branch arising from the middle or lower part of uterine artery supplied the bladder and communicated with the bladder vascular net. Correlative injuries could be caused by the retroflow of embolisms into the above arteries. (3) Placement of the catheter into the upper branch of the uterine artery or the tumor vascular net, using microcatheter if necessary and notation of the retroflow in the embolization process could avoid the embolization of bladder and ureter arteries. (4) Totally 506 cases used microcatheter, the ratio was 52.7%. The 5 cases of injuries did not use microcatheter. CONCLUSIONS: Injuries to the urinary system could occur in UAE for treatment of obstetrical and gynecological benign diseases, which can be prevented by carefully differentiating the vascular communicating branch and the conditions of branches, and embolization of the upper branch of uterine artery can avoid the injury.