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L L Tres

Publications and source records attributed to L L Tres.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Human Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures prepared from biopsies of cryptorchid testes performed during orchidopexy.

A procedure is described for the preparation and maintenance of human Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures using biopsies of normal and undescended testis. The evaluation of cell viability and differentiation potential of cultured spermatogenic cell was monitored by [3H]thymidine labeling combined with light microscopic autoradiography. Spermatogenic cells of the same progeny, connected by intercellular bridges, display synchronous DNA synthesis when labeled at the preleptotene stage of meiotic prophase. The pattern of [35S]methionine-labeled secretory proteins was determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis and autoradiography during testicular development and compared with these observed in human Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures prepared from same specimens. Both testicular tissue and cocultured Sertoli and spermatogenic cells displayed comparable patterns of secretory proteins. A discrete group of acidic polypeptides of Sertoli cell origin enhanced their radiolabeling intensity during testicular development. Results of this paper indicate that human Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures could be valuable for assessing the proliferation and differentiation potential of spermatogenic cells in children with cryptorchid testis.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1988

Antigenic homology between rat sperm tail polypeptides and Sertoli cell secretory proteins.

A high performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been used for the purification of rat Sertoli cell secretory protein S70 and S45-S35 heterodimeric protein to determine their role during spermatogenesis. These two proteins display binding affinity for each other and appear antigenically related. We have observed that: 1. S70 and S45-S35 heterodimeric protein coelute during purification, 2. polyclonal antiserum raised against protein S70 recognizes common antigenic determinants in polypeptides S45 and S35, the disulfide-linked components of the heterodimeric protein, and 3. a monoclonal antibody that recognizes polypeptide S35 but does not crossreact with either protein S70 or polypeptide S45, immunoprecipitates the S70/S45-S35 heterodimeric protein complex. In immunofluorescent experiments, antisera raised against protein S70 and polypeptide components of S45-S35 heterodimeric protein immunoreact with two major sperm intracellular structures: the acrosome and periaxonemal outer dense fibers of sperm tail. Immunoreactivity was not detected on the sperm plasma membrane surface of unfixed, living sperm. Outer dense fibers extracted from sperm tails by a combined treatment with cetylthrimethylammonium bromide and 2-mercaptoethanol, yielded a characteristic polypeptide pattern. In immunoblotting experiments sperm tail polypeptides were recognized by polyclonal antisera raised against Sertoli cell secretory proteins. We conclude that Sertoli cell secretory proteins S70 and S45-S35 heterodimeric protein are antigenically related to each other and to keratin-like polypeptides from sperm tail.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Culture patterns and sorting of rat Sertoli cell secretory proteins.

A cocultivation chamber and two types of permeable substrates have been used to study: (1) the culture patterns of rat Sertoli and peritubular cells, and Sertoli cells cocultured with spermatogenic cells or peritubular cells; and (2) the polarized secretion of Sertoli cell-specific proteins transferrin, S70 and S45-S35 heterodimeric protein. Substrates included a nylon mesh (with openings of 100 micron) coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) material and an uncoated microporous filter (with pores of 0.45 micron). Sertoli cells cultured on ECM-coated nylon mesh organized a continuous sheet of multilayered epithelial cells essentially devoid of spermatogenic cells while peritubular cells formed a layer of squamous cells. Sertoli cells cultured on uncoated microporous substrate formed a continuous sheet of cuboidal epithelial cells with numerous basal cytoplasmic processes projecting into the substrate and abundant apically located spermatogenic cells, while peritubular cells organized one or two layers of loose squamous cells. [35S]methionine-labelled secretory proteins resolved by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography displayed cell-specific patterns that were slightly influenced by the type of substrate. Sertoli cells cocultured with peritubular cells on uncoated microporous substrate under conditions that enabled separation of apical and basal surfaces, secreted proteins in a polarized fashion. While transferrin was released bidirectionally, S45-S35 heterodimeric protein was released apically. S70 was detected in both apical and basal compartments. We conclude from these studies that: (1) the number of spermatogenic cells decreases when Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures are prepared on ECM-coated nylon substrate; and (2) Sertoli cells in coculture with spermatogenic or peritubular cells on uncoated microporous substrate, organize continuous sheets displaying polarized protein secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Antibodies to rat Sertoli cell secretory proteins recognize antigenic sites in acrosome and tail of developing spermatids and sperm.

Polyclonal antisera raised against polypeptide components of antigenically related rat Sertoli cell secretory protein S70 and S45-S35 heterodimeric protein were used to identify antigenic sites in rat testis during spermatogenesis. Immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase and immunogold electron-microscopic methods have shown that all antisera recognize immunoreactive sites in the acrosome of developing spermatids. Apical cytoplasmic regions of Sertoli cells in close association with bundles of developing spermatids displayed an immunoreactive product. The principal piece of the developing tail of maturing spermatids immunostained with antisera to Sertoli cell secretory S45-S35 heterodimeric protein, displayed characteristic apical-to-distal immunoreactive gradient patterns before acquiring uniform immunoreactivity at completion of maturation. Immunogold electron microscopy demonstrated that outer dense fibres were the predominant immunoreactive site. Results of this work, together with previous immunoblotting and immunofluorescent data, demonstrate that both Sertoli cell secretory proteins and components of the acrosome and tail of developing spermatids and epididymal sperm share antigenic homology.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1987

Ornithine decarboxylase activity during rat spermatogenesis in vivo and in vitro: selective effect of hormones and growth factors.

We have established the patterns of ornithine decarboxylase activity (an enzyme related to cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation) during rat testicular development and studied the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-type beta (TGF-beta), and a serum-free, hormone/growth factor-supplemented medium (TKM) on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures and cultured seminiferous peritubular cells prepared from sexually immature rats (20-22 days old). Results were correlated with timing of ODC activities during rat testicular development. We have found that: (1) although EGF, alone or combined with PDGF and TGF-beta, and TKM stimulated ODC activity in Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures after 6 and 24 h of stimulation, PDGF exerted an inhibitory effect, and (2) cultured peritubular cells stimulated with EGF, PDGF, TGF-beta (and their combinations), and TKM displayed an increase in ODC activity after 6 h of stimulation, but ODC activities for most of these treatments declined considerably 24 h after stimulation. Light microscopic autoradiographic studies of [3H]thymidine labeled samples demonstrated that (1) clones of spermatogenic cells traverse S phase synchronously, (2) Sertoli cells are not significantly radiolabeled, probably because of contact inhibition achieved by high cell plating density, and (3) peritubular cells are significantly [3H]thymidine labeled in the presence of TKM, a culture medium that facilitates spermatogenic cell long-term viability and differentiation. We conclude that TKM and EGF have stimulatory effects on the biochemical pathway that precedes synchronous DNA synthesis in spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes, and that ODC activity is a sensitive marker for monitoring these events.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Molecular cloning and differential expression of somatic and testis-specific H2B histone genes during rat spermatogenesis.

We have cloned cDNA of a testis-specific histone, TH2B (a variant of H2B), and rat somatic H2B gene to investigate regulation of testis-specific histone genes during rat spermatogenesis. The amino acid sequences deduced from DNA sequences show extensive sequence divergence in the N-terminal third of the two histones. The rest is highly conserved. One cysteine residue was found in TH2B. No cysteine is present in somatic histones except in H3 histone. We investigated the expression of TH2B and H2B genes using the regions of sequence divergence as hybridization probes. The TH2B gene is expressed only in the testis, and the expression of this gene is detected 14 days after birth, reaching a maximum at Day 20. The level of H2B mRNA shows a reciprocal pattern. This contrasting pattern can be explained by the gradually changing proportion of spermatogonia and spermatocytes with testicular maturation. In situ cytohybridization studies show that H2B gene is expressed primarily in proliferating spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes, whereas TH2B gene is expressed exclusively in pachytene spermatocytes which first appear in testis about 14 days after birth. H2B and TH2B genes appear to be ideal markers for the study of proliferation and differentiation events in spermatogenesis and their regulatory mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

An automated perifusion system for the study of rat spermatogenesis in vitro.

We report details of an automated perifusion system for the study of spermatogenesis in vitro. A potential of this new system is the evaluation of hormone/growth factor effects on the mitotic clonal expansion of spermatogonia and the meiotic and postmeiotic clonal differentiation of spermatogenic cells in coculture with Sertoli cells and in incubated seminiferous tubular segments.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Partial characterization of a somatomedin-like peptide from the medium of cultured rat Sertoli cells.

A peptide that is recognized by antibodies to human somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor I (Sm-C/IGF-I) has been partially purified from cultured Sertoli cells prepared from sexually immature rats. The mol wt of this peptide is about 25,000, as determined by gel filtration chromatography and immunoblot analysis of samples resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing indicated that the isoelectric point of this peptide was near neutrality. However, a smaller peptide of mol wt 8,000 that cross-reacted with antibodies to Sm-C/IGF-I, was released after gel filtration in acetic acid. Similarly, reverse phase HPLC on a C18 column under acidic conditions released a Sm-C/IGF-I immunoreactive peptide of 8,000 mol wt. This smaller species apparently resulted from the dissociation of this peptide from a binding protein. Unlike the larger neutral form, the isoelectric point of the smaller peptide was 9.8. This pI is similar to the GH-dependent Sm-C/IGF-I peptide isolated from rat serum. The small peptide, unlike the larger form, reacted in a parallel manner to human Sm-C/IGF-I in the Sm-C/IGF-I RIA and radioreceptor assays. In addition, the 8,000 mol wt peptide behaved as a progression factor in the BALB/c-3T3 assay and competed with [125I]Sm-C/IGF-I for binding to the type I Sm-C/IGF-I receptor from cultured rat Sertoli cells. In summary, results of this study demonstrate that rat Sertoli cells in culture secrete a peptide that is the rat equivalent of human Sm-C/IGF-I.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Sex determination in mice: Y and chromosome 17 interactions.

Mice provide material for studies of Y-chromosomal and autosomal sequences involved in sex determination. Eicher and coworkers have identified four subregions in the mouse Y chromosome, one of which corresponds to the Sxr fragment. This fragment demonstrates that only a small portion of the Y is necessary for male sex determination. The mouse Y chromosome also shows variants: the BALB/cWt Y chromosome, which causes nondisjunction of the Y in some germ cells leading to XO and XYY cells and resulting in many infertile true hermaphrodites; the YDom, a wild-type chromosome which can result in sex reversal on a C57BL/6J background; and Y-chromosomal variants detected with Y-derived genomic DNA clones among inbred strains. Two different autosomal loci affecting sex differentiation have been identified in the mouse by Eicher and coworkers. The first of these has not been mapped to a particular chromosome and has been designated Tda-1 (Testis-determining autosomal-1). This is the locus in C57BL/6J mice at which animals must be homozygous in order to develop as true hermaphrodites or sex-reversed animals in the presence of YDom. The other locus has been identified on proximal chromosome 17. This locus also caused hermaphrodites on the C57BL/6J background and it is most easily interpreted as a locus deleted in Thp. It is located in a region on chromosome 17 containing other genes or DNA sequences that may be related to sex determination. These include both the Hye (histocompatibility Y expression) locus that affects the amount of male-specific antigen detected by serological and cell-mediated assays and a concentration of Bkm sequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Fetuin: a serum component associated with rat Sertoli and spermatogenic cells in coculture.

Cocultures of rat Sertoli-spermatogenic cells plated in a culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for 6-12 h and then maintained in serum free, hormone/growth factor-supplemented medium accumulated an acidic glycoprotein of molecular weight of 68,000 dalton (68 kD) and isoelectric point range of about 4.2-3.5. Anion exchange chromatography has allowed the partial purification of this protein, which consists of a major protein band of 68 kD and two minor, low molecular weight components. A rabbit antiserum raised against the 68 kD component also crossreacts with the two low molecular weight components, thus suggesting that these two minor components are antigenically related to the 68 kD protein. The 68 kD protein has been identified as fetuin, the major component of fetal bovine serum, based on similar molecular weight, isoelectric point, immunoreactivity and trypsin inhibitory activity. Labeling experiments with [14C]amino acid mixture show that 68 kD protein is not synthesized by cocultured rat Sertoli and spermatogenic cells. Immunocytochemistry and Western blot approaches carried out under various experimental conditions support the view that the fetuin-68 kD protein is taken up from serum by both Sertoli cells and pachytene spermatocytes. Because fetuin 1) behaves as a carrier protein for growth factors, 2) has protease inhibitory activity, 3) is preferentially internalized by Sertoli cells and pachytene spermatocytes and 4) fetal bovine serum-supplemented medium impairs spermatogenic cell viability, there is a need to further define appropriate conditions for optimizing long-term viability and differentiation of spermatogenic cells in vitro.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Immunoreactive sites and accumulation of somatomedin-C in rat Sertoli-spermatogenic cell co-cultures.

