Testicular steroid sulfatase overexpression is associated with Leydig cell dysfunction in primary spermatogenic failure.

BACKGROUND: Decreased testosterone (T) to LH ratio and increased 17ß-estradiol (E2) serum concentrations represent a common finding among patients with severe spermatogenic failure, suggesting a concurrent Leydig cell steroidogenic dysfunction. Aromatase overexpression has been associated with increased serum and intratesticular E2 in these patients. However, it is unknown whether the sulfatase pathway contributes to the increased availability of active estrogens in patients with primary spermatogenic failure. OBJECTIVES: To assess estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) and steroid sulfatase (STS) mRNA abundance in testicular tissue of patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) and normal tissues, its association with serum and intratesticular hormone levels, and to explore the mRNA and protein testicular localization of both enzymes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular tissues of 23 subjects with SCOS (cases) and 22 patients with obstructive azoospermia and normal spermatogenesis (controls) were obtained after biopsy. SULT1E1 and STS transcripts accumulation was quantified by RT-qPCR. For mRNA and protein localization, we performed RT-qPCR in Leydig cell clusters and seminiferous tubules isolated by laser-capture microdissection and immunofluorescence in testicular tissues. Serum and intratesticular hormones were measured by immunoradiometric assays. RESULTS: SULT1E1 mRNA accumulation was similar in both groups. The amount of STS mRNA was higher in cases (p = 0.007) and inversely correlated with T/LH ratio (r = -0.402; p = 0.02). Also, a near significant correlation was observed with intratesticular E2 (r = 0.329, p = 0.057), in agreement with higher intratesticular E2 in cases (p < 0.001). Strong STS immunoreaction was localized in the wall of small blood vessels but not in Leydig cells. Both SULT1E1 and STS mRNA abundance was similar in Leydig cell clusters and the tubular compartment, except for lower SUTL1E1 mRNA in the seminiferous tubules of SCOS patients (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an unbalance of the STS/SULT1E1 pathway contributes to the testicular hyperestrogenic microenvironment in patients with primary spermatogenic failure and Leydig cell dysfunction.

Expression patterns of HENMT1 and PIWIL1 in human testis: implications for transposon expression.

This study aimed to define the expression patterns of HENMT1 and PIWI proteins in human testis and investigate their association with transposon expression, infertility sub-type or development of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs). Testis biopsies showing normal spermatogenesis were used to identify normal localisation patterns of HENMT1 and PIWIL1 by immunolocalisation and RT-PCR after laser microdissection. 222 testis biopsies representing normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis, spermatogenic arrests, Sertoli cell-only (SCO) tumours and TGCTs were analysed by RT-qPCR for expression of HENMT1/PIWIL1/PIWIL2/PIWIL3/PIWIL4 and LINE-1 Additionally, HENMT1-overexpressing TCam2 seminoma cell lines were analysed for the same parameters by RT-qPCR. We found that HENMT1 and PIWIL1 are coexpressed in pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids. Expression of HENMT1, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 was mainly dependent on germ cell content but low levels of expression were also detected in some SCO samples. Levels of HENMT1, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 expression were low in TGCT. Samples with HENMT1, PIWIL2 and PIWIL4 expression showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower transposon expression compared to samples without expression in the same histological group. HENMT1-overexpressing TCam2 cells showed lower LINE-1 expression than empty vector-transfected control lines. Our findings support that the transposon-regulating function of the piRNA pathway found in the mouse is conserved in adult human testis. HENMT1 and PIWI proteins are expressed in a germ-cell-specific manner and required for transposon control.

Expression of katanin p80 in human spermatogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To define the stage-by-stage expression of KATNB1 during human spermatogenesis. DESIGN: Gene expression analysis, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation. SETTING: University research laboratories and andrological clinic. PATIENT(S): Eighty human testicular biopsy samples: 43 showing normal spermatogenesis, 9 with maturation arrest at level of spermatocytes, 8 with maturation arrest at level of spermatogonia, and 20 with a Sertoli cell only syndrome. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Evaluation of katanin p80 expression in normal as well as impaired spermatogenesis on mRNA (RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and in situ hybridization) and protein level (immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence). RESULT(S): KATNB1 messenger RNA is exclusively expressed in germ cells, and quantitatively reduced in maturation arrests at the level of spermatogonia. The KATNB1 protein was detected in type B spermatogonia entering meiosis and in the Golgi complex of pachytene spermatocytes. Immediately before the first meiotic division, it is colocalized with the cleaving centriole. It was also detected in early round spermatids in the dictyosome. CONCLUSION(S): The expression and localization of KATNB1 support a role in spindle formation. The localization of KATNB1 in early round spermatids suggests an involvement in the formation of microtubule-based structures during spermiogenesis (manchette and flagellum). These data are consistent with the demonstrated role of KATNB1 in mouse meiosis, nuclear shaping, and flagellum formation of sperm and suggest the strong conservation of function even between distantly related species.

Caspase signalling pathways in human spermatogenesis.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the apoptotic mechanisms involved in abnormal spermatogenesis. In order to describe the significance of apoptosis in azoospermia, testicular tissue from abnormal spermatogenesis was analysed. METHODS: Testicular treatment biopsies were obtained from 27 men. Five presented oligozoospermia, 9 obstructive azoospermia (4 congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens; 5 secondary azoospermia) and 13 non-obstructive azoospermia (5 hypospermatogenis; 3 maturation arrest; 5 Sertoli-cell-only syndrome). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for active caspases-3, -8 and -9. The presence of active caspases in Sertoli cells and germ cells was analyzed using stereological tools. RESULTS: Increased active caspase-3 was found in Sertoli-cell-only syndrome. No significant differences were found in maturation arrest. In hypospermatogenesis, primary spermatocytes were the germ cells with higher active caspases. Oligozoospermia and secondary obstruction showed significant differences among germ cells for the presence of all active caspases. In oligozoospermia, spermatogonia presented significant increased active caspase-9 in relation to active caspase-8. In primary obstruction and hypospermatogenesis, germ cells presented significant increased active caspases-3 and -9. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that increased active caspase-3 might be involved in Sertoli-cell-only syndrome etiology. In cases of hypospermatogenesis, intrinsic lesions at the meiotic stage seem to be related to the pathology. In secondary obstruction apoptosis is suggested to be initiated due to extrinsic and intrinsic lesions, whereas in primary obstruction only the intrinsic apoptotic pathway seems to be present. Finally, in oligozoospermic patients spermatogonia death by mitochondrial damage additionally to meiosis malfunctioning, might be on the origin of the decreased sperm output.

Modified expression of cytoplasmic isocitrate dehydrogenase electrophoretic isoforms in seminal plasma of men with sertoli-cell-only syndrome and seminoma.

Two isoforms of human cytoplasmic isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDPc) of close molecular weights and different isoelectric points were identified in human seminal plasma (SP) by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by mass spectrometry (MS). These two isoforms were detected in the normospermic men SP and their expressions were markedly altered in patients with testicular seminoma, the most frequent testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC): increase of the more acidic spot and decrease of the more basic one. Since oligospermia has been considered as a high risk pathological condition for developing a testicular cancer, the two IDPc isoforms were analyzed in SP of a group of secretory azoospermic patients. In this group the two spots displayed similar variations of expression to those observed in testicular seminoma. These results propose IDPc as a promising SP biomarker of testicular seminoma. Whether IDPc alteration in secretory azoospermia is predictive of testicular seminoma remains to be elucidated.