Abnormal spermatogenesis in mice unable to synthesize ascorbic acid.
Although exposure to environmental toxicants, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, is thought to be a possible cause of male infertility, the pathogenesis of male reproductive disorders remains unclear. In the present study, we used Gulo-/- mutant mice, which are unable to synthesize ascorbic acid, to study the importance of dietary vitamin C (VC) on spermatogenesis. Regular chow containing approximately 110 mg/kg VC is unable to support the growth of these mutant mice, but a VC supplement in their drinking water (330 mg/L) is able to ameliorate the VC deficiency. Testes of Gulo-/- mutants born from heterozygous mothers without VC supplement (VC-deficient mice) and those born from mothers given a VC supplement (VC-sufficient mice) were examined by morphological and biochemical analyses. Morphological analysis revealed that apoptosis of spermatocytes occurred frequently in VC-deficient mice at 20 days of age. Two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis revealed the specific disappearance of heat-shock protein (Hsp) 70 in the testes of 20-day-old VC-deficient mice. In the present study, the relationship between the apoptosis of spermatocytes and Hsp70 in VC-deficient mice is discussed.
Yazama
Futoshi
F
epartment of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Morphology, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, 562 Nanatsuka, Shobara City, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan. fyzma@pu-hiroshima.ac.jp
Furuta
Kazuko
K
Fujimoto
Miwa
M
Sonoda
Tomoko
T
Shigetomi
Hiroko
H
Horiuchi
Toshitaka
T
Yamada
Manabu
M
Nagao
Norio
N
Maeda
Nobuyo
N
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins