title: Developmental regulation of the bcl-2 family during spermatogenesis: insights into the sterility of bcl-w-/- male mice.
abstract: Expression of bcl-w, a close relative of bcl-2 is essential for male fertility in mice. Although the initial wave of spermatogenesis in bcl-w -/- mice proceeds normally until 3-4 weeks of age, adults fail to produce sperm. To clarify why bcl-w is essential for adult but not juvenile spermatogenesis, we investigated the expression pattern of eight bcl-2 family members. We found that both the level and pattern of expression varied in different cell types during juvenile and adult spermatogenesis. Anti-apoptotic genes bcl-w, bcl-2 and bcl-xL were all expressed in spermatogonia during juvenile spermatogenesis, but only bcl-w was detected in spermatogonia of adult mice. A similar shift was evident in Sertoli cells. This developmental regulation may co-ordinate physiological germ cell apoptosis in wild type mice and account for the time of onset for pathological germ cell apoptosis in bcl-w -/- animals.
authors.affiliation: Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Loveland
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Kretser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cory
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Print
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C101155:Bcl2l2 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051020:bcl-X Protein