Developmental regulation of the bcl-2 family during spermatogenesis: insights into the sterility of bcl-w-/- male mice.
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.
Meehan
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Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia.
Loveland
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KL
de Kretser
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Cory
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Print
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CG
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
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C101155:Bcl2l2 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051020:bcl-X Protein