Colchicine disrupts the cytoskeleton of rat testis seminiferous epithelium in a stage-dependent manner.
Sertoli cell microtubules play an important role in the process of spermatogenesis. We investigated the effects of colchicine, a microtubule-disrupting agent, on the seminiferous epithelium. Rats were injected intratesticularly with 0.004-40 micrograms colchicine/testis. Colchicine had a dose-related effect on seminiferous tubule fluid secretion and completely blocked secretion at a dose of 40 micrograms colchicine/testis. Colchicine also resulted in a dose-related decrease in testes weight 2 and 8 wk after injection. When 40 micrograms colchicine/testis was used, testis morphology showed a time-dependent increase in the incidence of sloughing over a time course of 1, 3, 6, and 16 h. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that stage IX-XIV seminiferous tubules were most sensitive to sloughing. Changes in the distribution of tubulin immunostaining within Sertoli cells occurred preferentially in stage VII-VIII seminiferous tubules, which were most resistant to sloughing. In addition, colchicine resulted in disruption of vimentin filaments in stage IX-XIV seminiferous tubules, which correlated with the stage-dependent sensitivity of sloughing. We propose that the stage dependence of colchicine-induced effects reflects the dynamic and stage-dependent role of microtubules in spermatogenesis. Furthermore, cellular structures other than microtubules, such as vimentin filaments, may be important for maintaining the structural integrity of the seminiferous epithelium.
Allard
E K
EK
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912.
Johnson
K J
KJ
Boekelheide
K
K
D000818:Animals; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D014404:Tubulin; D014746:Vimentin; D003078:Colchicine