Project description:Expression profiling of isolated populations of prepachytene spermatocytes (LP), pachytene spermatocytes (RP) and spermatids (ST) from PWD and B6 was performed to study the genome wide variation in gene expression between two mouse subspecies. To evaluate the transcriptional difference between B6 and PWD in during meiosis, we compared their transcriptomes in sorted populations of pre-pachytene primary spermatocytes (Leptonema, Zygotene and Pachytene), pachytene spermatocytes (Mid-late pachytene and diplotene) and spermatids. Populations of pre-pachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids were isolated from PWD and B6 mice. All populations were isolated in duplicates from two animals. Hence, RNA was prepared from 12 samples (= 2 strains x 3 tissues x 2 replicas) and was then subject to labeling and hybridization on microarray chips.
Project description:MiRNA expression profiling of isolated populations of prepachytene spermatocytes (LP), pachytene spermatocytes (RP) and spermatids (ST) from PWD and B6 was performed to study the genome wide variation in miRNA expression between two mouse subspecies. Overall design: Populations of pre-pachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids were isolated from PWD and B6 mice. All populations were isolated in triplicates from two bilogical replicas Hence, RNA was prepared from 18 samples and was then subject to labeling and hybridization on microarray chips.
Project description:MiRNA expression profiling of isolated populations of prepachytene spermatocytes (LP), pachytene spermatocytes (RP) and spermatids (ST) from PWD and B6 was performed to study the genome wide variation in miRNA expression between two mouse subspecies. Populations of pre-pachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids were isolated from PWD and B6 mice. All populations were isolated in triplicates from two bilogical replicas Hence, RNA was prepared from 18 samples and was then subject to labeling and hybridization on microarray chips.
Project description:Expression profiling of isolated populations of prepachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids of males carrying a translocation T(16;17)43H was performed to study the influence of this translocation on gene expression from individual chromosomes. To evaluate the transcriptional behavior of individual chromosomes in the sterile B10-T43/+ males and their fertile congenic B10-T43/T43 and B10 counterparts, we compared their transcriptomes in sorted populations of pre-pachytene primary spermatocytes, pachytene primary spermatocytes and spermatids. Keywords: individual genetic characteristics design Overall design: Populations of pre-pachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids were isolated from three lines of mice: B10, B10-T43H/T43H and B10-T43H/+. All populations were isolated in duplicates from two animals. Hence, RNA was prepared from 18 samples and was then subject to labeling and hybridization on microarray chips.
Project description:miRNA expression profiling of isolated populations of prepachytene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids of PWD and B6 male mice
Project description:Human spermatogenic cells have not yet been isolated, and notably, their global miRNA profiles remain unknown. Here we have effectively isolated human spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids using STA-PUT velocity sedimentation. RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and meiosis spread assays revealed that the purities of isolated human spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids were 90%, and the viability of these isolated cells was over 98%. MiRNA microarrays showed distinct global miRNA profiles among human spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids. Thirty-two miRNAs were significantly up-regulated whereas 78 miRNAs were down-regulated between human spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes, suggesting that these miRNAs are involved in the meiosis and mitosis, respectively. In total, 144 miRNAs were significantly up-regulated while 29 miRNAs were down-regulated between pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, reflecting potential roles of these miRNAs in mediating spermiogenesis. A number of novel binding targets of miRNAs were further identified using various softwares and verified by real-time PCR. Our ability of isolating human spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids and unveiling their distinct global miRNA signatures and novel targets could provide novel small RNA regulatory mechanisms mediating three phases of human spermatogenesis and offer new targets for the treatment of male infertility.
Project description:Microarray analysis of purified pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. Each stage was examined in wild type and RNF8 knockout mice in two biological replicates. We performed microarray analysis using Affymetrix Gene 1.0 ST Arrays with purified pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. Pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids were enriched from 3 to 4 males from the WT or Rnf8-KO via BSA gravity sedimentation according to the previous publication [PMID 8231890] and >95% (PS, RS) enrichments were verified after DAPI staining under a fluorescent microscope. For microarray analysis, total RNAs from purified pachytene spermatocytes or round spermatids were examined.
Project description:Human spermatogenesis includes three main stages, namely, the mitosis of spermatogonia, meiosis of spermatocytes, and spermiogenesis of spermatids, which are precisely regulated by epigenetic and genetic factors. Abnormality of epigenetic and genetic factors can result in aberrant spermatogenesis and eventual male infertility. However, epigenetic regulators in controlling each stage of normal and abnormal human spermatogenesis remain unknown. Here, we have revealed for the first time the distinct microRNA profiles in human spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids between obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients. Human spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids from OA patients and NOA patients were isolated using STA-PUT velocity sedimentation and identified by numerous hallmarks for these cells. RNA deep sequencing showed that 396 microRNAs were differentially expressed in human spermatogonia between OA patients and NOA patients and 395 differentially expressed microRNAs were found in human pachytene spermatocytes between OA patients and NOA patients. Moreover, 378 microRNAs were differentially expressed in human round spermatids between OA patients and NOA patients. The differential expression of numerous microRNAs identified by RNA deep sequencing was verified by real-time PCR. Moreover, a number of novel targeting genes for microRNAs were predicted using various kinds of software and further verified by real-time PCR. This study thus sheds novel insights into epigenetic regulation of human normal spermatogenesis and the etiology of azoospermia, and it could offer new targets for molecular therapy to treat male infertility.
Project description:The present trend of increasing paternal age is accompanied by concerns for the development of complex multigene diseases (e.g., autism and schizophrenia) in progeny. Recent studies have established strong correlations between male age, increased oxidative stress, decreased sperm quality, and structural aberrations of chromatin and DNA in spermatozoa. We tested the hypothesis that increasing age would result in altered gene expression relating to oxidative stress and DNA damage/repair in germ cells. To test this hypothesis, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids were isolated from Brown Norway (BN) rats at 4 (young) and 18 (aged) mo of age. Microarray analysis was used to compare gene expression between the groups. The probe sets with significantly altered expression were linked to DNA damage/repair and oxidative stress in pachytene spermatocytes but not in round spermatids. Further analysis of pachytene spermatocytes demonstrated that genes involved in the base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways were specifically altered. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that NER genes were upregulated (>1.5-fold), whereas BER genes were downregulated (>1.5-fold). At the protein level the members of the BER pathway were also altered by up to 2.3-fold; levels of NER proteins remained unchanged. Furthermore, there was an increase in 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) immunoreactivity in testes from aged males and in the number of spermatozoa positive for 8-oxodG. In conclusion, aging is associated with differential regulation of DNA repair pathways with a decrease in the BER pathway leading to deficient repair of 8-oxo-dG lesions in germ cells and spermatozoa.
Project description:MicroRNA is essential for the process of spermatogonesis, however analysis of its change in expression within germ cells during this process has been limited. We set out to examine the change in the miRNA expression profile of highly enriched mouse germ cell populations in vairous developmental stages.These inlcuded postnatal gonocytes, day 7-9 spermatogonia as well as pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids from adult mice Gonocytes (day1) and spermatogonia (day 7-9), pachytene spermatocytes and round spermadits (adult) were enrichged by 2-4% BSA gradient sedementation. Three biological replicates of each cell type were included.