Gonadotrophins regulate germ cell survival, not proliferation, in normal adult men

Human Reproduction
Saleela M RuwanpuraS J Meachem

Abstract

Gonadotrophins support spermatogenesis via poorly understood mechanisms. We aimed to determine the effect of FSH/LH suppression in regulating germ cell apoptosis and proliferation in normal fertile men. Testicular tissues were obtained after gonadotrophin suppression induced by testosterone alone or combined with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for 2 or 6 weeks and an untreated group of men (referred to as 'normal men') served as controls (n = 5 or 10 men per group). Apoptosis and proliferation were identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling methods, respectively. Intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways were identified by immunohistochemistry using the pathway-specific proteins: activated caspase (aCaspase) 9 and 8 and quantified using stereological techniques. By 2 and 6 weeks, the proportion of TUNEL-labelled spermatogonia increased to 354% and 268% respectively, compared with normal men (P < 0.001), with increased caspase 9 [223 and 166% compared with normal men (P < 0.001)], but no increase in caspase 8, immunoreactivity. At 6 weeks, the proportions of TUNEL-labelled spermatocytes and round spermatids tended to inc...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 1, 2012·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·Branko ZornMojca Kolbezen
Mar 26, 2010·International Journal of Impotence Research·G J Manetti, S C Honig
Oct 23, 2009·Biology of Reproduction·Zuping HeMartin Dym
Jul 8, 2011·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism·Marina GrigorovaMaris Laan
Apr 29, 2010·The Journal of Reproduction and Development·Shuying HuoSheng Cui
Oct 23, 2012·Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism·Ashraf T Soliman, Vincenzo De Sanctis
Oct 25, 2012·Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology·Shuying HuoYurong Li
Nov 3, 2012·Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology·Xiao-lin XuLi-chun Xu
May 4, 2012·Toxicologic Pathology·Robert E Chapin, Dianne M Creasy
Feb 23, 2010·Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine·Ave Kris LendAndres Salumets

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