Sertoli-spermatogenic cell co-cultures prepared from sexually immature rats (20-22 days old) and maintained in serum-free, hormone/growth factor-supplemented medium were used to determine the cell-specific localization of the growth factor somatomedin-C (SM-C). SM-C localization studies were carried out by indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody (sm-1.2) to SM-C. In cultured rat hepatocytes, Sertoli and testicular peritubular cells, SM-C immunoreactivity was observed as a diffuse distribution of discrete immunofluorescent granules. Radio-immunoassay experiments using a rabbit antibody against human SM-C showed that testicular peritubular cells and Sertoli cells in primary culture accumulated SM-C in the medium. In spermatogenic cells co-cultured with subjacent Sertoli cells, immunoreactive SM-C was associated with pachytene spermatocytes but not with spermatogonia or early meiotic prophase spermatocytes (leptotene or zygotene). Both Sertoli cells and pachytene spermatocytes displayed binding sites for exogenously added SM-C. SM-C6 binding to spermatocytes reaching an advanced stage of meiotic prophase suggests a possible role of this growth factor in the meiotic process.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A monoclonal antibody recognizes a form of intermediate filament protein in rat Sertoli cells that is not present in seminiferous peritubular cells.

We extracted intermediate filament proteins (IFP) that were insoluble in in detergent from cultured rat Sertoli and peritubular cells after labeling with [35S] methionine and resolved them by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography and Western blotting. We found that vimentin was the predominant IFP in both Sertoli and peritubular cells. However, while two isoelectric variants of vimentin were observed in Sertoli cells, only one was detected in peritubular cells. In addition, vimentin in Sertoli cells generated a large number of breakdown products, many differing in molecular weight and isoelectric point when compared to peritubular cells. These findings suggested that a Ca2+-activated protease, usually found in cells containing vimentin, was capable of generating proteolytic fragment patterns that were specific to cell type. Monoclonal antibodies were generated against IFP extracted from cultured Sertoli cells and their reactivity monitored by indirect immunofluorescence using Sertoli cells, peritubular cells and intact testis. One monoclonal antibody, designated IFP-SC, was an immunoglobulin (IgM) that produced a vimentin-like immunofluorescent pattern in cultured Sertoli cells. This pattern consisted of an extensive filamentous network that extended throughout the cell and surrounded the nucleus. In cultured peritubular cells, IFP-SC generated a diffuse, nonfilamentous immunoreactivity. IFP-SC reacted with components of seminiferous tubules and displayed immunoreactivity associated with Sertoli cells but not with elements of the seminiferous peritubular cell wall. Because immunofluorescent patterns were distinctly specific to cell type in cultured cells and in the intact tissue, monoclonal antibody IFP-SC is useful for the quantitative evaluation of cell cross-contamination of Sertoli and peritubular cells and, therefore, allows a precise characterization of functional events specific to cell type and monitoring of the differentiation state of cells with time in culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Protein secretory patterns of rat Sertoli and peritubular cells are influenced by culture conditions.

An approach combining two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography was used to correlate patterns of secretory proteins in cultures of Sertoli and peritubular cells with those observed in the incubation medium from segments of seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells in culture and in seminiferous tubules secreted three proteins designated S70 (Mr 72,000-70,000), S45 (Mr 45,000), and S35 (Mr 35,000). Cultured Sertoli and peritubular cells and incubated seminiferous tubules secreted two proteins designated SP1 (Mr 42,000) and SP2 (Mr 50,000). SP1 and S45 have similar Mr but differ from each other in isoelectric point (pI). Cultured peritubular cells secreted a protein designated P40 (Mr 40,000) that was also seen in intact seminiferous tubules but not in seminiferous tubules lacking the peritubular cell wall. However, a large number of high-Mr proteins were observed only in the medium of cultured peritubular cells but not in the incubation medium of intact seminiferous tubules. Culture conditions influence the morphology and patterns of protein secretion of cultured peritubular cells. Peritubular cells that display a flat-stellate shape transition when placed in culture medium free of serum (with or without hormones and growth factors), accumulate various proteins in the medium that are less apparent when these cells are maintained in medium supplemented with serum. Two secretory proteins stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (designated SCm1 and SCm2) previously found in the medium of cultured Sertoli cells, were also observed in the incubation medium of seminiferous tubular segments stimulated by FSH. Results of this study show that, although cultured Sertoli and peritubular cells synthesize and secrete proteins also observed in segments of incubated seminiferous tubules anther group of proteins lacks seminiferous tubular correlates. Our observations should facilitate efforts to achieve a differentiated functional state of Sertoli and peritubular cells in culture as well as to select secretory proteins for assessing their possible biological role in testicular function.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Temporal appearance and cyclic behavior of Sertoli cell-specific secretory proteins during the development of the rat seminiferous tubule.

