Abstract
RNA binding protein polypyrimidine tract binding protein 2 (Ptbp2) as a key alternative splicing regulator for male germ cell development is well established. However, its expression levels and role in cryptorchidism testes tissues has not been explored. Additionally, the molecular mechanism of heat stress impacts the correct proliferation and differentiation of germ cells is unclear. To investigate whether changes in Ptbp2 expression are correlated with heat stress-induced germ cell injury in testicular tissue, we used a murine model of intraperitoneal cryptorchidism with surgical operation. Here we present compelling evidence that germ cells are severely damaged in mice with unilateral cryptorchidism, with non-obstructive azoospermia. And the Ptbp2 and Pgk2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in parallel, leading us to conclude that the negative correlation between Ptbp2 levels and germ cell injury in unilateral cryptorchidism murine model. We hypothesize that Ptbp2 is susceptible to heat stress and its disruption has resulted in stability decline of germ cell transcripts Pgk2 mRNA, which consequently lead to germ cell injury in cryptorchidism testes. Thus, we confirm that Ptbp2 is an essential factor in heat stress-induced sperm cell injury and non-obstructive azoospermia.
Highlights
The proportion of infertility occurring among couples at childbearing age is about 10–15%, and 50% of these cases are thought to be due to male infertility [1]
We suspect that some crucial signaling pathways of spermatogenesis may be susceptible to heat stress, and their disruption may linked to dyszoospermia in the intraperitoneal cryptorchidism testes
To elucidate whether the changes in polypyrimidine tract binding protein 2 (Ptbp2) expression are correlated with sperm cell injury and non-obstructive azoospermia in heat stress-affected testicular tissue, we investigated testicular tissues in a surgically-induced intraperitoneal cryptorchidism model in mice
Summary
The proportion of infertility occurring among couples at childbearing age is about 10–15%, and 50% of these cases are thought to be due to male infertility [1]. RNA-binding protein Ptbp and germ cell injury the testes of approximately 80% of cryptorchidism patients descend to a normal scrotal position within the first year after birth [2]. We suspect that some crucial signaling pathways of spermatogenesis may be susceptible to heat stress, and their disruption may linked to dyszoospermia in the intraperitoneal cryptorchidism testes. This aberrant testicular environment has been shown to have a detrimental effect on testicular germ cell development, which may lead to non-obstructive azoospermia and testicular atrophy [3]
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