Germ cell apoptosis control during spermatogenesis.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and role of c-Flip long isoform (c-FlipL), a known anti-apoptotic protein. No data are currently available on c-FlipL in male gonad before puberty; therefore, this study was carried out in prepuberal mouse testis. We investigated pachytene spermatocytes and spermatogonia by immunostaining of testis sections and found a strong and specific expression of c-FlipL in pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia expressed very low levels of c-FlipL. This finding inversely correlated with the caspases activity, which was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. Other experiments carried out in an organ-culture model revealed that Fas-induced apoptosis was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. These data suggest that c-FlipL may play a role as an anti-apoptotic molecule in the prepuberal mouse testis and open new perspectives in the comprehension of the mechanisms controlling germ cells apoptosis.
Giampietri
Claudia
C
Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy. claudia.giampietri@uniromal.it
Petrungaro
Simonetta
S
Coluccia
Pierpaolo
P
D'Alessio
Alessio
A
Starace
Donatella
D
Riccioli
Anna
A
Padula
Fabrizio
F
Palombi
Fioretta
F
Ziparo
Elio
E
Filippini
Antonio
A
De Cesaris
Paola
P
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology
D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506387:Cflar protein, mouse; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020169:Caspases