Estrogen effects on actin cytoskeletal and endocytic proteins associated with tubulobulbar complex disruption in rat testes.

Tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs), evaginations of mature spermatids, penetrate into the surrounding Sertoli cell cytoplasm of testis seminiferous epithelium during rat spermatogenesis. These structures prepare mature spermatids for their release into the seminiferous tubular lumen via a process called spermiation. Based on their functions of transient attachment and endocytosis, many actin-regulatory and endocytic proteins are associated with TBCs. Previously, exogenous 17ß-estradiol administration to adult male rats showed spermiation failure that was attributed to TBC disruption. To determine the molecular basis of estrogen-induced TBC disruption, we examined the expressions and localizations of actin-regulatory proteins, endocytic proteins, Rho-GTPases, and phosphorylation in TBCs during sperm release. Results demonstrated absence of neural Wiscott Aldrich syndrome protein, cortactin, adaptor-related protein complex 2 sigma-1 subunit, dynamin 2, cell division control protein 42, and phosphocortactin in the concavity of spermatid head where TBCs are present without change in their protein expression levels. Absence of these proteins could have led to collapse of the TBC structure which is involved in its formation and function.

Proteomics in reproductive biology: beacon for unraveling the molecular complexities.

Proteomics, an interface of rapidly evolving advances in physics and biology, is rapidly developing and expanding its potential applications to molecular and cellular biology. Application of proteomics tools has contributed towards identification of relevant protein biomarkers that can potentially change the strategies for early diagnosis and treatment of several diseases. The emergence of powerful mass spectrometry-based proteomics technique has added a new dimension to the field of medical research in liver, heart diseases and certain forms of cancer. Most proteomics tools are also being used to study physiological and pathological events related to reproductive biology. There have been attempts to generate the proteomes of testes, sperm, seminal fluid, epididymis, oocyte, and endometrium from reproductive disease patients. Here, we have reviewed proteomics based investigations in humans over the last decade, which focus on delineating the mechanism underlying various reproductive events such as spermatogenesis, oogenesis, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, embryo development. The challenge is to harness new technologies like 2-DE, DIGE, MALDI-MS, SELDI-MS, MUDPIT, LC-MS etc., to a greater extent to develop widely applicable clinical tools in understanding molecular aspects of reproduction both in health and disease.

Tubulobulbar complex: cytoskeletal remodeling to release spermatozoa.

Tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs) are actin-based structures that help establish close contact between Sertoli-Sertoli cells or Sertoli-mature germ cells (spermatids) in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. They are actin-rich push-through devices that eliminate excess spermatid cytoplasm and prepare mature spermatids for release into the tubular lumen. Just prior to spermiation, the elongated spermatid interacts with the Sertoli cell via an extensive structure comprising various adhesion molecules called the apical ectoplasmic specialization which is partially replaced by the apical TBC, on the concave surface of the spermatid head. The sperm release process involves extensive restructuring, namely the disassembly and reassembly of junctions at the Sertoli-spermatid interface in the seminiferous epithelium. Based on the presence of different classes of molecules in the TBCs or the defects observed in the absence of TBCs, the main functions attributed to TBCs are elimination of excess spermatid cytoplasm, endocytosis and recycling of junctional molecules, shaping of the spermatid acrosome, and forming transient anchoring devices for mature spermatids before they are released. This review summarizes the recent findings that focus on the role of TBCs in cell cytoskeleton restructuring during sperm release in the testes and the molecular mechanism involved.