beta-Nerve growth factor participates in an auto/paracrine pathway of regulation of the meiotic differentiation of rat spermatocytes.
NGF appears to be involved in spermatogenesis. However, mice lacking NGF or TrkA genes do not survive more than a few days whereas p75(NTR) knockout mice are viable and fertile. Therefore, we addressed the effect of betaNGF on spermatogenesis by using the systems of rat germ cell culture we established previously. betaNGF did not modify the number of Sertoli cells, pachytene spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes nor the half-life of round spermatids, but increased the number of secondary meiotic metaphases and decreased the number of round spermatids formed in vitro. These effects of betaNGF were reversible and maximal at about 4 x 10(-11) M. Conversely, K252a, a Trk-specific kinase inhibitor, enhanced the number of round spermatids above that of control cultures. The presence of betaNGF and its receptors TrkA and p75(NTR) was investigated in testis sections, in Sertoli cell and germ cell fractions, and in germ cell and Sertoli cell co-cultures. betaNGF was detected only in germ cells from pachytene spermatocytes of stages VII up to spermatids of stages IX-X. TrkA and p75(NTR) were detected in Sertoli cells and in these germ cells. Taken together, these results indicate that betaNGF should participate in an auto/paracrine pathway of regulation of the second meiotic division of rat spermatocytes in vivo.
Perrard
Marie-Hélène
MH
INSERM, U418, Hôpital Debrousse, 29 rue Soeur Bouvier, Lyon Cedex 05, France.
Vigier
Michèle
M
Damestoy
Anne
A
Chapat
Clément
C
Silandre
Dorothée
D
Rudkin
Brian B
BB
Durand
Philippe
P
D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D002227:Carbazoles; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; C068313:Ngfr protein, rat; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; C049985:staurosporine aglycone; D020917:Receptor, trkA