Electrophoretic and morphologic methods have been used to study the time course of [35S] methionine-labeled proteins accumulated in the incubation medium of rat fetal testes and seminiferous cords/tubules during their development. We have found that Sertoli cell-specific secretory proteins S70, S45 and S35 became progressively prominent as premeiotic, meiotic and postmeiotic spermatogenic events were established in the seminiferous tubules. In the sexually mature rat, S70, S45 and S35 were expressed in a spermatogenic stage-dependent manner. While S70, S45 and S35 were present in Stage VII-VIII, S45 and S35 were observed in Stages X and XIV. Neither S70, S45 nor S35 were detected in Stage IV. A relevant group of high molecular weight proteins, previously reported as characteristic products of cultured peritubular cells, accumulated in the incubation medium of seminiferous cords from postnatal Day 0-15 rats. This group of high molecular weight proteins appears when peritubular cells are proliferative and are engaged in the organization of the seminiferous tubular wall. A low molecular weight protein, designated T35, was also detected. T35 was prominent in the medium of incubated fetal testes and seminiferous cords of postnatal rats 0- to 5-days-old and disappeared gradually thereafter. A set of proteins (designated SP1 and SP2) previously ascribed to both cultured Sertoli and peritubular cells, were recognized during the early postnatal stages of seminiferous tubular development. SP1 and SP2 displayed age-dependent fluctuations in their [35S] methionine labeling. The timing of appearance of S70, S45, and S35 indicates both age- and spermatogenic stage-related activity that, in the future, may prove to be functionally significant in the spermatogenic process.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Rat Sertoli cells acquire a beta-adrenergic response during primary culture.

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the radioligand (-)-[125I]iodopindolol (125I-Pin) have been used to study isoproterenol-dependent protein phosphorylation and beta-adrenergic receptor availability, respectively, in cultured Sertoli cells and freshly isolated seminiferous tubular segments of sexually immature and mature rats. Sertoli cells prepared from sexually immature rats show progressive 125I-Pin binding in primary cultures that correlates with isoproterenol-induced cell shape changes, redistribution of immunoreactive vimentin, and phosphorylation of this intermediate filament protein. The development of 125I-Pin binding to Sertoli cell lysates is blocked by cycloheximide. Seminiferous tubules do not show significant isoproterenol-dependent vimentin phosphorylation nor 125I-Pin binding. However, vimentin phosphorylation can be induced by follicle-stimulating hormone or a cyclic nucleotide analog. This study stresses the need for correlating pharmacological-induced responses observed in Sertoli cell primary cultures with those in the intact seminiferous tubule.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of cyclic AMP-binding proteins in rat sertoli cells using a photoaffinity ligand.

Protein-bound cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in cultured rat Sertoli cells have been determined after exposure to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and agents which elevate intracellular cAMP or mimic cAMP action. Changes in the content of protein-bound cAMP were correlated with changes in receptor availability determined by measuring [3H] cAMP binding. Using the photoaffinity analog of cAMP, 8-N3 [32P] cAMP, two major cAMP-binding proteins in Sertoli cell cytosol, with molecular weights of 47 000 and 53 000 daltons, were identified as regulatory subunits of type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases, respectively. Densitometric analysis of autoradiograms demonstrated differential activation of the two isozymes in response to treatment with FSH and other agents. Results of this study demonstrate the value of measuring changes in protein-bound cAMP and the utility of the photoaffinity labeling technique in correlating hormone-dependent processes in which activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase occurs.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1983

Viability of rat spermatogenic cells in vitro is facilitated by their coculture with Sertoli cells in serum-free hormone-supplemented medium.

Spermatogenic cells from 20- to 35-day-old rats were grown in vitro in the presence of Sertoli cells maintained in serum-free hormone/growth factor-supplemented medium and alternating high/low concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone in the medium. In cell reaggregation experiments, spermatogenic cells reassociate with Sertoli cells but not with peritubular cells or cell-free substrate. Autoradiographic experiments using [3H]thymidine as a labeled precursor for DNA synthesis show that spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes, connected by cytoplasmic bridges, have a synchronous S phase. [3H]Thymidine-labeled preleptotene spermatocytes progress until later stages of meiotic prophase. Time-lapse cinematographic studies of Sertoli/spermatogenic cell cocultures show three major movement patterns. While Sertoli cell cytoplasmic processes between adjacent cells display tensional forces, spermatogonia are engaged in oscillatory cell movements different from the nuclear rotation observed in meiotic prophase spermatocytes. Results of this study show that the proliferation of premeiotic cells and the differentiation of meiotic prophase cells do occur in vitro in association with Sertoli cells maintained in a medium that allows differentiated cell functions.

Animals↗