Single-cell analysis of testicular bacterial microbiome changes during aging and effect on reproductive capacity
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PROVIDER: PRJNA1294316 | ENA |
REPOSITORIES: ENA
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Project description:Recent studies have highlighted connections between bacterial microbiome (BM) of the gut and seminal fluid and male reproductive health. However, knowledge regarding the BM within the testis—the site of spermatogenesis—remains notably limited. Here, we employed INVADEseq, an improved single-cell RNA sequencing technology, to explore the testicular BM in terms of its composition, distribution, age-related changes, host-microbiome interactions and impact on reproductive capacity. Our analyses unveiled a widespread yet sparse distribution of BM across diverse testicular cell types. Notably, we identified significant spatial heterogeneity in BM load, with somatic cells and early-stage germ cells located outside the blood-testis barrier (BTB) exhibiting relatively higher BM abundance. Additionally, we observed an age-dependent increase in BM load, potentially attributable to compromised BTB integrity in aged testes. Functionally, the presence of BM induced distinct transcriptional responses across testicular cell types. Specifically, it enhanced testosterone production in Leydig cells, promoted endocytosis and autophagy functions in M2 macrophages, and reshaped the ligand-receptor interaction network. Collectively, our study presents the first single-cell resolution atlas of host-microbiome interactions in the testis. These findings not only deepen our understanding of testicular microbiome biology but also hold promise for the discovery of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BM-related and age-associated male subfertility.
2025-07-25 | GSE303193 | GEO
Project description:Testicular aging commonly leads to testosterone deficiency and impaired spermatogenesis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, a comprehensive analysis of senescence landscapes in mice testes during aging revealed that the Leydig cells (LCs) are particularly vulnerable to aging processes. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified the expression of Hmgcs2 (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthetase 2), the gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme of ketogenesis, decreased significantly in LCs from aged mice. Additionally, the concentrations of ketone bodies β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) and acetoacetic acid (AcAc) in the young testes were substantially higher than that in serum, but significantly diminished in aged testes. Silencing of Hmgcs2 in young LCs resulted in decreased ketone body production, which in turn drove LCs senescence and accelerated testicular aging. Mechanistically, BHB acted as an endogenous inhibitor of histone deacetylase 1 to upregulate the expression of Foxo3a by promoting histone acetylation, thereby mitigating LCs senescence and promoting testosterone production. Consistently, enhanced ketogenesis by genetic manipulation or oral BHB supplementation alleviated LCs senescence and ameliorated testicular aging in aged mice. These findings highlight defective ketogenesis as a pivotal factor in testicular aging, suggesting novel therapeutic avenues for addressing age-related testicular dysfunction.
2025-03-27 | GSE287203 | GEO
Project description:This study assessed the implications of a 14 day sub-chronic exposure of ethinylestradiol (EE2; 1.0 or 10.0 µg/L EE2) on male medaka fertility, testicular histology and testicular gene expression. The findings demonstrate that a 14 day exposure to EE2 induced impaired male reproductive capacity and time- and dose-dependent alterations in testicular morphology and gene expression. The average fertilization rate/day following the exposure for control, 1.0 and 10.0 µg/L EE2 was 91.3% (±4.4), 62.8% (±8.3) and 28.8% (±5.8), respectively. The testicular morphologic alterations observed include increased germ cell apoptosis, decreased germinal epithelium and thickening of the interstitium. The morphologic changes observed were highly associated with gene expression changes observed using a medaka-specific microarray. A pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes emphasized genes and pathways associated with apoptosis, cell cycle and proliferation, collagen production/extracellular matrix organization, hormone signaling, male reproduction and protein ubiquitination among others.
2013-03-06 | GSE44859 | GEO
Project description:This study assessed the implications of a 14 day sub-chronic exposure of ethinylestradiol (EE2; 1.0 or 10.0 M-BM-5g/L EE2) on male medaka fertility, testicular histology and testicular gene expression. The findings demonstrate that a 14 day exposure to EE2 induced impaired male reproductive capacity and time- and dose-dependent alterations in testicular morphology and gene expression. The average fertilization rate/day following the exposure for control, 1.0 and 10.0 M-BM-5g/L EE2 was 91.3% (M-BM-14.4), 62.8% (M-BM-18.3) and 28.8% (M-BM-15.8), respectively. The testicular morphologic alterations observed include increased germ cell apoptosis, decreased germinal epithelium and thickening of the interstitium. The morphologic changes observed were highly associated with gene expression changes observed using a medaka-specific microarray. A pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes emphasized genes and pathways associated with apoptosis, cell cycle and proliferation, collagen production/extracellular matrix organization, hormone signaling, male reproduction and protein ubiquitination among others. Six month old male medaka were exposed to ethinyl estradiol (EE2) for a 14 day time period. Treatment exposures were completed in triplicate including DMSO (vehicle control), 1.0 M-BM-5g/L EE2, and 10.0 M-BM-5g/L EE2. Fish were sampled for gene expression on days 1, 7 and 14 of exposure. Five male fish were placed in 2-liter beaker replicates for each treatment and sampling time point.
2013-03-06 | E-GEOD-44859 | biostudies-arrayexpress
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2010-09-01 | E-GEOD-23509 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:We investigated the contentious role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quality and quantity in female reproductive aging. By conditionally knocking out the Sod2 gene in female mouse germline, we observed increased mitochondrial ROS and decreased oocyte quality, primarily due to impacts on OXPHOS complex II and mtDNA encoded mRNA levels. Interestingly, we found no increased mtDNA mutations, but alterations in mtDNA quantity, indicating the susceptibility of mtDNA to the mitochondrial ROS during reproductive aging. Notably, when we further decreased the basal level of mtDNA quantity by deactivating the mtSSB protein in Sod2 conditional knockout females, we observed an exacerbation of reproductive aging effects. This highlights the crucial role of mtDNA quantity in mitigating the impact of oxidative stress on fertility.
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Project description:The testis, efferent ductules, epididymis, and vas deferens, constituting the majority of male reproductive tract, are the regions for testosterone production, spermatogenesis, and sperm maturation, storage and discharge, but whether these regions change during aging is unknown. Here, we addressed this by investigating the adult (3-month) and aged (18-month) transcriptomes from seven regions of male mouse reproductive tract：the testis, efferent ductules, initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda epididymis, and vas deferens. We identified various of region-specific genes across different regions of male mouse reproductive tract. Moreover, we identified region-dependent changes of transcripts at an anatomic resolution. This study provides a framework for futher studies on male reproducitve aging.
2022-03-02 | GSE181426 | GEO
Project description:To find genes in C. elegans oocytes associated with reproductive aging. Five replicates comparing RNA from oocyte samples collected from day 3 fem-1(hc17) animals with RNA from oocyte samples collected from day 8 fem-1(hc17) animals. Three out of five are dye-flipped.
2010-09-01 | E-GEOD-23447 | biostudies-arrayexpress