Association between RNA-binding protein Ptbp2 and germ cell injury in an experimentally-induced unilateral cryptorchidism murine model

PLoS One. 2017 Oct 18;12(10):e0186654. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186654. eCollection 2017.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Count
  • Cryptorchidism / genetics
  • Cryptorchidism / metabolism*
  • Cryptorchidism / pathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epididymis / metabolism
  • Epididymis / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Organ Size
  • Phosphoglycerate Kinase / genetics
  • Phosphoglycerate Kinase / metabolism*
  • Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism*
  • Spermatozoa / pathology*
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Testis / pathology

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Ptbp2 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein
  • Phosphoglycerate Kinase
  • phosphoglycerate kinase, testis specific

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81370749 to XZ).